An air-source heat pump can provide efficient heating and cooling for your home. When properly installed, an air-source heat pump can deliver up to two to four times more heat energy to a home than the electrical energy it consumes. This is because a heat pump transfers heat rather than converting it from a fuel, like combustion heating systems.
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Air-source heat pumps have been used for many years across the United States. Recent advancements in technology have made them a viable heating alternative even in regions with extended periods of subfreezing temperatures.
For example, a study by the Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships found that when units designed for colder regions were installed in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, annual savings were around 3,000 kWh (or $459 at $0.153/kWh) compared to electric resistance heating, and 6,200 kWh (or $948 at $0.153/kWh) compared to oil systems. When displacing oil, the average annual savings are nearly 3,000 kWh (or about $300).
A heat pump's refrigeration system consists of a compressor and two copper or aluminum coils (one indoors and one outside) with aluminum fins to aid heat transfer. In heating mode, heat energy is extracted from the outdoor air and brought into the house via a compressor circulating refrigerant. A reversing valve changes the direction of refrigerant flow for cooling and for the winter defrost cycle. In warmer months, heat is extracted from the home and rejected outdoors.
Today's air-source heat pumps are more efficient due to several technical advances:
When choosing an air-source heat pump, it's essential to understand the different configurations available. These systems can be tailored to suit various home layouts, preferences, and heating and cooling needs. Here's an overview to help you make an informed decision:
Every residential heat pump sold in the United States has an EnergyGuide label displaying its heating and cooling efficiency ratings.
In general, the higher the HSPF and SEER, the higher the cost of the unit. However, the energy savings can return the higher initial investment several times during the heat pump's life. A new central heat pump replacing a vintage unit will use much less energy, substantially reducing air-conditioning and heating costs.
As of January , more stringent efficiency terms (HSPF2 and SEER2) were enacted to better reflect airflow resistance due to more realistic duct systems. For example, a unit rated at 15 SEER would be a 14.3 SEER2. Likewise, an 8.8 HSPF would equate to a 7.5 HSPF2 heating efficiency.
These are some other factors to consider when choosing and installing air-source heat pumps:
To choose an electric air-source heat pump, look for the ENERGY STAR® label. In warmer climates, SEER is more important than HSPF. In colder climates, focus on getting the highest HSPF feasible.
Heat pumps can experience issues with poor airflow, restrictive or leaky ducts, incorrect refrigerant charge, and improper wiring of electric resistance auxiliary heat strips. To ensure your heat pump operates efficiently and to avoid these performance issues, it&#;s essential to hire a qualified technician.
Consumers should seek out technicians certified by programs recognized under the DOE&#;s Energy Skilled Heat Pump Programs. This program identifies organizations that certify technicians and training programs for heat pumps, ensuring the technician has the necessary expertise to install and service the system correctly.
Finding a skilled, knowledgeable contractor is one of the most important steps to ensure the long-term performance of your HVAC equipment. It&#;s also one of the biggest barriers for consumers, after first cost. Be sure to hire someone certified by a recognized program to get the most out of your heat pump system.
For any given house with any given heat pump installed, there is a winter outdoor temperature at which the heat pump capacity is identical to the house&#;s heating load. This is known as the balance point and is usually well below 40°F for code-built homes. As the temperature outdoors drops below the balance point, the heat pump utilizes auxiliary heat to help meet the load on the house.
Many heat pump controls are incorrectly wired to automatically turn on the auxiliary strip heat if the indoor thermostat is changed by more than 3 degrees F regardless of the outdoor temperature. This results in unnecessary and wasteful auxiliary heating when the compressor could satisfy the thermostat.
For example, if the outside temperature is 50°F and the homeowner adjusts the thermostat from 66°F to 70°F, the strip heat should never activate.
There are several methods to prevent this, including installing an outdoor lockout thermostat. Make sure your heat pump is installed correctly and does not waste money and energy on unnecessary auxiliary heat operation.
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Air-source heat pumps provide efficient and effective heating and cooling for homes in various climates. By selecting the right type and ensuring proper installation, you can enjoy significant energy savings and improved comfort.
For more information and to find ENERGY STAR certified air-source heat pumps, visit the ENERGY STAR website. Ensure your system is installed correctly and maintained regularly to maximize efficiency and savings.
To find technicians certified under the DOE Energy Skilled Heat Pump Programs, visit the DOE Energy Skilled Heat Pump Programs page. Choosing a certified technician ensures proper installation and maintenance, helping to avoid performance issues and achieve long-term energy savings.
Awareness of air source heat pumps is increasing as more and more homeowners are talking about low carbon heating systems. A heat pump system is different to a traditional central heating system that uses a gas or oil boiler so to help homeowners fully understand the advantages and disadvantages of this renewable technology, we have summarised some in this article.
An air source heat pump cleverly uses the heat energy in the air and captures this to be used in a central heating system. Instead of using a fossil fuel, heat pumps are a renewable energy source and require electricity to power them. They do operate differently to a traditional heating system so living with a heat pump is not the same as a gas or oil-fired system.
There are many benefits that homeowners can enjoy when they own a heat pump but it is important that they understand the differences too, so let us take a look at some air source heat pump pros and cons.
If your home is currently heated by a fossil fuel, such as gas, oil or LPG, then swapping to a heat pump will mean you will no longer need to order these fuels, allowing you to heat your home more sustainably. You can therefore enjoy not having these fuel costs to pay each month as your gas bills will be no more!
When an air source heat pump is installed and set up correctly, they are very efficient units, maximising output for the energy consumed. For example, the Grant Aerona³ 6kW air source heat pump produces 6kW at a SCOP of 4.62 when tested at a low temperature and in average climate conditions (SCOP refers to the efficiency of a heat pump, calculating its overall performance during a particular season and dividing this by the annual energy consumed to run the heat pump). In summary, what this means is that for every kilowatt of energy used to run the heat pump, over 4kW of energy is being given to the heating system in return.
To view the performance data of Grant heat pumps, please download the data sheet here.
An air source heat pump appliance itself burns no fossil fuels and uses electricity. With more and more of the electricity generation in the UK now being produced via renewables, this makes a heat pump a better choice for the environment than gas boilers.
Grant heat pumps are user-friendly being both straightforward to control and simple to maintain. When an installer sets up and commissions a heat pump, they will set the core parameters of the system so that the end-user has minimal interaction with the controls. Thereafter, the homeowner can adjust their desired room temperatures via third-party controls, which may be app enabled, and they can sit back and enjoy their renewable system. The only thing to remember is to arrange the annual servicing of the heat pump.
As mentioned above, heat pumps do need electricity in order to work so if you install a heat pump, you will likely see an increase in your electricity usage. It is recommended that homeowners contact their energy supplier to see if a heat pump electricity tariff is available which may be a cheaper and more suitable tariff for an electric based renewable heating system.
A term you will often hear of with heat pumps is &#;low temperature system&#;. Unlike boilers which are high temperature systems, a heat pump operates at a lower flow temperature so to ensure that this heat can be effectively transferred into the space within the home, sufficient heat emitter surface area is needed and this is why correctly sizing the heat emitters is so important. It is not always possible to use existing radiators with a new heat pump as larger radiators, or an underfloor heating system, may be better suited.
Compared to traditional boiler replacements, a heat pump installation requires significantly more planning and preparation. The design of the system must be thoroughly completed with a detailed heat loss calculation carried out on the property to ensure it is well insulated, as well as a correct assessment of the heat pump output required and the correct sizing of the chosen heat emitters.
Ensuring your property is well insulated is key for an effective heat pump. We recommend as a minimum checking your loft, cavity wall and window insulation. You can find out more on our blog &#; how to prepare your home for a heat pump.
It is important that no corners are cut during the design phase to ensure that the system installed is the right one to meet the heat demand of the property most effectively and efficiently.
Provided the unit is installed correctly, adhering to all the do&#;s and don&#;ts which are detailed in our heat pump brochure, a heat pump will deliver years of reliable, sustainable home heating.
Homeowners need to be well informed about heat pumps so if you are interested in learning more about this renewable technology, visit our Knowledge Hub.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Commercial Heat Pump Manufacturer. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.