There seems to be a high usage of Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP) being installed as planning Approval for new builds often come with a condition of including a renewable technology. ASHP are frequently being installed as they can be cheaper than other renewable heat sources.
There seems to be a continuous issue with the installation of ASHPs as lots of builders are employing non-MCS qualified plumbers to install their Air Source Heat Pumps without fully understanding how they work or how they should be installed resulting in an inefficient system, requiring more electricity to compensate for it.
Air source heat pumps (which are situated outside the building) works by pulling energy out of the air in order to warm a house or commercial building and can also heat your water. Some heat pumps can be reversed in order to cool the same space which is a big advantage in the summer months. The reason heat pumps are considered so efficient is because they merely transfer heat; they don’t have to burn any fuel in order to create it. Another big plus is that the pump can be integrated with other renewable technologies such as providing you with hot water and underfloor heating.
What some builders are failing to notice is that they HAVE to use a MCS certified plumber to install the Air source heat pump for the user to be able to apply for the Government Incentives.
ASHP need little maintenance and are called ‘fit and forget’ technology. This gives the user peace of mind that they will not need to have a local plumber on speed dial. The installation is fairly simple and can usually be completed within a day.
The main benefits of having an Air source heat pump are:-
• Will lower your fuel bills, especially if you are replacing conventional electric heating
• Could provide you with an income through the government’s Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI)
• Lower your home’s carbon emissions, depending on which fuel you are replacing
• You won’t need fuel deliveries as the system uses energy from the air
• Can heat your home, underfloor heating and provide hot water
If this is one of the first few times you have read about ASHP, you may wonder what they may look like, below are two examples.
We were contacted by Sarah last year when she decided to include a renewable system for their new development. She had the following comments:
“When designing our new home, our architect advised we may have to look into very high spec (and expensive) windows or an airsource pump in order to reach our energy efficiency ratings (SAP calculations). As we proceeded through the planning process it transpired that we wouldn’t be forced into this but could revert to an oil boiler if we wanted. Our builder decided to use Eco Installer for all the plumbing elements in our build. My husband and I met with the guys from Eco Installer and went through all the possibly options. This meeting was invaluable as it enabled us to really understand the different options and their implications, costs and benefits – we felt we could ask plenty of questions. In the end we decided on an air source pump combined with underfloor heating throughout, mainly due to the fact that our home is new and therefore so well insulated – and the funding available from the government made it a very attractive option too. My husband is an oil boiler service engineer himself so it was a decision we took very seriously – to go away from a technology he understands so well. The installation was very simple and as Eco Installer are MCS qualified, they were able to help with the applying process for the Government Incentives available. We moved in June 2013 and have found the hot water is running really well – we are now about to embark on our first winter using the technology. Watch this space for an update on how we get on!”
(Sarah Crick 2012)
Our fully qualified team are able to discuss how ASHP’s and other renewable heat technologies work in more detail. Our knowledge equips us to advise you on the potential savings that are available by taking a whole house approach to energy efficiency.
