The Benefits of Air Source Heat Pumps

The whole world is beginning to wake up to the problems of excessive energy consumption and carbon emissions, and everywhere people are asking what they can do to help lower their own carbon footprint. A number of devices currently exist which can make your home more green and efficient, and air source heat pumps are among the most popular.

An air source heat pump will significantly lower your fuel bills, is easy to install and requires very little maintenance. They absorb heat from the outside air and use it to heat radiators, underfloor heating systems, or hot water in your home.

How it Works

They work on a similar principle to a household refrigerator. Just as a fridge extracts heat from its inside, air source heat pumps extract heat from the outside air, even when the temperature outside is as cold as -15c. The heat extracted from the air is absorbed into a fluid, which is pumped through a heat exchanger in the heat pump. The low grade heat extracted by the refridgeration system is then passed through a heat pump compressor, and is then concentrated into a higher temperature of heat which can be used to heat your home.

These systems will consistently provide a steady and reasonably high temperature of heat for your home, but you may find that you need to keep a standard boiler as a back-up during the winter months to really keep the cold away.

Benefits

An obvious benefit of fitting a heat pump for your home is that it will reduce your carbon footprint. Unfortunately it requires electricity to power the pump, so it will still have some environmental impact, but the heat it extracts is an entirely renewable resource, so it is overall a very green system. A heat pump will earn you a return on your investment especially quickly if you are installing it into a house to replace an existing electricity or coal heating system. It also has negligible maintenance costs as it is a simple system with very few moving parts.

Types

There are two types of air source heat pump systems you need to know about. The first is the air-to-water system, which gives off heat via your wet central heating system. These are suited to giving out heat at relatively low temperatures over a long period of time, so they are ideal for underfloor heating systems or large radiators.

The second type is the air-to-air system. This system heats your home by producing warm air which is circulated by fans. A drawback of the air-to-air system is not very well suited to heating your water.

If the idea of plucking energy out of thin air appeals to you, you might want to look into getting an air source heat pump for your own home. They may not be considered quite as efficient as other green heating systems such as photovoltaic panels, but heat pumps will still have a major impact on cutting your energy costs and lowering your carbon footprint.