01234 325 620

Email Us Here
What does an ASHP do?

What does an ASHP do?

Nov 1, 2024 | Air Source heat Pumps

Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP)

  • Extracts heat from the air.
  • Efficiency may vary based on outdoor temperature and heat pump performance.
  • Easier and more cost-effective installation than WSHP.
  • Suitable for a broader range of geographic locations.
  • Simpler maintenance requirements.

Air Source Heat Pumps: What Are They & How Do They Work?

As the world moves towards more eco-friendly heating solutions, air-source heat pumps have emerged as a new heating technology for UK homes.

But what are the tangible benefits of these high-tech appliances? How do they work? And can they really replace your trusty boiler?

In this guide, learn everything you need to know about air source heat pumps, including advantages, average running costs and lifespan, to help you decide whether this heating solution is suitable for your home.

What is an Air Source Heat Pump?

An air source heat pump (ASHP) is a renewable heating system that extracts heat from the outside air and transfers it into your home. An ASHP absorbs warmth from the air, even in cold temperatures, and uses it to heat water for your central heating system.

How Does an Air Source Heat Pump Work?

Air source heat pumps operate on the principles of thermodynamics. This is the science behind how heat, temperature, and energy transfer from one place to another.

They consist of an evaporator, compressor, condenser, and expansion valve that work in a continuous loop.

  1. Air is drawn in by the fan from outside, passing over the refrigerant fluid.
  2. The refrigerant captures heat from the air and becomes warm vapour.
  3. The vapour then passes through a compressor, producing hot refrigerant and usable heat.
  4. Heat in the hot refrigerant is then transferred to the heating and hot water cylinder through a heat exchanger.
  5. Once the heat has been transferred to the house, the refrigerant passes through an expansion valve which reduces its temperature, making it cold again and enabling it to capture heat from the air, continuing the cycle.

What Temperature Does an Air Source Heat Pump Produce?

Air source heat pumps are typically set to produce water up to 55°C, making them suitable for space heating and domestic hot water needs.

This is one of the reasons why ASHPs are becoming increasingly popular as a more sustainable heating solution within UK homes.

How Does an Air Source Heat Pump Work in Winter?

We know what you’re thinking. If a heat pump draws its warmth from the air, surely this would make it ineffective during winter? Yet, due to the nature of ASHP technology, this isn’t the case.

Contrary to common misconceptions, ASHPs can operate efficiently in winter conditions. Modern systems are designed to extract heat even from cold air, ensuring a reliable heat source for your home throughout the colder months.

This is possible because the refrigerant flowing around the heat pump’s system can absorb heat from the air even in temperatures lower than -20°C.

What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Air Source Heat Pumps?

Before you can decide whether to invest in an air heat pump for your home, you should understand the benefits and drawbacks.

Advantages

  • Energy Efficiency:

ASHPs are highly efficient and provide significantly more heat output than the electricity they consume. Some models offer up to 3-4 units of heat for every unit of electricity (300-400% efficiency). This is much higher than fossil fuel heating systems like conventional boilers, which can offer anything from 0.7-0.9 units of heat per unit of fuel (70-90% efficiency).

  • Sustainable Heating:

They harness heat from the air, a renewable resource, and can be powered by electricity generated from renewable sources.

  • Lower Carbon Emissions:

ASHPs contribute to reducing carbon emissions compared to traditional, fossil-fuel-powered heating systems.

  • Space Requirements:

Compared to ground-source heat pumps and water-source heat pumps, ASHPs require much less space.

Disadvantages:

  • Initial Cost:

The upfront cost of purchasing and installing an ASHP can be higher than traditional systems.

  • Weather Dependency:

The system’s efficiency may vary based on external temperatures.

  • Space Requirements:

ASHPs require a small amount of space outdoors, which can rule them out for properties like apartments. Sufficient space is also needed for a hot water cylinder; the space needed can vary depending on the size of the property.

Performing a quick side-by-side comparison, it’s clear to see that ASHPs provide an eco-friendly alternative to conventional heating systems.

Learn more about the benefits of upgrading to a heat pump.

Can I Get a Heat Pump Through the Government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme?

The UK government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme offers financial incentives for homeowners to upgrade to energy-efficient heating systems. Air source heat pumps are eligible for this scheme, providing a cost-effective way to make your home more sustainable.

If eligible for the scheme, you could be granted the following financial benefits:

  • £7,500 towards an air source heat pump
  • £7,500 towards a ground source heat pump (including water source heat pumps and those on shared ground loops)
  • £5,000 towards a biomass boiler.

As it stands, the scheme allows for up to one grant per property. Want to know if you could be entitled to this financial aid? Check if you are eligible on the official GOV site or read Ideal Heating’s blog, which covers everything we know about the new boiler upgrade scheme.

How Much Does an Air Source Heat Pump Cost?

The cost of an ASHP installation can vary significantly based on various factors, such as the type of system, your property’s size, and existing heating infrastructure. On average, installations may range anywhere from £3,000 to £18,000.

Learn more about heat pump costs.

How Much Do Air Source Heat Pumps Cost to Run?

ASHPs are more cost-effective to run than traditional heating systems. Their efficiency contributes to lower energy bills, and with the increasing focus on renewable energy, prices are expected to become more competitive soon.

According to recent studies from Which, heat pumps could soon become the most inexpensive way to heat your home:

“With the right combination, households could install a heat pump for as little as £500 and save more than £500 a year on bills.”

At a time when the nation is actively looking for ways to reduce our carbon footprint and prioritise sustainability, ASHPs could be the answer, providing greener heating for homes worldwide.

How Long Does an Air Source Heat Pump Last?

With proper maintenance and regular servicing, air source heat pumps can last up to 20 years or more.

Here are some key considerations that can influence their lifespan:

  • Quality of Installation:

Proper installation by qualified professionals is crucial for the heat pump’s performance. Poor installation can lead to inefficiencies.  

  • Maintenance:

Regular maintenance, such as cleaning filters, checking refrigerant levels, and inspecting components, is essential to extending the heat pump’s lifespan.

  • Brand and Quality:

The quality of the heat pump itself, including the accompanying components used, can impact its durability. Higher-quality units may last longer and perform more effectively.

How Much Electricity Does an Air Source Heat Pump Use?

The electricity consumption of ASHPs depends on a number of factors, such as the system’s size and efficiency. However, they typically use less electricity than traditional electric heating systems.

Heat pump costs have decreased in recent years and are predicted to continue dropping further. According to Octopus Energy’s latest running cost reports, ditching traditional, non-eco-friendly boilers costs around £50 more a year based on the October price cap prices. This figure is due to the higher current price of electricity versus gas, so it may change over time in line with the energy market and the rise in renewable energy.

Many energy providers also offer heavy discounts to those with heat pumps who opt for specially designed smart tariffs. Savings range from £85 or more a year, depending on your provider.

How Easy Is It To Install an Air Source Heat Pump?

The installation process for an air source heat pump involves the expertise of our team of trained professionals. While the complexity varies, our skilled installers can complete the job quickly and efficiently. Here are some of the things they might consider:

  • System Complexity:

The complexity of the installation can depend on factors such as the type and model of the heat pump, the existing heating system, and the layout of the property. Some installations may be more straightforward, while others may require additional considerations.

  • Site Assessment:

A thorough site assessment is necessary before installation. This includes evaluating the available space, electrical infrastructure, and insulation levels. Site-specific factors can impact the installation process.

  • Regulatory Compliance:

Compliance with local building codes and regulations is crucial. Installers need to ensure that the installation meets safety standards and legal requirements.

What Size Air Source Heat Pump Do I Need?

Determining the right size for your air source heat pump is crucial for peak performance and efficiency. The size of your property, along with the heat demand, influences the system’s size. 

Is a Heat Pump the Right Choice for My Home?

The suitability of an air source heat pump depends on your home’s specific requirements. Your home’s existing insulation, available space and installation costs all play a role.

If you’d like to discuss this further, our ASHP expert will be happy to chat with you to assess whether a heat pump is the right choice for your home. 

Myth-busting Air Source Heat Pumps

There are several myths that surround air source heat pumps. The main three misconceptions are that:

  • They are ineffective during winter.
  • They are more expensive to run than traditional boilers.
  • They are very noisy.

In reality, and as outlined above, modern ASHPs are designed to tackle these challenges, providing reliable, cost-effective, and quiet heating solutions for homes.

Not only does its advanced technology allow the device to perform efficiently in cold temperatures, but it also lets you save money on your annual energy bills. Sound levels are also low to medium – between 60 to 70 dB.If you want greener, more cost-effective heating, contact us today.

Cost Breakdowns

Cost Breakdowns

Feb 15, 2024 | Company News

We do not tend to break down our quotes or invoices.
We will give you a description of what we will do/have done for the overall price.

Many customers will look to potentially removing or separately sourcing or self-sourcing certain elements or materials – cherry picking.  But if you carry out certain works yourself or buy some of the materials, you then ask us to guarantee it all? How is this fair?

The price we give our customers is for the whole job and not part of the job. Things like set-up costs including office time, site preliminaries including the time spent during the survey, and our overheads including vans, tools, training, insurance, registrations, etc are spread across the whole list of work items for any one job. It’s also a price for us to take on the risk.

The quote or invoice takes account of our whole time not just the time we set foot inside your property.

When you buy a car, you don’t ask how much the bumpers cost, or how much time was spent making the spark plugs, and you don’t think about the time the design spent on the aerodynamics or the production team building the line.

Once you have a customer who begrudges the labour charge, they don’t think you should make a profit, but if we do not make a profit, then we will need to close the company and customers will find it increasingly difficult to find a good plumber.

We might be the only company that can do that work for you. Few have the experience expertise and quality workmanship to do the job you are requesting. Not all companies have equal levels of quality, service, flexibility, and price.

We provide quotes which means if we take longer on a job than we expected then we take the hit, and the client expects us to wear it. However, if we take less time than we expected, the client still expects a discount. How can that be a fair relationship?

Our timeframes

Our timeframes

Nov 8, 2023 | Company News

Why do we offer 4-hour arrival timeframes? And why that’s not as inconvenient as you may think

The appointments that we offer are four-hour timeframe appointments between 8 am-12 noon, 12 noon – 4 pm, and 4-8 pm. We appreciate that this may seem inconvenient to people so we wanted to clarify what this means, explain why we do it, and show you that this is really not as inconvenient as it may seem.

Why our appointments are four-hour timeframes and not time

As a company, a large proportion of our work is responding to emergency plumbing and heating jobs and repairs. This means that priorities are constantly shifting all day as different jobs come in. Factors such as how urgent or potentially dangerous the issue is, whether there are vulnerable people in the property and the location in relation to the position of our engineers all have to be taken into consideration when scheduling the day. A job that may have started as 2nd or 3rd in the schedule may have to be moved to later as other jobs come in. Likewise, they may become more urgent as situations develop and need to be moved up.

Another influencing factor is the nature of the work we do. If we were simply out conducting services all day, where we have a good idea of how long each job will take because they’re all pretty much the same, it would be easier to stick to a fixed timetable. However, the nature of emergency jobs is that we simply don’t know what we might find when we get there; it could be a simple fix or a much more complex repair. We are therefore not in a position to estimate how long each job will take so while we may know the order of jobs during the day (which of course could change anyway) we wouldn’t know how quickly we can progress through those jobs. Compounded by the ‘columbo’ approach many of our customers have, of ‘while you are here there is one more thing…’ we just never know how long we will be with the customer before you.

You can see then that it’s impossible for us to give customers an accurate time frame for their engineer visit. We have to manage people’s expectations and we think it’s better to be completely transparent and say that it is a window rather than give an estimated time and not be able to deliver on that promise.

We understand that people would prefer to have timed appointments but hopefully, this does clarify why we’re not able to provide them and why we work the way we do. We are committed to providing a high level of service to our customers: our standard operating hours for both engineers and office are 8 am – 6 pm Monday to Friday and we also offer a 24-hour emergency call-out service.

A plumbing emergency can be a distressing experience but we truly are here to get to you as soon as we can and resolve your issue as efficiently as we can. If you have any further queries about appointments or any other aspect of our services please call us on 01234325620 or send us a message at info@christyplumbing.co.uk .

Everything you need to know about Landlord Gas Safety Checks

Aug 9, 2023 | Company News

What is a Gas Safety Check?

A landlord’s gas safety check involves an approved, qualified engineer visiting the property and completing an assessment on the safety of the appliances and system. The Landlord will receive a record showing whether the appliance is safe or not. A full assessment of your property’s appliances involves checking:

● The appliance is operating at the correct operating pressure.

● There is an adequate air supply to the appliance and it is burning gas correctly.

● That flues and chimneys are clear and enable the appliance to emit gases and fumes safely to the outside.

● That all safety devices on the appliance such as cut-out devices are working correctly.

Gas Safety Checks are a legal requirement for all rental properties and you must provide evidence of this to your tenants. This is in the form of a Gas Safety Certificate which is provided by the landlord at the end of the inspection. It is important to note that Landlords are only responsible for the appliances they supply, therefore, if a tenant buys their own gas appliance, the responsibility of a safety check is on the tenant.

Are Gas Safety Checks only for landlords?

No, it is recommended that any homeowner should have yearly gas safety checks to ensure all appliances are running as safely and efficiently as possible.

The Gas Safe Register provides a huge portfolio of advice for all landlords and those interested in having a gas safety check. You can find out more here:

https://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/gas-safety/

Quick checks to do before purchasing a new home

Quick checks to do before purchasing a new home

Aug 2, 2023 | Company News

When buying their most recent home, only one in five buyers took the boiler’s condition and service history into consideration.

This could explain why nearly a quarter had boiler issues in the first 12 months after moving in, with 17% having to unexpectedly fork out for a replacement.

In order to avoid undisclosed problems when purchasing a house, there are many checks you can do to minimise the risk of issues further down the line.

● Check for water stains

Check out the shower or tap fittings and look out for any signs of water pooling or running. A sign for leaky pipes is the presence of stains on walls and ceilings.

● Don’t dismiss strange smells

A huge giveaway for drain issues is a bad smell whether that’s in the kitchen or bathroom areas. This could indicate a blocked pipe which isn’t allowing water to flow away and then creating a nasty smell.

● Don’t dismiss strange noises

Likewise with strange smells, unusual noises can also be an indicator that something is not working efficiently especially if it is coming from the boiler. If the noise is left, the problem is likely to worsen over time, and lead to the new homeowner having to splurge out on a new boiler.

● Book in a pre-purchase plumbing inspection

Lastly, the best way to completely check the house’s plumbing and heating system is to have a survey completed. A plumber will be able to check the drainage systems and ensure it is in good working condition before you fully commit to the house. If you are interested in having a survey completed, call us on 01234 325 620 or email us at info@christyplumbing.co.uk to request a quote.