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.