How do Air Source Heat Pumps Work?

Ground source heat pumps are not always suitable for every project mainly due to a lack of outdoor space. Air source heat pumps now offer a viable alternative as instead of requiring the installation of buried ground loops, air source heat pumps require only space on an external wall outside your house. Our air source heat pumps are available in outputs from 6-12kW and provide a total solution for domestic heating and hot water.

It may not feel like it to us but even on the coldest day or night, there is always lots of thermal energy (heat) in the air. Air source heat pumps work by extracting this heat from the surrounding air. This is done by the air handling unit that sits outside the property. Its large fan draws air into the unit and transfers it over a heat exchanger inside the heat pump itself. The evaporator then takes the heat obtained by the heat exchanger and turns it into a gas. This gas is then moved to the compressor where as you may expect, the gas is compressed and consequently the temperature rises. This hot gas then passes over another heat exchanger where the cold water from the central heating system condenses the gas back into a liquid. The heat from the gas is passed into the heat exchanger that supplies the central heating system and domestic hot water.

Code for Sustainable Homes - How air source heat pumps can help?

The Code measures the sustainability of a new home against categories of sustainable design, rating the 'whole home' as a complete package. The Code uses a 1 to 6 star rating system (☆) to communicate the overall sustainability performance of a new home. The Code sets minimum standards for energy and water use at each level with points being awarded for the use of low or zero carbon energy technologies such as air source heat pumps.

Although many house builders have already started to recognise the benefits of renewable technologies, such as air source heat pumps, the Code is set to drive this demand even further. With the rising energy prices and the increasing awareness of the carbon footprint, air source heat pumps can improve a home's Code rating, provide affordable heating and hot water and minimise carbon emissions. The Table below illustrates the Code Standard.

Benefits of Air Source Heat Pumps

• Reduce carbon emissions – Air source heat pumps can reduce a households carbon emissions by up to 50% in comparison to a traditional gas or oil boiler. This can be reduced further if the electricity used to power the air source heat pump comes from a renewable energy source e.g. wind turbines or solar PV.
• Low noise levels - Importantly, the air source heat pump from Danfoss is quieter than many older models running at between 45 and 51dBA at around 1m away. As a comparison, the average dishwasher usually runs between 55 and 70dBA and a refrigerator at around 50dBA. Remember - the air source heat pump is split into 2 parts and the outdoor air handling unit can be located up to 30m away from the property.
• Ease of installation - Air source heat pumps require no digging or excavation. In addition, installing an air source heat pump means there is no need for a costly connection to the mains gas network, no unsightly oil tank or storage requirement for solid fuel.
• Low maintenance - Air source heat pumps do not require any scheduled annual maintenance like conventional boilers. Good quality air source heat pumps should operate for at least 20 years.

For more information about Air Source Heat Pumps and their installation and our range of Heat Pumps contact us on 0114 270 3900 to speak to one of our team or complete the enquiry form on the website.