Air Source Heat Pumps

Typical external air source heat pump unit
Heat your home with energy absorbed from the air around you
Air source heat pumps absorb heat from the outside air. This heat can then be used to warm water for radiators or underfloor heating systems, or to warm the air in your home.

  • How do air source heat pumps work?
  • The benefits of air source heat pumps

How do air source heat pumps work?
An air source heat pump extracts heat from the outside air in the same way that a fridge extracts heat from its inside. It can extract heat from the air even when the outside temperature is as low as minus 15° C.
There are two main types:

  • An air-to-water system uses the heat to warm water. Heat pumps heat water to a lower temperature than a standard boiler system would, so they are more suitable for underfloor heating systems than radiator systems.
  • An air-to-air system produces warm air which is circulated by fans to heat your home.

The efficiency of air source heat pump systems is measured by a coefficient of performance (CoP) - the amount of heat they produce compared to the amount of electricity needed to run them. A typical CoP for an air source heat pump is around 2.5.
The benefits of air source heat pumps

  • Reduce your fuel bills: air source heat pumps run on electricity, so there's no need to pay for gas, oil or solid fuels to heat your home.
  • Cut down on wasted electricity: heating your home with an air source heat pump is much more efficient than using electric radiators.
  • Save space: an air source heat pump system is compact, and requires no storage space for fuel.
Is the system intended for a new development? Combining the installation with other building work can reduce the cost of installing the system.