A Complete Guide to Heat Pumps in 2023

Written-by

Janet Richardson

Reviewed-by

Richard Burdett-Gardiner

Updated on

Sep 05, 2024

A Complete Guide to Heat Pumps in 2023

This is an old article that we keep online for reference only. Please visit our up-to-date 'Guide to Heat Pumps in 2024'.  

Everything you need to know about air, ground and water source heat pumps. 

Heat Pump Information

The term 'Heat Pumps' refers to a group of technologies that incorporate HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) devices that provide heat energy that is transferred from a source of heat or warmth to a destination called a heat sink, effectively 'pumping' warmth from one place to another. Heat pumps move thermal energy in the opposite direction of spontaneous heat flow by absorbing heat from a cold space and releasing it to a warmer one.

Their primary function is space heating through radiators, underfloor heating systems, or warm air convectors, they can also be used to heat water for use in your home or business. Most heat pumps have fantastic climate control capabilities and can be used to provide space cooling by simply reversing the process of space heating.

In many ways, a heat pump is functionally the same as conventional air conditioners. It's basically an air conditioner that can reverse itself. An air source heat pump for example will extract heat from air outside your property in the same way a fridge extracts heat from its inside and a ground source heat pump functions similarly, but it functions by taking the residual warmth from the soil or a water body outside your property and moves it inside. Although air source heat pumps become less efficient the cooler it is outside, they can be capable of operating sufficiently in temperatures of -15 C, which is 99.99% of the year here in the UK.

They have fantastic energy efficiency ratings and although they do have some impact on the environment (as they require electricity to run), they do not combust fuels directly, so in most cases they provide a fantastic way of lowering your carbon footprint.

The History of Heat Pumps

They were mentioned in various literature as early as the 19^th century. Lord Kelvin predicted their use in his second thermodynamic sentence. The sentence indicates that if heat can’t pass from a colder body to a warmer one by itself, we must be able to help it somehow. It is the heat pump that solved this problem. In the 1940’s Robert Webber established during his experiments with cooling that the freezing device condenser used by his freezer heats up considerably. Adapting the devices' principal function, he was able to build the first direct exchange heat pump.

By 2004 there were over a million units installed worldwide, providing 12 Gigawatts of thermal energy. Each year well over 100,000 units are installed. Read more here….

How They Work

A heat pump is an essential part of a heating and cooling system. To put it simply, a heat pump is a device that uses a small amount of energy to move heat from one location to another. It is an incredibly energy efficient heating method. Source heat pumps work typically by pulling heat out of the air or ground to heat space within a property, but they can be reversed to cool a property as well. The higher the input temperature from the ground, the lower the amount of work needed from the heat pump, the higher the CoP (coefficient of performance) and the lower the operating costs will be.

A heat pump doesn’t burn fuel it simply moves heat from one place to another. An air source heat pump for example will take heat from the air outside and pump it inside through refrigerant filled coils, very similar to the ones on the back of your fridge. Due to the wonders of modern technology this process can sufficiently warm your house even in outside temperatures of -15C, with complete interior climate control.

This section tells you all about how heat pump systems work. Read more here…. 

Types of Heat Pump Systems

There are many different types of heat pump, but they all operate on the same principle, heat transfer. The most common type of heat pump is the air source heat pump, which transfers heat between your house and the outside air.

It works by absorbing heat from the outside air. Ground source, water source or geothermal heat pumps achieve higher efficiencies by transferring heat between your house and the ground or nearby water source. Although they are more expensive to install, they generally have lower operating costs because they can rely on more constant source temperatures.

For more specific information on the types of heat pump that are available, read more here….

Benefits of Heat Pumps

There are many benefits, both financial and environmental associated with heat pump installations which are the reason heat pump systems have become so popular particularly over the last decade. 

Air source and ground source heat pumps are a great source of renewable energy because they use renewable heat from the environment. Some of the main reasons why people buy heat pumps are; they have high efficiency ratings, provide space and water heating and space cooling, they can substantially lower your energy bills, they can also significantly lower your carbon footprint and improve your property’s air quality.

It is worth mentioning here that solar PV systems make the perfect renewable partner for heat pumps. Heat pumps can use the electricity produced by the solar panels from sunlight and create up to 4 times as much energy as they consume.  Read more here….

Economic Considerations

It is difficult to calculate the precise savings offered by air and ground source heat pumps given the huge range of factors. You will still have to pay energy bills with a heat pump because it is powered by electricity, but you will save on the fuel you are replacing.  If your old heating system was inefficient, you are more likely to see lower running costs with a new heat pump.

To learn more about what you are entitled to claim and the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) (closed to new applications on 31st March 2022 and replaced with the Boiler Upgrade Scheme) or about how your proposed system could save you money, click on the heading. Due to their low running costs heat pumps can provide you with significant savings over traditional heating systems.

We have much more information on how to work out your pay-back period and further advice on what to ask of your installer, read more here...

Heat Pump Efficiency

If you heat with electricity, a heat pump can trim the amount of electricity you use for heating by as much as 30% to 40%. High-efficiency pumps also dehumidify better than standard central air conditioners, resulting in less energy usage and more cooling comfort in summer months. However, the efficiency of most air-source heat pumps as a heat source drops dramatically at low temperatures.

System efficiencies vary between installations and the parts used. Your property’s energy efficiency is also a hugely important factor to consider when calculating potential system efficiencies. Read more here….

Is a Heat Pump Suitable for my Property?

They aren’t suitable for all properties, but they are for most. There are a few things to consider for example, if you live in a low energy efficient, drafty property, then installing a heat pump without implementing other energy efficient measures such as fully insulating your property, your heat pump will struggle to be effective. Which type of system to go for, the proposed systems size, what technology it’s replacing are all important considerations.

It is advisable to consult with a professional and accredited installer to discuss all of these considerations.

This section will help you decide whether a heat pump system is right for you. Read more here….

Maintenance and Warranties

When a heat pump is correctly installed it should require very little maintenance and be expected to last for at least 20-30 years. The system will probably require an annual check which can be carried out by the systems owner or by a qualified engineer. If something does go wrong with your heat pump system, it can lose efficiency fast, but this under performance will most likely be quite noticeable. It’s a good idea to do some research into which units have the most favourable maintenance requirements.

Most Heat pumps come with a 5–10-year warranty on parts and labour as standard so anything less and start asking questions. Some also come with a free annual service, but this depends on the manufacturer and installer. Read more here….

Are Heat Pumps Worth the Investment?

If you currently use oil, electricity, liquid gas, or solid fuels to heat your home, an air or ground source heat pump may be a good way of reducing your carbon footprint and saving money on energy bills, especially cost-effective with the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) payments which came into effect in 2014 (closed to new applicants on 31st March 2022 and replaced with the Boiler Upgrade Scheme).

Before purchasing an air or ground source heat pump system make sure that your house is well insulated and that you have researched the proposed unit’s suitability to a large extent. Follow the link to find the vital information and guidance that we offer to prospective buyers. Read more here….

Manufacturers, Installers and their Accreditation

This section will tell you all about what certificates and accreditation to look out for when choosing your heat pump installer. We also use these pages to tie off any loose ends regarding issues to consider pre-purchase and pre-install. We provide a list of things to ask of yourself and your property, but primarily we list everything that you will need to ask your install company.

This section should prove very helpful to prospective buyers of heat pump systems. More on this here....

At the bottom of the ‘Accreditation, Installers, and Manufacturers’ page we have a search box to help you find a heat pump installer that can service your area. Our database is the largest in the UK. Please remember to get at least three quotes from qualified and capable install companies before giving your project the green light. More on this here....

If you have any questions, then don’t hesitate to contact us.