Air to Water Heat Pumps

Air to water heat pumps transfer the warmth in the outside air to your indoor water supply for hot taps, showers and baths. These systems are compatible with radiators, underfloor heating and domestic hot water cylinders.

They operate using a similar vapor compression refrigeration process as an air conditioner. However, instead of blowing air past a copper coil, they pump a liquid refrigerant through a set of heat exchanger coils (similar to a refrigerator) that change states between liquid and gas or vapor.

Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency is one of the best tools we have to combat climate change, boost the economy, and ensure that air is safe to breathe. It has been an NRDC focus since the early days of the conservation movement, and it has helped to reduce carbon emissions and save consumers money.

Heat pumps use less energy than conventional heating systems and can be four times more efficient than gas and electric boilers. That means they can help to cut your carbon emissions by replacing coal and electricity-based boilers, reducing the amount of fossil fuel needed to heat your home.

They also reduce your carbon emissions by producing the heat you need from a relatively small amount of electricity. That means they can reduce your bills as well, which is a great bonus for many people.

Depending on your specific needs, you can also use an air to water heat pump to make hot water for your property. This is possible if the system has a temperature of at least 55degC (or 35degC if it only provides space heating).

An air to water heat pump can provide more than enough energy for the domestic hot water you need, even if you live in an area that has very cold temperatures. This makes them a good option for homes that are heated with hydronics (water heat transfer through pipes, radiators or other heat emitters).

A disadvantage of an air to water heat pump is that they cannot provide hot water as quickly as a traditional heater can. This can be a problem if you have lots of visitors or need to shower more frequently. However, this is not an issue for most households as they can usually cope with their own hot water requirements.

In addition, an air to air to water heat pump water heat pump can be used in places where you want to cool down the building. This is useful if you have a swimming pool or you just want to keep the air in your house at a comfortable temperature.

Air to water heat pumps can be particularly effective in areas where winters can be cold and there is not a lot of sunshine. This can help to keep your energy costs down, as you can rely on the heat of the sun to warm up your water rather than using your own energy.

Reliability

A well regarded air to water heat pump will give you a toasty warm home with the added bonus of reducing your energy bills. The best part is that a quality system will last for years to come. It’s a good idea to check the manufacturers warranty before you start your air to water heat pump shopping. Be sure to pick a reputable dealer with an A+ Better Business Bureau rating. The ABBB is also a great resource for finding the right installer for your project. If the A/C or heat pump manufacturer has no showroom in your town, it’s a good idea to ask around for recommendations from local experts in their field. The best ones will be more than happy to provide a complimentary estimate and advice.

Cost

Heat pumps are an energy-efficient way to heat your home and cut down on your energy bills. They are available in different types, depending on your needs, and come with a range of benefits. But it’s important to choose the right one for your home, and make sure that it is sized correctly so that you can get the best results from it.

If you’re looking for a heating system that is energy efficient and cost-effective, then an air to water heat pump might be the best option for you. These systems work by using outside air to provide heat for your radiators, underfloor heating and even your hot water cylinder.

Although they do rely on electricity, they are much more energy efficient than traditional boilers and central heating systems. In fact, in many situations they can replace up to a third of the energy used by conventional central heating.

There are a number of grants and schemes that can help to cover the upfront costs of installing an air to water heat pump. For instance, if you live in England and Wales, you could be eligible for up to PS5,000 towards the costs of your new heat pump through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.

Another popular scheme is the Domestic RHI (Renewable Heat Incentive) programme, which rewards householders for switching to renewable heating technologies. These include air source heat pumps, ground source heat pumps, and biomass boilers.

As well as saving money on your energy bills, these systems can also help to lower your carbon footprint. This is because they are based on a renewable source, and therefore produce less CO2 emissions than other types of energy-efficient heating systems.

In addition, they can be a great solution for older homes that have not been insulated properly. Often, they can be fitted alongside existing central heating systems and can save homeowners from having to pay for expensive boiler replacements or complete system renovations.

Some manufacturers have developed heat pumps that can operate at low ambient air temperatures, and some are capable of extracting useful heat down to -13°C (22°F). However, these systems are not available in the UK as yet and may be more difficult to install.

Climate Control

Heat pumps work by extracting heat from outdoor air and moving that to the interior of a building as hot or cool air. They are three-times* more energy efficient than other forms of electric heating and can cut your carbon emissions by up to 30%, depending on where you live.

They also provide a range of other services, including air purification and room-by-room temperature control. These features make them an excellent choice for new-build homes and those that are looking to reduce their carbon footprint.

For heating, an air to water heat pump works by extracting low temperature heat from outdoor air and delivering that heat to the wet central heating system in your home (similar to existing gas central heating). They are most effective in larger properties or where energy efficiency is important, but they don’t have the same heating capacity as a conventional boiler so may require a bigger radiator or underfloor heater in the rooms being heated.

When it is cold outside, the water passing through the outdoor unit can freeze up, reducing flow across the coils. The heat pump will operate a defrost cycle, switching to cooling mode for a few minutes to melt the ice and clear the coils so the air can pass through them again.

In most cases, this is not a problem because the defrost cycles only occur when the weather is very cold and humidity is high. However, some older units are susceptible to ice on the outdoor coils when there is too much moisture in the air and the temperature is below freezing.

To overcome this, some systems have a defrost cycle that switches the system to a cooling mode for air to water heat pump a few minutes to move heat from the home to the outdoor section to melt the ice on the coils. This reduces the efficiency of the air to water heat pump, but it is a lot better than the alternative.

To complement this capability, some newer air to water heat pumps are available that can run at ambient temperatures as low as -13°C. That means they can deliver useful heat to the hydronic radiant panel distribution system at even lower temperatures, helping you avoid the need for costly backup heat.