There is a lot of confusion recently around heat pumps in general. Even more so perhaps around air source heat pumps in particular. Hence, in this article, we will attempt to clear them up.
Although air source heat pumps are not a new phenomenon, they gained popularity more recently. This is due to recent endeavours of governments to push people to switch to green energy. They became key instruments in the UK’s net zero CO2 emission objectives.
Air source heat pumps are a greener alternative to traditional gas central heating in the UK. There are two main types of air source heat pumps. One is air- to-water, and the other one being air-to-air heat pumps.
Two Types of Air Source Heat Pumps
Air to water heat pumps take heat from the outside air, and transfers this heat energy into heating water. This in turn will supply warm air (via the radiators, or underfloor system) as well as hot water within a home.
However, it requires reconfiguring the existing wet heating system (e.g. radiators) in order to be able to install an air to water system. Air to water heat pumps are therefore very efficient on the one hand. However they are also very costly and rather difficult to install.
Air to air heat pumps take heat from the outside air. They turn this heat into warm air inside the home, via one or two, indoor, fan coil units. It is important to note here that although air to air heat pumps do not supply hot water to a home, they can work in reverse. This means they can be used as air conditioners to blow cool air during hot summer months.
Also, because they do not require reconfiguration of the existing heating system, they are certainly a lot cheaper and simpler to install.
Both types of air source heat pumps are very efficient and use greener energy than traditional gas central heating systems. However, they work differently, and offer different advantages and disadvantages.
