Thanks to the government increasing the Boiler Upgrade Scheme in October, renewable forms of energy have been hitting the headlines recently. So, you may already be aware that air source heat pumps are a popular choice for householders looking to switch to a more renewable form of energy.
But what is exactly is an air source heat pump system and, more importantly is it suitable for your home? Read on to find out.
Alternatively, if you’d like to speak to our renewable energy experts about the suitability of an air source heat pump for your home today, please call us on 01858 433 333 or fill in our contact form.
What is an air source heating system?
A domestic air source heat pump makes use of the air from outside to heat your home and water. It does this via a fan in a unit which will usually be attached to an exterior wall on your property. The fan draws the air in to heat a refrigerant that is then compressed to create heat. The temperature of the outside air is not a factor to be concerned about as air source heat pumps are efficient in temperatures as low as -15 degrees, meaning that they can easily heat your home and water even in the harshest of UK winters.
Not only that, an air source heat pump only requires a small amount of energy to run. For each 1kw of electricity required, the air source heat pump system will produce extra energy of up to 4kw per hour. This means the more you put in, the more you will get back!
Benefits of a heat pump
Installing an air source heat pump can have many advantages, including the following:
Financial
Eventually, we will all have to switch to renewable energy sources, which is why the government are currently encouraging us all to do so through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which offers a £7,500 grant towards the cost of switching to sustainable forms of energy such as air source heat pumps. There is also 0% VAT on the cost of installation, so if you are looking to replace or upgrade your current system, now is a great time to do so for your bank balance.
Also, once installed, an air source heat pump may save you money on your energy bills in the long run.
Environmental
As the recent COP28 climate conference urgently highlighted, all of us need to be more conscious of how our individual lifestyles impact the environment. Making the switch away from traditional fossil fuel boilers is a long-term step in the right direction in terms of making a meaningful contribution towards a net zero future.
Peace of mind
Generally speaking, air source heat pumps are simple to install and once up and running they tend to require little in the way of ongoing maintenance. This is welcome news to anyone who has ever had to deal with a boiler breakdown in the winter months!
Installing an air source heating system
Lewington’s Renewables division was established ahead of its time back in 2000, which means we’re the tried and trusted local company to install your air source heat pump. However, an important art of this process involves establishing if an air source heat pump is the best choice for you, or whether you would be better served by an alternative source of sustainable energy such as a ground source heat pump or even by a modern gas boiler.
Air source heat pump efficiency depends on several factors such as your home’s location, age, size and the type of system you are looking to replace. At Lewington’s we will always carefully consider all these important factors before making a recommendation for you based on our decades of experience.
If, following our advice, you make the decision to go ahead with an air source heat pump, we will recommend the best option for your circumstances from the leading brands including Mitsubishi, EcoDan, NIBE, Grant Aerona and Worcester Bosch. In fact, we won a Worcester Bosch Environment award for our renewable installation in 2020.
Local air source heat pump installers you can trust
For more information about air source heat pumps and other forms of renewable energy we can install for you including ground source heat pumps and solar hot water systems, please fill in our contact form or call us on 01858 433 333.
