Air source heat pumps - a guide for homeowners
The evolution of energy
Evolo, a Certas Energy company, was established to support the journey towards net-zero targets for homeowners and businesses. The world of low-carbon heating and energy technologies is vast and rapidly expanding, often making it a daunting prospect to navigate.
Our mission at Evolo is to guide you wherever you are on your energy transition and find the best solution for your needs and circumstances, whether that may be air source or ground source heat pumps, solar panels, or EV chargers.
You may have heard more and more people talking about low-carbon air source heat pumps as a greener alternative to an oil or gas boiler. But what are they, and how do you know if it’s a suitable option for your home?
What is an Air Source Heat Pump?
A heat pump heats your home and provides hot water. The heat pump installation replaces your boiler and can be connected to the central heating system. By extracting heat from the air, the installation produces renewable energy, allowing you to enjoy sustainable heating. Electricity is required to make an air source heat pump work, so your use of electricity increases. However, oil or gas consumption decreases considerably or even drops to zero depending on the type of solution you install, reducing CO2 emissions for heating the home. Watch our video guide here.
For homes that want to decarbonise but may not be suitable for a full heat pump installation at the moment, a hybrid solution could be an option. This is where an existing or new oil or gas boiler could be combined with a heat pump.
Can I save energy with a heat pump?
With an all-electric heat pump, you no longer need to use oil or gas for heating your home, and with a hybrid heat pump, you reduce oil or gas consumption by up to 80%. An air source heat pump can be the first step on your journey to making your home more sustainable.
Why is a heat pump greener?
Heating a home with oil or gas causes the greenhouse gas CO₂ to enter the atmosphere, contributing to global warming.
An air source heat pump uses energy from the air and electricity to heat a home. So your house is (for a large part) heated with renewable energy, and you use less or no oil or gas, thus reducing your CO₂ emissions.
Why should I get a heat pump?
Here are just some of the ways that an air source heat pump works to benefit your home:
· Reduces your carbon footprint by generating cleaner, greener heating.
· Efficiently turns 1kWh of electricity into 3.5kWh for heating and hot water.
· Reduces your running costs.
· Requires minimal maintenance
· Some eligibility for government grants of up to £5000 is available.
How much does a heat pump cost?
Air source heat pumps are a cost-effective alternative to even the most high-efficiency boilers in the long run. Whilst they are more expensive to purchase, the lifetime energy consumption is much lower, making an air source heat pump cheaper on the whole - ideal for homeowners looking to reduce their energy costs.
Do I have to do anything to my house before installing a heat pump?
The better your house is insulated, the better the result. Without good insulation and low-temperature heating, an all-electric heat pump will be less efficient.
As mentioned earlier, you can add a heat pump to an existing gas or oil central heating boiler to create a bivalent/hybrid system, allowing you to potentially make considerable savings on oil or gas consumption.
A hybrid heat pump can be a good place to start your home’s journey to net zero.
What are my next steps?
Our heat pump experts are on hand to answer any questions you may have and recommend the most efficient, clean and cost-effective answer to your heating needs. To get the conversation started, click here.
Did you know we offer solar panels and EV chargers too?
