What are heat pumps and how do they reduce my carbon footprint?
- design1548
- Aug 14, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Aug 15, 2024
Heat pumps are another energy-saving heating system that is catching the eye of affluent, savvy homeowners looking to reduce their carbon footprint and save on their energy bills.
But how exactly do heat pumps work and are they worth investing in? This blog looks at some frequently asked questions on heat pumps.
1. What are heat pumps and how do they work?
Heat pumps take heat from either the ground or air outside of your home— which is usually a low temperature—and increase it so that this energy can be used to heat your home or hot water system.
The energy created by a heat pump’s heating and cooling processes is enough to power central heating systems or to heat water tanks. Although the pump needs electricity to work, it’s considered very energy efficient as, on average, it creates three times the amount of energy it uses.
2. Is a heat pump more environmentally-friendly than a boiler?
Yes. Heat pumps use much less carbon than a standard oil or gas boiler, which is why the government is offering grants of up to £7,500 so homeowners can install a heat pump for less, often replacing their old, less energy-efficient boiler. These grants are available in England and Wales under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS).
3. What are the different types of heat pump?
There are two types of heat pump. One is an Air Source Heat Pump and the other is a Ground Source Heat Pump.
Air Source Heat Pumps
Air Source Heat Pumps extract heat from the air outside using heating, cooling and compression processes and transfer this heat to the inside of your home.
Air Source Heat Pumps can either be used to heat water, and are known as Air-To-Water Heat Pumps, or they can be used to heat the inside of your home using fans, and are known as Air-To-Air Heat Pumps.
Benefits and Disadvantages of Air-To-Water Heat Pumps in Homes
✔ Work well in insulated, air-tight homes
✔ Good for newly-built properties
✔ Work more efficiently in colder weather than a traditional boiler
✔ Efficient at radiating heat at lower temperatures for a longer period of time
X Initial cost can be expensiveX Radiator sizes may need to be increased to allow a larger heat output at lower temperatures
Benefits and Disadvantages of Air-To-Air Heat Pumps in Homes
✔ Great for heating smaller dwellings more efficiently, such as flats
✔ Can also be used for cooling rooms in the summer (a type of air conditioning)
X Can’t be used to heat water in the home
X Air ducts can be difficult to retrofit in an existing home
Ground Source Heat Pumps
These pumps work in a similar way as Air Source Heat Pumps but take the heat from the ground outside your home and pump it into your living space. Ground Source Heat Pumps can heat both your home and hot water so are a complete alternative to a traditional gas boiler.
Pipes installed in the ground outside your property absorb heat from the ground and this heat is mixed with a liquid called ‘thermal transfer fluid’ that helps the heat to be transferred more easily into your home. After travelling through a refrigerant, the heat is compressed which raises its temperature and this heat warms your home and your hot water cylinder.
Benefits and Disadvantages of Ground Source Heat Pumps in Homes
✔ Lowers your energy bills by reducing the amount of energy you use
✔ Reduces your home’s carbon emissions
✔ Better for larger properties
✔ Funding is available towards the cost via the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS)
X Not suitable if your home has little or no outdoor space
X Installation costs can be high
X You may need to update the type of radiator you have to improve the efficiency of the heat pump process
4. How much do heat pumps cost?
The cost of buying and installing heat pumps will vary depending on the size of your house and the type of heat pump you choose. Installation and purchase of the pump can be anything from £7k-£30k.
5. Should I ditch my boiler? Are heat pumps worth it?
The answer to this question will depend on a number of factors, and what your primary goal is. Do you want to reduce your energy bills? Do you also want to cut your carbon footprint? How big is your home and its outside space?
Our founder and Retrofit Coordinator, Leanne Madden, urges you to think about how energy efficient your home is right now:
“Firstly, it’s best to consider if your home is well-insulated. It’s not a good idea to spend lots of money on installing a heat pump if your home is cold and draughty. Once your home is sufficiently insulated and your property doesn’t need to use as much energy to heat, consider if you’re also willing to upgrade your radiators. This is because heat pumps have lower running temperatures than conventional boilers, therefore they need larger radiators to meet the heat demand of rooms. Heat pumps generally take longer to heat rooms but they work well when you keep the house to a minimum temperature and then boost the heating periodically during the day.
It’s also important to switch to a heat pump tariff with your energy supplier to keep costs down. Some of the big energy suppliers advertise these. You can also pair your heat pump system with solar panels.
Heat Pumps: Key Takeaways
Heat pumps take heat from the ground or air outside your home and creates 3x more energy than it uses.
You can get a grant to help you cover the cost of buying and installing a heat pump via The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS).
Heat pumps can be costly to install but they reduce the amount of carbon you use and eliminate the need for fossil fuels.
Consider if your home is well-insulated before buying a heat pump. A well-insulated home means you need less energy to heat it and keep it warm. A smaller heat pump will also lower installation costs.
Switch to a heat pump tariff provided by energy suppliers, or pair with solar panels, to reduce your energy bills further.
Want to find out how heat pumps can be used as part of a Home Energy Improvement Plan to reduce your carbon footprint and lower your energy bills for good? At Energy Lock, we’re a qualified team of energy experts committed to helping people make their homes more energy efficient.
Whether you’re looking to boost your Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating, or you want to improve comfort levels within your home, our services and expertise mean that you can make well-informed decisions on the best efficiency measures to implement.