How Do Heat Pumps Work & What Are the Benefits?

So, you've decided that you want a heat pump? These low-carbon heating systems are environmentally friendly, low maintenance, cheap to run and avoid fossil fuels and transportation.

What is an Air Source Heat Pump?

An air-source heat pump, is usually called an air-to-water source heat pump. The air source heat pump transfers the heat from the outside air into water. This then heats your rooms via underfloor heating and radiators. It's important to remember that the air source heat pump can also heat hot water stored in a hot water cylinder for showers and baths.

Heat from the air is absorbed into a fluid. The fluid then passes through a heat exchanger into the heat pump. It's important to have a suitable place for the heat pump, so there's enough good flow of air.

It would help if you had radiators or underfloor heating to allow a circulation of hot water. However, if you currently don't have any radiators or underfloor heating, you must decide whether you want to install them.

To have an air source heat pump, you will need to have a well-insulated home, this will increase its efficiency.

If you live in England or Wales, you can get £7,500 towards an air source heat pump utilising the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.

Benefits of Air Source Heat Pumps

Air source heat pumps are low carbon, used for heating and cooling and can be used for space heating and hot water. They also have an easy installation process, long lifespan, low maintenance and no fuel storage needed.

Lifespan ranges from 20-25 years.

How much will I save?

It all depends on your property, the size of your home, the brand, the pump size and your heating demands. Your insulation and energy needs will all play a huge factor. However, at Neutral Energy Solutions, we will undertake an energy consumption survey, which will give you insight on how you can reduce your costs and carbon footprint. We will suggest a few points that you can improve your energy efficiency.

How much does a heat pump installation cost?

Heat pump installations cost as low as £2,500 when utilised with the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. Air source heat pump installations are cheaper than ground source heat pumps because they require little space and they are less expensive to install. A ground source heat pump is more expensive due to the amount of planning and space required, meaning it will take longer and there's more work involved.

Commercial heating contributes to around 40 per cent of CO2 emissions.

What is a Ground Source Heat Pump?

A ground source heat pump, which is usually referred to as ground to water, uses the heat from the ground to heat your radiators and underfloor heating. Ground source heat pumps are connected to pipes called ground collectors, which are laid out underground, usually in boreholes which are around 100 metres in depth. Usually, at these depths, the ground maintains a temperature of around 10-12 degrees all year round.

A water fluid flows through to the ground collectors, which then absorb thermal energy from the ground and circulate it back to the pump. The compressor inside the heat pump increases the temperature. Then it transfers to a heat exchanger, which then transfers the heat into hot water cylinders, hot water, underfloor heating and radiators.

Heat pumps all decide on the amount of rooms you have, the size of the rooms and how well the property is insulated. They also work all year round, and you can set your preferred temperature on a thermostat.

Get in touch with our low carbon heating specialists today at: enquiries@neutralenergysolutions.co.uk