Air Source Heat Pump Installation
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What is an Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP)?
An ASHP is an effective, low-carbon way of heating your home.
They provide a form of efficient electric heating which uses heat energy from the air outside to help heat your home.
This is how an ASHP works:
- The energy from the air is transferred to a refrigerant gas via a heat exchanger
- The warmed gas is then forced through a compressor to increase the temperature further
- A heat exchanger transfers this energy to your hot water and heating system
- The refrigerant gas is then cooled further in an expansion vessel and the process starts again
There are a number of different products and manufacturers on the market and the team at Geo Green Power install, service and maintain a huge variety of models.
What are the benefits & considerations of an ASHP installation?
Air Source Heat Pumps produce a lower amount of carbon dioxide in comparison to traditional heating systems which reduces your home’s carbon footprint and making it a much more sustainable choice.
Although expensive to install, ASHP installations are a sensible long term investment. Their energy efficiency and low maintenance costs make them highly cost-effective over their lifetime.
As part of its Net Zero plans, the UK Government is currently offering a grant of up to £7,500 through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) to homeowners looking to change their fossil fuel heating to an ASHP or similar low carbon heating system. Many new homes will be required to have low carbon heating to meet building regulations.
It is important when considering an ASHP that your home’s suitability is taken into account. Older, draughty houses may need insulation upgrades to meet the requirements, and homeowners may need new radiators and pipes to accommodate the ASHP.
Is your property suitable for an ASHP?
There are many great reasons to choose to have an ASHP installed at your property.
Insulation
To work efficiently, air-source heat pumps require a well-insulated house, in some cases older properties may require insulation upgrades prior to installing an air-source heat pump.
Access to mains gas
Properties with access to main gas are suitable for an air source heat pump installation, although a greater return on investment will be seen when switching from oil, LPG or electric heating systems.
Planning permission
Air-source heat pump installations do not require planning permission.
Heat emitter consideration
Air-source heat pumps work most efficiently with low-flow temperature emitters, making underfloor heating the perfect partner. Traditional radiators can still be used with air-source heat pumps, although the size of these will need to be considered.
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How is an ASHP installed and what is the process?
The air source heat pump unit will be fitted to the outside of the property, in a position with good airflow ensuring that nothing is blocking the unit.
The unit – around 1m wide, 1m high and 30cm deep – will be bolted to the ground, or have brackets connecting it to the property in order to secure it.
Once the air source heat pump unit is installed, it will be connected to the hot water cylinder. Depending on your existing system, the unit may easily link to your water tank with limited additional work. Larger radiator units may be needed to replace your existing radiators.
As air source heat pumps have very few moving parts, they require less ongoing maintenance than traditional heating systems. We recommend an annual service to ensure that your system is running at its optimum efficiency and to maintain your system warranty.
From initial enquiry to ongoing service and maintenance, we are on hand to answer questions and guide you through your installation process.
ASHP installation processes
The installation process for an air source heat pump in a single dwelling would typically take 5 working days, which includes commissioning. Unlike a ground source heat pump installation no groundworks are required, and therefore the process is more akin to that of a traditional gas or oil boiler.
The air source heat pump unit will be fitted to the outside of the property, in a position with good airflow ensuring that nothing is blocking the unit.
The unit, sized around 1m wide, 1m high and 30cm deep, will be bolted to the ground, or brackets connecting it to the property in order to secure it.
Once the air source heat pump unit is installed, it will be connected to the hot water cylinder. The unit may, depending on your existing system, easily link to your water tank with limited additional work. Larger radiator units may be needed to replace your existing radiators.
As air-source heat pumps have very few moving parts, they require less ongoing maintenance than traditional heating systems. We recommend an annual service to ensure that your system is running at its optimum efficiency.
From initial enquiry to ongoing service and maintenance, we are on hand to answer questions and guide you through the process of your installation.
Want to learn more about how air-source works?
How long does it take to install a heat pump?
The installation process for an air source heat pump in a single dwelling would typically take 5 working days, which includes commissioning. Unlike a ground source heat pump installation, no groundworks are required, and the process is similar to that of a traditional gas or oil boiler.
ASHP installation costs
There are lots of variables influencing the price of heat pumps and every install has to be priced individually. Below is a table displaying the approximate prices different sized installs would cost. Please note that these prices don’t include the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant of £7500.
| Size of install | Estimated cost |
| Small | £10,000 |
| Medium | £12,000 |
| Large | £20,000 |
We recommend an annual service of an Air Source system every twelve months to ensure it’s operating as efficiently as possible. Some manufacturers will ask for up-to-date service records in the event of a warranty claim. The servicing starts from £275+VAT.
Boiler upgrade scheme
The Boiler Upgrade scheme is a government-backed scheme for installing a heat pump. The owner of the system gets a voucher for up to £7500 towards the cost of the install if a fossil fuel heat source is being replaced or if the property has never had a heating system.
Geo Green Power claim on eligible customer’s behalf and manage the process throughout.
Air-source heat pump savings vs gas boiler
The running costs of an air source heat pump wouldn’t differ too much from those of a Gas Boiler – although the heat pump would be cheaper to run in teh longterm. The motivation to retrofit a heat pump would normally be driven by a desire to reduce your carbon footprint and/or to futureproof against the inevitable rise in fossil fuel costs.
With a new build, planning rules will often insist on heat pumps being installed. In this instance, the installation costs are not much higher than that of an installation of a gas boiler, especially if no gas supply is needed to the property.
If coupled with solar PV or a battery, then Air Source Heat Pumps can become incredibly efficient and cheap to run – sometimes costing nothing at all.
A recent ASHP installation
When Paul moved into his home in East Leake he discovered that the best option for replacing the 45-year-old oil boiler was an air-source heat pump. Paul carefully compared the cost of replacing the old oil boiler with an up-to-date condensing oil boiler or an air source heat pump system. He found that thanks to the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme, the installation costs were almost identical, and the heat pump would deliver lower running costs and have a much more positive environmental impact.
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FAQs
What will an on-site survey for an ASHP help to determine?
An on-site survey will help to determine: the right location, your heating needs and a timescale for your project.
Is an ASHP cheaper to run than a Gas Boiler?
Yes, an Air Source Heat Pump is cheaper to run than a gas boiler in the long term.
Can any home install an Air Source Heat Pump?
Some homes may not be suitable for an Air Source Heat Pump. Your home may require an insulation upgrade and new radiators and heating pipework.
