Air Source Heat Pump

WHAT IS AN AIR SOURCE HEAT PUMP

An air source heat pump is a low-carbon, renewable heat source and an alternative heating system to conventional gas or oil boilers, that is suitable for a wide range of homes.

They are external units installed to extract thermal energy from the air to provide heating and hot water for your home or business premises. 

For every unit of energy, it uses to extract heat from the air, it typically outputs three times more heat, meaning ASHP efficiency is around 300%, which can significantly reduce the cost of your energy bills.

Benefits Of Air Source Heat Pumps

  • Low carbon, environmentally friendly heat source

  • Highly efficient, transferring around three times more energy into a home as heat than it uses to extract it from the air.  For every 1kW of electrical energy used to power the air source heat pump, 3-4kW of heat energy is returned

  • Capable of also providing active cooling which saves time, money and space compared to installing a separate AC system

  • Little outdoor space is required, meaning an air-source heat pump system is suitable for most urban properties

  • Air source heat pumps are relatively quick to install, require little maintenance and have a long lifespan of around 20 years

  • Safer than fossil fuel-burning systems. An air source heat pump system is powered entirely by electricity and is combustion-free

  • Eligible for the government Boiler Upgrade Scheme

HOW DOES AN AIR SOURCE HEAT PUMP WORK?

Air source heat pumps work on the same basis as air conditioning units or refrigerators, but in reverse by collecting energy from the air, even at low temperatures.  As the air source heat pump system sits outside the property, in a position that allows for a steady flow of air, it goes through the following 4 stages: 

1. EVAPORATION

The energy is absorbed from the air by large fans on the unit that draw the air in, before passing over a heat exchanger that sits directly behind the fan.  Through the heat exchanger flows a liquid refrigerant and as the ambient temperature stored in the air comes into contact with the heat exchanger, the liquid refrigerant heats up.  This process increases the temperature of the refrigerant changing it from a liquid to a vapour

2. COMPRESSOR 

The warmed-up refrigerant is then passed into a compressor where it is condensed and its temperature is raised further by an electrically driven compressor to a point where it is ready for distribution around the central heating system of a home.

3. CONDENSER 

The condenser then releases this heat energy into the water used in your heating and hot water system 

4. EXPANSION VALVE

The cooled refrigerant turns back into a liquid and the process starts again 

The most common setup with an air source heat pump system is to install a buffer tank inside the home. The buffer tank stores hot water, warmed directly by the heat pump. The water in the buffer tank is used around the home’s central heating system, heating radiators and underfloor heating. The cold water from the central heating system is then fed back into the buffer tank to be re-heated, creating one continuous loop.

Typically, a separate hot water tank will also be installed in the property. The hot water tank is separate from the buffer tank but is also heated by the air source heat pump. A hot water tank is used to provide instant hot water for the home. As air source heat pumps work at lower temperatures, they are best suited to underfloor heating or low-temperature radiators. This is not to say these are necessary for an air source heat pump to work, but they will aid its efficiency.

Worcester Bosch accredited installers

Here at Del Brace Plumbing & Heating we are proud to be Worcester Bosch accredited installers. We know that there are a number of boiler brands, but our recommendation will always be Worcester Bosch. They have won the Which? best buy gas and oil boiler for the 11th year in a row. We can also offer you some exclusive features and benefits when we install your new energy efficient boiler. Additionally, we are also a ‘safe in your home’ installer, meaning we work to guidelines to ensure that both our customers and engineers are safe whilst we are working in your home