Installation of an air source heat pump is quite simple.
It can replace a gas, wood, pellet or electric boiler. This heat pump model does not require to drill for water.
It is a modern equipment that can do heating, domestic hot water and even cooling.
In today’s article, Heating Savvy presents 7 important reasons to invest in a air source heat pump.
What is an air source heat pump?
One of the most used types of heat pump in Europe and UK is the air source heat pump.
The principle of operation is this:
- it absorbs heat from the outside environment with the external unit that looks like an air conditioner;
- with the help of the compressor it compresses the refrigerant to reach a higher temperature;
- the heat is released inside the house for heating and domestic hot water;
- the operation cycle is reversible and can also do cooling.
Air source heat pumps are efficient when they are heating with low temperatures.
This makes them suitable for underfloor heating, fan coil units, but they can also be used with radiators.
Yes Heating Savvy, but it’s cold here, the winter it’s long and the temperatures are low. Does this face the heat pump?
Heat pumps have been tested for many years in the cold weather in Sweden and in other places, where they are manufactured.
And some NIBE air source heat pump can go up to -25 degrees!
Advantages for the air source heat pump
Air source heat pumps are easy to install compared to other heating systems.
For example, when installing a geothermal heat pump, drilling must be done, which has a cost and requires more space in the yard.
Here are some of the advantages and benefits of the air source heat pump:
- It can be used all year round
- The energy source is unlimited (outdoor air)
- They are cheaper to install than other heating systems
- They are suitable for changing the heating plant, for renovations and houses that do not have a lot of available space for installation
- You will have low heating bills and good efficiency (the house must be well insulated)
- Very little noise and they heat up quickly. The external unit cannot be heard from the house
- Minimal maintenance due to efficient design
Disadvantages for the air source heat pump
Let’s see now what are the disadvantages of air source heat pumps.
- They are expensive if we compare them with a gas power plant, for example.
- Although they can work with radiators, they are more efficient with underfloor heating or fan coils.
- It is recommended to have an insulated house for good efficiency
- The external unit can be noisy if you stand close to it outside (it should not be heard in the house)
- It consumes electricity
- Exterior aspect. The outdoor unit is bigger than an air conditioner
After seeing the advantages and disadvantages of air-water heat pumps, I will show you the 7 important reasons to invest in them.
1. Reduced heating costs
Old heating systems are often inefficient and difficult to control.
An air to water heat pump system that is professionally designed and installed, well controlled in an insulated house, will save you money in the long run due to energy efficiency.
Even if a heat pump runs on electricity, it uses less electricity than it produces.
The efficiency of the heat pump is measured by COP, the coefficient of performance (Coefficient Of Performance).
The COP of the heat pump is the ratio between the heat produced per unit of electrical energy consumed.
A COP of 3 means that you receive 3 kWh of heat (thermal energy) for every 1 kWh of electricity consumed by the heat pump.
This makes the heat pump at least 300% more efficient than a gas boiler.
2. Comfortable heating
The heat pump works best when it maintains a constant temperature in the house.
But you can control which part of the house and which rooms you want to heat if you have heating zones.
This allows you to have more control and to be able to control the heating from your mobile phone or tablet with the heat pump app.
Depending on the installed model, you can control the outside temperature, which is one of the best settings.
The operation will be optimal and this can help you maintain low heating costs in the long term.
3. Compatible with photovoltaic solar panels
Photovoltaic solar panels can theoretically power any electrical appliance in the house.
And even better than that, they are compatible and can power the heat pump.
How much electricity the photovoltaic panels will generate depends on how many solar panels you install, their efficiency and how much sun there is in your area.
A typical photovoltaic solar panel system has around 3-4 kw. It is the maximum capacity produced on a sunny day.
4. Long life span
The manufacturers designed the air source heat pump from scratch to be a premium product and to withstand their very cold climate.
We know that a gas boiler has a lifespan of around 10 years. It can be smaller or larger depending on how it is used and maintained.
For the heat pump, we expect a lifespan of 20 years if it is properly maintained.
Air-source heat pumps are very resistant and durable. They can last twice as long as a gas boiler.
5 Compatible with several heating systems
The air-water heat pump, although it can produce thermal agent at high temperature, works better with low temperature on tour. Just like condensing gas boilers.
They produce the same heat in the house, at a low temperature per tour, for a longer period of time.
Maybe you won’t feel the radiators hot when you touch them, even if they are actively heating the house.
You can use a air source heat pump with:
- Underfloor heating
- Fan coils
- Or even with radiators
6. It can also be cooling
Reversible cycle air-water heat pumps can also do active heating and cooling using refrigerant. Just like an air conditioner.
It depends on whether you include the heat pump from the design stage of the house, or add it later in a renovation process.
Cooling through walls or ceilings can be used. The radiant ceiling can be used both in homes and offices.
Another option is to use fan coil units. They can be used for both heating and cooling.
7. Reduced carbon emissions
Using an air source heat pump helps you reduce carbon emissions over time. Because they have a high conversion rate of the energy used in heat.
Compared to the electrical energy consumed, a heat pump can have an efficiency of 300% – 400%.
If the electricity is from renewable sources (such as from photovoltaic panels) carbon emissions can be reduced to zero.
The heat pump helps you have an nZeb house or a passive house together with other construction technologies.
Conclusion
The air surce heat pump is worth the investment. It is no longer surprising that these heat pumps are becoming more and more popular.
Their installation can be done in two to three days and does not require drilling.
With a heat pump you can reduce the amount of energy you use.
How much you will save depends on the size of the house, the area where the house is located, the type of heat pump chosen and the number of people who will live.
