Air Source Heat Pump Guide: Costs, Installation, and Benefits

There’s no denying that gas prices are higher than they’ve ever been. With little sign of them dropping, many people are deciding to switch their traditional gas boiler for an air source heat pump system to heat their homes.

An Air source heat pump gathers heat from the outside air (yes, even in cold weather) and uses that heat, along with some very cool technology, to transfer the warmth throughout your home. It works almost as an opposite refrigerator, and it’s one of the best ways to future-proof your home’s heating system as well as being a bit more environmentally friendly.

It can be an investment to make the switch from a traditional central heating system to an air source heat pump. However, it can have many benefits. So, if you’re considering making a change, here is some helpful information about air source heat pumps.

What is an Air Source Heat Pump and How Does It Work?

Heat pumps aren’t a new invention. They’ve actually been around for many years and are just one of multiple ways to heat your home. However, with energy bills soaring over recent months, they have made their way into the spotlight as a way to save money on your bills.

An air source heat pump, is a type of heat pump that absorbs heat from the air (yes, even in winter) and transfers that heat to water which is then pumped around your home via radiators or underfloor heating or stored in a hot water cylinder ready for washing up, taking showers, and running baths.

Everything around us contains heat in the form of thermal energy. This energy is always trying to flow from a warmer place to a colder place. Heat pumps utilise this natural flow of warmth, alongside some clever technology, to heat your home. 

Heat from the air is absorbed into a fluid (the refrigerant). This fluid then passes through a heat exchanger into the heat pump, which raises the temperature and then transfers that heat to water in your system. This water is then pumped throughout your home. Once the water has cooled again, it begins its journey anew – it’s pumped back out to the outside unit to be heated once more and pumped back through your heating system to keep things feeling toasty.

Is an air source heat pump right for you?

Air source heat pumps are suitable for many types of homes and are the most common type of domestic heat pump but there are some things to keep in mind when thinking of installing an air pump. 

Do you have the space?

You will need a location outside your home to install your air pump. This needs to be in an open space to allow for good air flow so if you have a very small garden, you may want to consider how much room you’d be willing to sacrifice. 

How is your home currently heated?

Most homes in the UK use radiators or underfloor heating to circulate hot water. If you don’t currently have radiators or underfloor heating, you will need to decide if installing them is an option for you. Although this is an opportunity to make sure the system is fully optimised for your new heat pump, it will come with higher installation costs. Although you will save more money in the long run.

Do you have a hot water cylinder?

A standard heat pump doesn’t provide hot water on demand like a combi boiler does, so you will need a way of storing the hot water for when you need it. If you already have one, great! You might not need to replace it. But if you rely on a combi boiler, you will probably need to find a spot to install the cylinder. 

The size of hot water cylinder required will depend on the amount of hot water that your household uses, but they can usually be fitted inside any cupboard around 80x80cm.

Shop our range of hot water cylinders and boilers if you don’t currently have one installed.

Air Source Heat Pump Costs: What You Need to Know

As we’ve mentioned, switching to a heat pump is a bit of an investment. You can expect a good quality, well-designed air source heat pump system to cost around £5,000 for the unit. Installation in a home that is approximately 250m2 can cost somewhere in the region of £11,500. 

It sounds like a lot but this price includes:

• A bespoke-designed pipe system, tailored to the property.
• Installation schematics.
• MCS support, required to access government grants.
• The ASHP, domestic hot water cylinder, buffer tank, circulation pumps and all of the connecting brassware for the components.

It is possible to reduce the initial cost of installing an air source heating system by applying for government incentives like the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which offers a voucher of £5000 to help pay off a chunk of the cost upfront.

Will an Air Source Heat Pump Save Me Money on My Energy Bills?

Heat pumps are more efficient than other heating systems because the amount of heat they produce is more than the amount of electricity they use. An air source heat pump will typically save you between £6,000 - 7,000 over its lifetime, compared to a gas boiler. It’s worth noting that how much you save will depend on the size of your system as well as the age of the system you’re replacing.

• Gas boiler - £1,302 yearly cost
• Oil boiler - £1,104 yearly cost
• Electric boiler - £3,504 yearly cost
• Biomass boiler - £1,131 yearly cost

If you’re ready to take the plunge and make the switch to a new, more efficient heating system, browse our range of air source heat pumps to find your new eco-friendly alternative to your old gas boiler.