Air source heat pumps are an incredibly efficient and cost-effective way of heating and cooling your home, as well as providing hot water. They’re capable of handling all year round temperatures, so don’t need any special preparation for winter or summer. In this guide, we explore how much an air source heat pump cost and consider various factors that would affect its price.
If you’re also looking for more information on how air source heat pumps work before committing yourself (and your wallet) then this guide is for you. It will explain everything from installation costs and maintenance requirements through to running costs.
Air Source Heat Pump Prices
Air source heat pumps, also known as air to water or reverse cycle air conditioning units, are one of the most popular alternatives when it comes to electric heating and cooling your home.
The average cost for an air source heat pump is around £6,000 to £18,000 which would vary based on the different factors.
The price can vary depending on where you live so make sure you get quotes from several different companies if possible. The best way to find out what any company charges is to ask them directly – they’ll usually be happy to give you an estimate over the phone.
The prices largely vary based on the size of the house itself. For instance, a detached house with a 9 kW output can range between £8,000 to £16,000 whereas a mid-sized flat with a 5kW output can range between £6,000 to £8,000.
It’s important that any type of new heating system has a low kWh consumption rate so that running costs will be lower; otherwise it could become expensive very quickly! Air Source Heat Pumps are one such option because they use around 30% less electricity than other types such as gas powered heaters/air conditioners.
That said, you must remember that with continuous improvement in the technology, and as this heating method becomes more common, air source heat pump prices could vary too.
Installation Cost Factors
The installation cost of a heat pump depends on a number of factors, including the size and location of your home. The bigger your house, for example, the more labour it takes to install a system.
Additionally, the type of pumps used and the brand you decide to opt for can affect the cost of air source heat pump as well.
How do air source heat pumps work
Air source heat pumps use a reversing valve to change the direction of the airflow. This way, they can either absorb or release thermal energy from your home to or from the outside environment.
It has the capability of extracting heat from air with a temperature as low as -20°C. It can therefore be useful to heat your place from even the coldest days of a British winter.
The heat pump uses the natural heat in the air to heat your home and moves it through an electric compressor. This can help save you money from heating as well.
The compressor is what makes this possible; it works by compressing gas molecules together until they become hot. This warm gas is then circulated throughout your house, warming up any room you like!
Air Source Heat Pumps Benefits
Air source heat pumps are generally more energy efficient than other heating systems. They run on electricity, which means the price of your heating bill will stay stable over time.
You can also save money by increasing the efficiency of your home’s insulation, windows and doors to get more out of your air source heat pump system.
Air source heat pumps are cheaper to run than other types of natural gas or oil systems because they use electricity as their main fuel.
The cost of running an air source heat pump is about half that of conventional electric storage water-to-water heating systems but slightly higher than domestic hot water (DHW) systems because it uses two different types of energy sources: electricity and natural gas or propane gas.
Additionally, ASHPs are safe to use. Unlike gas, you won’t have the added danger of carbon monoxide and explosive fuel being in your home. It’s simply a powerful device that turns your home into a comfortable living environment.
Finally, using an ASHP does not require the need for fuel. As such, if you don’t want to install gas pipes into your home or if you have limited access to fuel, you might consider an air source heat pump as an alternative to a tank of heating oil or a storage unit of bottled gas.
Limitations of Air Source Heat Pumps
Air source heat pumps also have a few disadvantages, including:
Physical space requirements
Air source heat pumps need to be installed in an area with plenty of room for their components. This means that if you’re in an apartment or condo, air source heat pumps may not be suitable for your home. Even if you’re living in a house with plenty of physical space available for installation, it might still be difficult to fit them into the interior design’s aesthetic.
Noise levels and energy usage
These are generally higher than other heating systems. While air source heat pumps do produce less noise than traditional furnaces and boilers, they can still be loud enough to interfere with conversations or sleep patterns if you have one installed next door to your bedroom — which isn’t great news if yours is right above or below where the unit is being installed!
In addition to this potential annoyance factor though (and depending on what kind of floor plan layout your house has), there may also simply not be any other feasible options available when considering how best to place this new system within.
But there are ways to get around these limitations by installing the right components which you can discuss with the electricians.
Types of Air Source Heat Pumps
There are two types broadly two types of Air Source Heat Pumps:
- Air to Air Heat Pumps – These units use air from outside your home and transfer the heat from it into the air inside.
- Air to Water Heat Pumps – This is similar to an air to air heat pump, but instead of transferring the heat directly into your home’s heating system, it transfers it into a water tank that has been installed in your attic or basement. The water then heats up and warms your house through radiators and baseboards as if you were using gas or oil for heating.
Air to Air heat pumps
If you’ve been considering installing an air source heat pump, it’s a good idea to learn how they work and what they’re capable of. Air source heat pumps are a great way to make your home more comfortable while cutting down on energy costs.
An air source heat pump uses an outdoor compressor that pulls in cold outside air, which is then heated before being distributed throughout your home. The process works in reverse during summer months when cool indoor air is run through the system for cooling purposes.
When running at peak efficiency, these systems can easily provide more than 90% heating efficiency year-round!
Air to water heat pumps
An air to water heat pump, on the other hand, is an efficient way to heat and cool your home, using electricity as its power source. It approximates the heating capacity of a traditional gas boiler with efficiency at low temperatures, making it suitable for underfloor heating and large radiators. Heat pumps can also be used to provide hot water.
How Much Money Do Air Source Heat Pumps Save?
The amount of money you save depends on many factors, including the size of your heat pump, where you live and how much heating and cooling your house needs. However, a rough estimate is that an air source heat pump can cut energy costs by 20% to 40%, which may not seem like much but will add up over time if you use it as often as necessary.
The higher the temperature inside your house, the more efficient your air source heat pump will be—so if you have a little extra cash in your budget to make upgrades like insulation or weather stripping around windows and doors (which will deliver significant energy savings), then consider doing so before installing an air source heat pump.
Air Source Heat Pump Grants
For those who have storage heaters or old fossil-fuelled boilers, if you feel you would like to take advantage of an air source heat pump, but can’t afford it right now, the UK Government set up The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).
In addition to offering low running costs, heat pumps can also reduce your carbon footprint. The RHI scheme is currently being phased out but you may still be able to claim air source heat pump grants or subsidies.
This grant covers the government’s non-domestic renewable heat incentive (RHI) and UK residents looking to make the switch onto renewable energy sources. Both the UK Government and Ofgem websites have more information, so be sure to give them a read.
Domestic RHI Scheme
Under the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme (RHI), heat pumps are eligible for grants and the payment depends on various factors such as your property location, how old your property is, the type of house you live in, types of walls used etc.
Renewable Heat Premium Payment (RHPP)
Heat pumps are also eligible for Government subsidies under another scheme – the Renewable Heat Premium Payment (RHPP). This is a payment made by your local council to people who own a renewable heating system, such as a solar water heater or ground source heat pump.
The amount you can receive depends on how much energy you use, so it’s worth getting an estimate from one of our partners or contacting your local authority for more information about eligibility and rates.
Air Source Heat Pump Running Costs
The running costs of these ASHPs are low, but you will need to pay a little more in the winter months.
Air Source Heat Pumps run on electricity and can be used as a heating system in your home or business during the winter months. They are most commonly used as a central air conditioning system during summer months, but they can also be used as a supplementary heating source when it gets cold outside by using their reverse cycle function.
There are 3 main components that determine an ASHP’s running cost:
- The efficiency of the heat pump.
- How much heat you need for your home.
- The temperature of the heat source (outside air)
Accordingly, the running cost can be derived by determining the Coefficient of Performance (CoP). This helps determine the kWh output which can in turn be used to calculate the electricity usage by multiplying the electricity rate per unit.
For instance, as the outside temperature drops, the efficiency of an ASHP will also drop. You would expect this to happen as there is less heat trapped in the air to extract.
However, ASHPs can easily extract quite a lot of heat at temperatures commonly found in a UK winter. Typical Coefficient of Performance factors (COP) can range from 3.86 at 8°C down to 2.3 at –8°C. So, you see, you’re still harvesting a decent amount of energy even at that low temperature!
Turning on the Air Source heat pump all day
To reduce the air source heat pump cost, it’s best to find the most efficient times of use. Should you leave the heat pump on all day? This is a question that people often ask.
There are conflicting viewpoints on the answer to this question. If you leave the heat pump boiler working constantly, even when you’re out at work, it will continue to work to keep the temperature at the pre-set level. In contrast, if you allow it to turn on and off at set times, say half an hour before you wake up or come home, the boiler works harder to heat the water from cold every time.
It’s worth thinking about whether your lifestyle would benefit from one approach over another and make sure that whatever decision you make fits with how often (and how long) your house needs heating throughout each day.
Final thoughts
An air source heat pump is a great way to reduce your heating bills and the cost of running your home. Air source heat pumps use energy from the air around us to warm up our homes, meaning that they’re not dependent on electricity or gas supplies which could be affected by power outages or price changes in the future.
They’re also very efficient because they only need one-third of conventional systems as well as being able to work in all weather conditions.
If you would like any help figuring out whether or not an air source heat pump is worth the money for your home, then please contact our team here at Complete Electricians for a free consultation and quote today!
