Air Source Heat Pump

By Author: Adam Nicolson
Total Articles: 475
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An air source heat pump is a great way of heating or cooling a home or commercial building. It is a technology that has been around since the 1950s. Very rudimentary units were even built in the 1940s.

However, up until a couple of decades ago, they were quite expensive and the relatively low cost of power meant that they were rarely economically viable. Today, things have changed. The cost of power has escalated whilst the cost of building and installing the pumps has fallen.

How an Air Source Heat Pump Works

The way an air source heat pump works is simple to understand. The heat source pump is usually set up outside the home or commercial building. It takes heat from the air outside and heats it up a little more before pumping it back into the building.

To run, and extract the heat from the outside air, the unit needs electricity. However, the amount of electricity used is very small indeed. It is far less than the amount of power that would be needed to produce the same levels of heat using traditional heating systems.

This is good for the environment as well as saving the owner of the property ...
... a great deal of money. Unsurprisingly, more and more people are researching this heat source. The good thing is that this kind of system can work in a huge range of temperatures, which means they can be used across the globe in a wide range of climates.

Installing an Air Source Heat Pump

They are exceptionally easy to install. To look at they are very similar to an air conditioning unit. However, if you want to connect it to your existing wet heating system and hot water system this can be difficult. You may have to install bigger radiators, so that part of the process is quite complex.

Most people do not have the necessary skills to install an air source heat pump. To get the most out of any heat pump system it is important that it is installed properly, so it makes sense to use installers who are properly accredited by the manufacturers of the heat pump you choose.

If you are considering installing an air source heat pump visit the Terra Therma website. They are accredited installation partners for all of the major heat pump manufacturers.