Heat Pumps

The Technology

A heat pump extracts heat from the ground, air or water and transfers it to a heating distribution system such as underfloor heating or low temperature radiators. There are two main types of heat pump; ground source heat pumps and air source heat pumps.

Ground Source Heat Pumps

The ground is at a very constant temperature throughout the year, below a metre temperatures are usually between 7 and 13 degrees Celsius. This heat can be extracted using a heat pump which runs a mixture of water and glycol through loops buried in the ground.

For every unit of electricity used to pump the heat, 3-4 units of heat are produced.

Is my property suitable?

GSHP requires external space so your property will need a garden or other space adjacent to the building for the ground loops to be buried in. It is most suitable for properties with underfloor heating as the operating temperature is lower than in a conventional heating system so a larger radiant area is required. This often means that this technology is best suited to new build properties in which underfloor heating can be installed at the same time.

Air Source Heat Pumps

Air source heat pumps extract energy from the outside air and can produce up to four times the energy needed to power them. An ASHP system consists of a compressor, an evaporator coil and a heat exchanger.

A refrigerant liquid which circulates within the system has a boiling point as low as minus 40°C and evaporates when absorbing heat from the outside air. It is possible to extract considerable heat from the air at temperatures as low as minus 15°C.

The resulting refrigerant gas is then compressed, adding more heat energy and raising its temperature to around 75°C. This heat is then passed via the heat exchanger into water and used to provide space heating through low temperature radiators, or underfloor heating systems.

Is my property suitable?

There is no need for digging or boring with an air source heat pump. All that is required is sufficient space outside your house for the heat pump. The dimensions of this are 943mm high x950mm wide x 360mm deep.

Depending on the make and age of your hot water tank, you may also be required to replace this.

Prices

For information on pricing and the grants available for heat pumps please click here.

back to Technology