With energy prices soaring in recent years and a worldwide need to become more energy-efficient rising up the agenda, heat pumps have become increasingly popular. As a cheaper and more eco-friendly alternative to a traditional boiler, and with fantastic government grants available, heat pumps are a more than viable way to heat your home.
But how exactly does a heat pump work? There are a few different types of heat pumps available, with Cahill Renewables focussing on air-to-air and air-source heat pump installation. Let’s take a look at how they function and a little bit about the difference between each type.
The four main types of heat pumps that you can choose from are air-source heat pumps, air-to-air heat pumps, ground-source heat pumps and water-source heat pumps. As the names suggest, the difference between all of these is that they generate heat by taking it from a different elemental point of origin. It’s important to note that there are other heat pump variations, such as hybrid heat pumps and high-temperature heat pumps, but they are less common than the other four.
In essence, heat pumps work by drawing heat from somewhere outside of the home and bringing it inside. In most cases, the pump will be integrated into your central heating system to heat the water in your pipes, radiators or underfloor heating, providing hot water and warmth all around the home.
Heat pumps can also perform the opposite function of filling your house with cool air during the warm summer months. In fact, it’s easier to think about a heat pump as an air conditioner with the ability to operate in reverse. Instead of cooling everything down, the pump uses the same technology and refrigerant to effectively take the warmth from outside to provide heat indoors.
To break things down even further, a heat pump works by…
Ground-source heat pumps draw heat from under the ground to perform the process above. A loop of pipes containing a mixture of water and antifreeze is installed which enables the system to collect the heat it needs.
Whilst they are much more invasive than their air-source siblings, they are usually more consistent and efficient since ground temperatures tend not to fluctuate as much as the air temperature. However, because of the amount of work needed to install one, they are also much more expensive than any other type of heat pump. As a result, they are only recommended for homes with enough space to cater for the extensive construction work required for both vertical and horizontal installation.
Water-source heat pumps take the heat from a body of water near your home. This could be a lake, river, sea or even an aquifer, but the process is then the same as before.
As with ground-source heat pumps, a water-source alternative is very efficient because water temperatures stay fairly constant throughout the year. Add in the fact that heat is transferred more effectively through water than the ground or air and it means that a pump of this type could be working at anything up to 600% efficiency.
Because of a combination of price and accessibility, air-source heat pumps are the most popular option for people looking to switch from a standard gas boiler and reduce their running costs. As you may expect from the explanations of the other types above, they draw the heat required from the air outside before taking it through the vapour-compression cycle.
The relatively low level of work required to install an air-source heat pump and its cheaper installation cost are clear advantages, but the fact that fluctuating air temperatures can cause a reduction in performance during the cold months means that they are not for everyone. However, this is typically not a problem if you have large radiators or underfloor heating in your home.
Air-to-air heat pumps are a bit different to the other types available because they don’t offer the same all-encompassing functionality. Used predominantly as air-conditioning to cool your home in the summer months, they still offer a way of warming smaller areas, but not by connecting up to your central heating. Instead, the hot air is blown throughout the house using fans.
With this being the case, air-to-air heat pumps cannot be used in tandem with your hot water system so this will need to be provided separately. This does, however, make this type of heat pump considerably cheaper than the others.
The major appeal of heat pumps is their greater energy efficiency when compared to gas boilers. This not only leads to fewer fossil fuels being burned but also lower household bills for you in the long run.
With heat pumps being powered by electricity, more and more of which is being generated from renewable sources, it’s clear to see that they have a big role to play in helping society reach net zero. Plus, the technology itself is designed to be up to four or five times more efficient than a typical boiler by ensuring much more heat energy is drawn from the various sources than is used during the heating process.
Heat pumps, and air-source heat pumps, in particular, are more financially viable than ever before, largely thanks to the government Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) that is in place until at least March 2028. The scheme includes a grant of £7,500 towards the installation of an air, ground or water-source heat pump.
So, with an average price of £10,000, the cost to you could be as little as £2,500 – much cheaper than a standard new gas boiler. When you consider that you could save around £4,800 over the lifespan of your heat pump, it becomes even more appealing.
Take control of your energy costs and join the shift toward sustainable living. Whether you’re upgrading your boiler or curious about heat pump technology, Cahill Renewables is here to guide you every step of the way. Contact us today for a no-obligation quote and see how we can help you save.
