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Air source heat pumps are becoming a more popular option for an alternative heating system to traditional fossil fuel-based methods. In the UK, our main focus for temperature control of our homes is the ability to heat, but in the height of summer, cooling our homes can also be an important consideration. We know that air source heat pumps work by transferring heat from the outside to the inside, and they can do the opposite. But a lot depends on the type of heat pump and the method of cooling mode delivery. Let's take a look in more detail.
Every type of air source heat pump is able to transfer heat from inside the home to the outside, to cool it. First, we'll look at how heat pump technology works and how it differs for each type.
Discover: How Efficient Are Air Source Heat Pumps In Winter
Heat pumps are powered by electricity. They are designed to extract heat from the outside and transfer it into the property to raise the temperature inside.
Air source heat pumps absorb heat from the outside air. It is used to heat a refrigerant liquid to the point that it evaporates into a gas. It is then compressed to increase the heat even further.
The resultant hot gas is used to heat the property via the heat exchanger, but this can be achieved in two different ways.
After the heat is transferred into your home, the refrigerant cools down and evaporates to turn back into a liquid, and the cooled air is blown outside.
Explore further: How Does An Air Source Heat Pump Work
This type of heat pump is not a full replacement for your hot water and heating system. It can only be used for space heating and not for heating the water that comes from your taps.
The heat from the gas is pumped directly into the rooms of the property through a fan coil unit, multiple fan coil units, or a network of ducts.
Air-to-water heat pumps are a full replacement for your boiler. The heat pump absorbs and transfers heat in the same way but instead of blowing that heat directly into the rooms, it connects to your wet heating system.
In other words, the heat is transferred into the water within your radiators or underfloor heating to heat your home. It will also heat the hot water that comes out of your taps.
Ground source heat pumps use the same method of heating as air source heat pumps but they differ in where they initially absorb heat from. Instead of absorbing it from the outside air, they absorb it from underneath the ground.
These heat pumps are more expensive than air source heat pumps but are often more efficient because the temperature under the ground is less variable than the air.
Learn more: How Does A Ground Source Heat Pump Work
Hybrid heat pumps use heat pump technology alongside a fossil fuel boiler. People choose this option for a variety of reasons. If the heat demand of the property is high or its insulation is poor and can't be replaced, a hybrid heat pump can allow for more efficient heating and lower energy consumption and bills
The refrigerant process that a heat pump uses is identical to that in your fridge, and it can be reversed. The heat energy can be taken outside and the cooled refrigerant liquid can be used to reduce the heat in your home. This can be harder to achieve with an air-to-water heat pump than an air-to-air heat pump.
An air-to-air heat pump is an air conditioner. You will most likely think of air conditioners as an appliance that is used to cool down a building, and this is easily achievable with an air-to-air heat pump.
The heat energy in your home is blown over an evaporator coil where it turns the refrigerant into a gas. This gas is compressed by the compressor and taken to a heat exchanger. The warm air is blown outside and the refrigerant gas is condensed into a liquid again, with the resulting cool air blown inside the house.
Air-to-air heat pumps work perfectly as air conditioners. You can easily switch between heating mode and cooling mode using the reversing valve, which gives you greater flexibility and makes them a good investment for the summer months.
Many people do not opt for an air-to-air heat pump, however, even with the benefits of cooling as well as heating. And this is for a few reasons.
Air-to-air heat pumps do not replace your central heating system. This means that you will still need a separate method to heat your hot water. Because of this, you will see fewer of the energy efficiency benefits of an air source heat pump. You will still need to use a fossil fuel method to heat your hotel water.
You also won't be eligible for a grant via the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) for an air-to-air heat pump. The BUS is a government scheme that gives people grants for installing a renewable energy replacement for their gas boilers, oil boilers, electric, or LPG boilers.
Because an air-to-air heat pump is not a full replacement for a standard boiler, and you will still need to use fossil fuel to heat your hot water, it isn't covered by the scheme.
Check out: How To Apply For Air Source Heat Pump Grant
You can use an air-to-water heat pump to fully replace your gas boiler and central heating, and it is covered by the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, but it is less good at air conditioning.
Air-to-air heat pumps work well as air conditioners because the cool air is blown directly into the property Air-to-water heat pumps cool down the liquid inside the central heating system instead, and this makes cooling the air more of a challenge.
Gain insights: Can Air Source Heat Pump Replace An Oil Boiler
There are two major issues with using an air-to-water heat pump for cooling: efficiency and condensation.
Radiators and underfloor heating are designed to emit heat, not cold. While the water inside them can be cooled, it doesn't radiate in the same way so it won't cool the room efficiently. You might get some cool spots but the temperature won't drop as easily as it is raised.
The biggest issue, however, is condensation. When water is cooled past its dew point, it creates condensation. This is a major problem for your pipework. Condensation can cause corrosion of the pipes, and it will also drip from them throughout the house, which will create water damage and mould.
You can address these issues to allow your air-to-water heat pump to cool as well as heat. It isn't common for people to do this because it will increase installation costs and can be time-consuming and difficult, but it can be done.
The main fix for efficiency is to use fan convectors. These look like radiators but they have fans inside. The fans forcefully distribute the cool air into the room meaning that it will cool it much more efficiently. They can also be used to heat and can raise the temperature in the room more quickly than conventional radiators.
The downside of this approach is that you will need extra electrical energy to power the fans, which will increase your energy consumption and your energy bills.
Addressing the condensation issue is more challenging. The fan convectors will have a condenser drain that takes the condensed water outside and you can also get models with a dew point sensor that prevents the radiator from condensing the water in the first place.
You will also need to modify the pipe network that carries the cooled water to prevent condensation. Any point in the system that isn't modified can produce condensation and cause issues with water damage.
It is entirely possible to reduce the chance of condensation issues when cooling with an air-to-water heat pump with some investment.
Some people will wonder whether it is worth modifying an air-to-water heat pump to cool as well as heat, and this is a question only you can answer. UK homes aren't usually designed for cooling because it isn't as much of a concern here as it is in other countries. It can get hot in the summer, but the hottest temperatures are usually seen on only a small fraction of the days.
With that being said, the summers are getting hotter, and if you personally find the hot weather uncomfortable and would prefer a cooler home, then you can make this happen with your air source heat pump.
We pride ourselves on ensuring that our clients receive the heating system that provides the best solution for their needs. We understand that every home is different and we approach all of our heat pump projects with a proactive and creative attitude.
We will work closely with you to make sure that your heat pump system meets your needs. If those needs include cooling capabilities, we will develop the approach that works best for your property.
Our highly trained team of heat pump engineers have the experience to understand how your heat pump will perform and will ensure that it is perfect for your property, your preferences, and your needs.
Contact us today for a consultation and find out how we can help you with your heat pump installation.
An air source heat pump works by moving hot air from one place to another. This process can be used to both heat and cool a home, but the reality can be more complicated than it first appears. An air-to-air heat pump is an air conditioner that can easily cool as well as heat, but it won't replace your boiler and you won't be using only renewable energy because you will need a separate heating method for your water. An air-to-water heat pump won't cool as easily and you will need to modify your radiators and pipework to reduce condensation.
