With the price of heating our homes this winter forecast to rise yet again, now is an excellent time to consider alternative heating solutions. A heat pump works in a similar way to an air conditioner, except that it can heat your home as well as cooling it. On a basic level, it works by extracting ambient heat from the ground or air and pumping it into your home. Under the right conditions, a heat pump can save somewhere between 40 and 60% when compared to a traditional electrical furnace.
How heat is transferred throughout the house
Air source heat pumps take energy from the outside air and convert this into heat. By compressing a refrigerant, heat pumps are able to utilise even very low external temperatures to meet your heating needs. The heat is then pumped to radiators or underfloor heating systems around the house.
Ground source heat pumps extract heat from the ground, which has an average year-round temperature of 10⁰C. Heat is collected from the ground through a series of underground pipes, then the heat is transferred to a refrigerant and pumped around the home. Although ground source heat pumps are more effective than air source heat pumps, the extensive piping requirements means that they are often a better option for new-builds.
Which brand of heat pump should you choose?
There are a number of different brands on the market, and choosing the right one for your needs can be a challenge. Fortunately, here at Complete Renewables we have a wealth of experience with the major heat pump manufacturers and can help you make an informed decision.
Mitsubishi are high-quality manufacturers who build a robust pump with a lifespan of between fifteen to twenty years. It is designed to require less maintenance than a comparable gas furnace, and withstand temperatures of -25⁰C, should you live in a particularly cold area.
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Dimplex
Dimplex produces air source heat pumps that consistently rank very highly in terms of efficiency. These pumps operate effectively at a temperature range of -25⁰C to 35⁰C. They can provide heating and hot water as necessary, and are easy to install. Another advantage of this kind of pump is that their operating noise is kept to a minimum level.
Samsung is another brand that we are very happy to work with, and they have been a popular choice with many customers this year. It’s main selling points are hassle free maintenance and excellent pricing. Due to Samsung’s aggressive move into the marketplace, we were recently able to install a Samsung Air Source heat pump in Essex for under £4,500.
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Vaillant
Specialists in air-to-water and ground source heat pumps, Vaillant’s models create no harmful emissions and use minimal electricity. For every 1kW used to run the system, an air-to-water heat pump can produce 4kW of heat for your home. Like most heat pumps, Vaillant models heat newer buildings more effectively than older ones, so the newer your home is, the better value for money.
Earn an average of £2,800 per year with the Renewable Heat Incentive
Another excellent advantage to renewable energy heating is the government payments, known as the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), that you will receive per unit of renewable heat generated by your system. You can read about the RHI on the Energy Saving Trust website, or on the government’s website. At the current rate of 18.8p per kWh, an average home with a ground source heat pump can expect to receive £2,800 per year for the first seven years through quarterly RHI payments.
Should you like further information on a particular brand, or an estimate on the RHI values for your home, you can give us a call on 01621 827015.