so you fancy a heat pump?

An air source heat pump (ASHP) is a renewable energy system that extracts heat from the outside air, even in cold weather, and uses it to provide heating and, in some cases, cooling for buildings. It operates on a basic refrigeration cycle, similar to how a refrigerator works but in reverse.

Here's how it works:

1. Evaporation: The heat pump contains a refrigerant fluid that evaporates at low temperatures. When the outdoor air passes over an evaporator coil, the refrigerant evaporates, absorbing heat from the air in the process.
2. Compression: The compressor then increases the pressure and temperature of the gaseous refrigerant, making it hotter.
3. Condensation: The hot, pressurized gas is passed through a condenser coil inside the building. Here, it releases the absorbed heat to warm the indoor space. As the heat is transferred, the refrigerant condenses back into a liquid state.
4. Expansion: The liquid refrigerant returns to the outdoor coil and goes through an expansion valve, where it expands and evaporates again, starting the cycle anew.

ASHPs are efficient because they move existing heat rather than generating it from a fuel source, making them environmentally friendly and cost-effective for heating and cooling homes and businesses. They can operate efficiently even in colder climates, making them a popular choice for sustainable heating solutions.

Do they work?  My mate Dave down the pub says they're rubbish.

Absolutely!  Air source heat pumps work like a dream but have gained a bad reputation because of poor installations done by poorly trained installers at the beginning of the heat pump revolution in the early /mid 2000s . They have to be designed and installed correctly and have a narrow envelope of performance and it's  simply not possible to 'turn them up' to compensate for poor initial design like you can with a gas boiler.  This is why its important to employ a contractor who is an expert in hydronic design - like Griffiths Heating!

Are they suitable for all houses?

Air source heat pumps are not suitable for all houses but they are suitable for most houses.  If your house is very large and poorly insulated a heat pump might not be the best solution.  On the flip side in a very small house it might not be possible to site the heat pump and hot water tank in the space available.

Are Heat Pumps noisy? My mate Dave says they make a right racket.

Modern heat pumps are whisper quiet. So much so that the only way you'll know that they're working is by looking at the fan spinning around.  Dave might have been looking at a faulty heat pump.

What does it cost to install a heat pump in a 3 bed semi?

Lets take a worst case scenario.  if you have to have all your pipe work and radiators replaced and a new un-vented water tank installed it could cost you up to £12,000 BUT the government will give you a £7500 BUS grant no strings attached to fit an ashp so the total cost to you would be £4500 which is less than replacing your old heating system with a new gas heating system.  You also do not have to pay VAT on a heat pump installation.  If your radiators and pipe work are suitable it could potentially cost you nothing! Contact us to arrange a no obligations consultation.

How do I qualify for the grant?

it's incredibly simple.  The grant is not means tested. All you have to be doing is upgrading your gas boiler or electric storage heaters for a heat pump and you will qualify for the grant.  We deal with all the paper work. Easy.  People self building their own house also qualify for the grant.

How do I get a quote?

Just contact us and we will give you some indicative prices before we visit your property.  If our estimate is within your budget we will conduct a full heat loss and system survey on your property and provide you with a firm quotation.  There is a small charge for a heat loss survey as it involves a good deal of time and effort to complete to the high standards we work to.