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Right now, lots of us are looking for ways to be more cost-effective and sustainable, both in our homes and our lives in general.
Investing in an air or ground source heat pump for your home could be an excellent solution for reducing costs and being more environmentally friendly. In this post we’ll take a closer look at the reasons why.
What is an air or ground source heat pump?
Heat pumps work by absorbing heat from the environment into a fluid, which is then compressed to increase its temperature. The heat is then transferred from the compressed fluid into the central heating system. This can then be used for hot water and heating.
The only difference between the two types of heat pumps is where they get their heat from.
Air source heat pumps get their heat from the air, whereas ground source heat pumps absorb their heat from the ground.
The benefits of installing a heating pump
Now that you know what air and ground source heat pumps are and how they work, it’s time to look at some of the benefits of having one installed.
- Reduced heating costs
The costs of installation for an air or ground source heat pump can be quite high when compared to more traditional heating systems. However, the costs of running the heating pump once installed will almost certainly be a lot lower in the long term. It is thought that a ground source heat pump, for instance, can lower energy bills by about a quarter compared to a new gas boiler.
The exact amount you save on heating costs will be determined by a range of factors. These will include the coefficient of performance (COP) of your heat pump, the amount of heat you intend to use in your home, and the extent to which insulation prevents heat from easily escaping your home.
- Better heating performance
The beauty of heating pumps is that they require very little maintenance and have a lengthy life span. This means that the system works highly effectively and has minimal running costs.
Low levels of energy are required for the pumps and the compressor to work, which further helps make the heating performance superior to that of more traditional heating systems.
- A sustainable heating alternative
Ground and air source heat pumps reduce levels of CO₂ emissions quite significantly when compared to more traditional heating systems. So, if you’re keen to reduce harmful emissions and use less fuel, arranging for the installation of heat pumps could be a great course of action.
Heat pumps are multifunctional and can actually cool your building too. As the pumps essentially sustainably recycle heat, they can cool buildings when it’s warmer, in addition to heating them when it’s colder.
- Reduced carbon footprint
Drawing on the above point, ground and air source heat pumps have benefits including a lower carbon footprint. The only emissions generated are those where the electricity is being produced, and the compressors use close to no electricity and don’t emit anything that will have a negative impact on the environment.
Paired with the increased energy efficiency of replacing conventional boilers, performance ratings are highly superior.
- Quick and easy installation
The time taken to install an air or ground heat source pump and get it running is another benefit. The time it takes to install and set up such a system will differ depending on the size, type and location of the pump itself, but most installations only take a week or two to complete.
When installing air source heat pumps, there is also a lack of groundworks. This makes the setup process even shorter.
- Ground heat pumps aren’t weather reliant
Ground heat pumps, in particular, are a great option because they’re not weather reliant. The ground remains a similar temperature all year round. Also, the temperature of the soil isn’t affected by any borehole pumps already in the ground, meaning there are no restrictions on the use of the ground. An added bonus is that ground heat pumps don’t have any outdoor units, meaning that the surrounding landscape isn’t affected in any way by the installation.
Now that you know some of the reasons why air or ground source heat pumps may be the ideal solution for your home, you might want to take the step of arranging to have one installed. There are various heat pumps available to suit your personal preferences, the location of your home, and the size of your budget.
