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Air source heat pumps

Air source heat pumps (ASHPs) absorb heat from the outside air to heat your home and hot water. They can still extract heat when air temperatures are as low as -15°C

If you have large garden space outside, you could consider a ground source heat pump.

ASHPs need electricity to run, but because they are extracting renewable heat from the

environment, the heat output is greater than the electricity input.

 The benefits of air source heat pumps

  • lower fuel bills are likely, especially if you are replacing conventional electric heating.

  • potential income through the UK government’s Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). (air-to-water)

  • lower carbon emissions.

  • no fuel deliveries needed.

  • can heat your home as well as your water.

  • minimal maintenance required.

  • can be easier to install than a ground source heat pump.

 

During winter, an ASHP may need to be on constantly to heat your home efficiently. You will also notice that radiators won't feel as hot to the touch as they might do when you are using a gas or oil boiler.

Unlike gas and oil boilers, heat pumps deliver heat at lower temperatures over much longer periods. If you are installing an ASHP to replace a gas or oil boiler, you should consider whether you can also upgrade your insulation to get the most out of your ASHP. You might also consider fitting larger radiators or underfloor heating.

 

View case studies and examples of homeowners who live in Scotland who have installed an air source heat pump.

Air source
Is an air source heat pump suitable for me?
 
To tell if an air source heat pump is right for you, there are a few key questions to consider:
  • Do you have somewhere to put it? You'll need a place outside your home where a unit can be fitted to a wall or placed on the ground. It will need plenty of space around it to get a good flow of air. A sunny wall is ideal.
  • What type of heating system will you use? Air source heat pumps perform particularly well with underfloor heating systems or warm air heating because they operate at low temperatures. Homes without an existing central heating system will require one to be installed for an air source heat pump to work.
  • Is your home well insulated? Since air source heat pumps work best when producing heat at a lower temperature than traditional boilers, it's important that your home is well insulated and draught-proofed to minimise heat-loss.
  • What fuel will you be replacing? The system is more likely to pay for itself if it's replacing an expensive system like electric heating. You’re unlikely to save much on your heating bill if you’re switching from mains gas.
Are there different heat pumps for other types of property?
 
If your home doesn’t meet all the criteria for a heat pump to operate at optimum efficiency, it may still be possible to heat your home effectively using heat pump technology. One option is to fit a hybrid heat pump, where a heat pump and a  conventional gas or oil boiler work in tandem.
With these systems, most of the time the heat pump will provide all your heating needs with the gas or oil boiler switched off. However, on occasions when the heat pump is not able to provide enough heat on its own, such as when outdoor temperatures are very low and your heating demand is high, the fossil fuel boiler turns on.
The system can either be set up so that the heat pump then switches off, allowing the boiler to provide all your heat, or it can be set up for both systems to run at the same time. This will depend on the cost-effectiveness and design of your particular system.
Another approach is to fit a high temperature heat pump. This is just like any other heat pump, but it has been designed to work effectively with a higher temperature output. It won’t achieve the same efficiencies as an equivalent system operating with a low temperature heating circuit, but it will be able to provide sufficient heat at a high enough temperature to keep you warm.
Other renewable heating systems
You may also want to consider ground source heat pumps, which use pipes buried in the ground outside to extract heat, or a biomass boiler using sustainably grown wood fuel to run your central heating.
If you live in Scotland, we recommend using our Renewables Selector tool to find out which means of generating energy might work best for you.
Costs, savings and financial support
Costs
Installing a typical system costs around £9,000 to £11,000. Running costs will vary depending on a number of factors including the size of your home, how well insulated it is and what room temperatures you are aiming to achieve.
Savings
 
How much you can save will depend on what system you use now, as well as what you are replacing it with. Your savings will be affected by:
  • Your heat distribution system. If you have the opportunity, underfloor heating can be more efficient than radiators because the water doesn’t need to be so hot. If underfloor heating isn’t possible, use the largest radiators you can. Your installer should be able to advise on this.
  • Your fuel costs. You will still have to pay fuel bills with a heat pump because it is powered by electricity, but you are likely to save money on your fuel bills (depending on the type of heating you are replacing).
  • Your old heating system. If your old heating system was inefficient, you are more likely to see lower running costs with a new heat pump.
  • Water heating. If the heat pump is providing hot water then this could limit the overall efficiency. You might want to consider solar water heating to provide hot water in the summer and help keep your heat pump efficiency up.
  • Using controls. Learn how to control the system so you can get the most out of it. You will probably need to set the heating to come on for longer hours, but you might be able to set the thermostat lower and still feel comfortable. Your installer should explain to you how to control the system so you can use it most effectively.
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