We have over 15 years of experience installing air source heat pumps with great results for our customers.
Air source heat pumps are a renewable energy technology that takes warmth from the air outside (even in freezing conditions ) and uses it to heat the home and hot water supply. Because the air is heated by the sun, the energy that heat pumps produce is classed as renewable, even though the heat pump itself is powered by electricity which may or may not be from a renewable source.
Air source heat pumps use the same type of technology that keeps your fridge cold, but in reverse. A liquid refrigerant that has a very low boiling point is pumped on a loop between two heat exchangers. This refrigerant takes on heat energy from the outside ambient air temperature and turns into a gas as it warms up. This gas is then compressed back into a liquid, which increases its temperature further. The warm refrigerant then goes through a heat exchanger, which transfers the warmth to a separate body of water for circulating round the central heating system. During the final stage the liquid refrigerant goes through an expansion valve reducing the pressure and temperature and the cycle repeats.
COP and SCOP
COP stands for Coefficient of Performance, it is the ratio between the amount of electricity being used by the amount of energy being produced at that moment in time by the heat pump.
If your heat pump uses 1kwh of electricity and produces 4.5kwh of heat, it will have a COP of 4.5.
SCOP is the COP over a whole season or period. It stands for Seasonal Coefficient of Performance and it shows us the heat pump efficiency over an entire season. It is determined by calculating the total amount of heat delivered by the total amount of electricity used by the heat pump.
The actual ratio of ‘electricity in’ to ‘heat out’ will change over the year, as the air temperature outside changes, meaning they will be less efficient in winter.
A well-installed open-loop heat pump will reduce your annual fuel bill compared with a fossil fuel boiler.
A well-insulated home with high standards of air-tightness is also preferable as it will reduce your heating needs and enable you to run a smaller and cheaper heat pump. This is the same for whatever heat source you use, be it gas oil or heat pump. Look after the heat you produce.
Interested in a heat pump?
Heat pumps operate more efficiently at lower temperatures and so a larger area is required for the heat distribution. Underfloor heating is the ideal partner for a heat pump but large radiators or fan coils can also be used.
Heat pumps also work more efficiently when there are gradual rather than sudden temperature demands on the system and so need to be controlled differently to traditional central heating systems.
Finally, bear in mind that whilst the unit itself doesn’t take up a lot of space, they need to be positioned somewhere outside with adequate airflow. If you’re interested in an air source heat pump, get in touch now and we can arrange a site visit, we are based in Banbury but are willing to travel no matter where your location.
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