Air Source Heat Pumps

An air source heat pump is a low-carbon way of heating your home. Although not as common as fossil fuelled boilers, the technology has been around for decades. In 2021 over 35,000 heat pumps were installed into domestic properties in the UK. These were installed in both new build and existing properties – some of these were even installed into Victorian and older properties.  

An air source heat pump extracts heat energy from the air outside and using electricity and something called ‘the vapour compression cycle’ upgrade this heat and feed it into your wet heating system. They work with both radiators and underfloor heating. Heat pump systems can also heat your hot water cylinder. This covers all your hot water needs.
 

Air source heat pumps are usually positioned outdoors at the side or back of a property. This is because air source heat pumps take energy from the air, so they need plenty of space around them for air to circulate.

Air source heat pumps look very similar to air-conditioning units. How big they are depends on how much heat they'll need to generate for your home - the more heat, the bigger the heat pump.
 

Inside, you'll usually have a hot water cylinder and some controls. 
 

You won't normally need planning permission for an air source heat pump, but if you live in a listed building or conservation area, then you'll usually need the consent of your local authority. Don’t worry, we can help with this.
 

Main Benefits of Air Source Heat Pumps

-    Less Energy : a well installed and designed heat pump can use around 4 x less energy than even the most efficient fossil fuelled boilers to generate the same amount to heat. This is because they absorb free energy from the air.
-    Less Carbon : The high efficiency of heat pumps means that installing one can instantly slash your carbon footprint by up to 75%. Plus they run on electricity, which with the installation of more renewables powering the grid, gets greener every year.
-    Less maintenance and longer lifespan : A well maintained heat pump can last roughly 15-20 years. Roughly twice as long as a traditional fossil fuelled boiler. 
-    Government Grants to install : In 2022 the government launched the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) – This is a £5,000 grant for homeowners, small businesses and self builders who install air source heat pumps to their properties. Find Out more