Air source heat pump misconceptions and myths
When researching air source heat pumps, it’s inevitable that you’ll come up against some conflicting information about different topics.
Our experts are here to help answer some of the common questions, misconceptions, and myths you might have heard, so you can be confident in making the right decision for your home’s heating demands.
You can also learn more about what’s involved at each stage of an air source heat pump installation in our comprehensive guide, or by getting in touch with our team.
Let’s get started.
They don’t work in cold weather
In some cases, heat pumps are able to work in conditions as low as minus 15 degrees. While they might lose some efficiency during the colder months, when there is less ambient heat, air source heat pumps are more than capable of delivering warmth to your home, even when the temperature drops below freezing.
Heat pumps continue to work effectively in cold weather by using a defrost cycle that automatically activates when sensors detect a buildup of frost or ice on the outside coil, or when the temperature goes below a certain level. At this time, the flow of heated refrigerant is reversed, flowing to the outdoor coil where it melts away the ice buildup.
The process only takes a few minutes and you will likely not notice any disruption. You may notice some white steam coming from your heat pump during a defrost cycle but this is natural and shows the cycle is doing what it needs to.
They aren’t as effective as a boiler
As long as they have been installed correctly, with all the necessary heat loss calculations carried out, heat pumps can be up to four times more efficient than a traditional boiler. It’s also important that the home is well-insulated and gaps around doors and windows sealed.
They are expensive
Whilst the upfront costs of a heat pump may be higher than a boiler, the longer-term savings from lower running costs and ultimately, on energy bills, can help balance out some of the expense.
Grants such as the Government Boiler Upgrade Scheme can also be worth considering. These can reduce the costs of a heat pump, depending on your eligibility. A heat pump also has the potential to improve your home’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating and ultimately, the overall value of your home when it comes to selling at a later stage.
It takes longer to heat the home using an air source heat pump
Air source heat pumps work with lower flow rate than traditional boiler. As a result, your radiators may feel less hot to the touch, but this doesn’t mean that your heat pump isn’t generating the warmth you expect. The heat supplied by an ASHP is meant to be a constant and comfortable level, rather than being turned on and off like you would with a boiler.
Using additional heat saving measures such as thermostatic radiator valves and upgrading to quality insulation also has a bearing on how much heat is lost out of your property and, consequently, how much energy is needed for the heat pump to get the temperature to that comfortable level.
The correct output and sizing is also important; a heat pump that is too small will need to work harder to warm the home and waste energy in the process, whilst a heat pump that is too large will tend to ‘short cycle’, which leads to inefficiency and greater wear on the heat pump’s components.
Air source heat pumps are noisy
Air source heat pumps are designed to be quiet pieces of equipment. Typically, most ASHPs have a sound pressure level (measured at the unit itself) between 48 and 68 decibels – similar to that of a quiet refrigerator.
It’s worth noting that the noise level of an air source heat pump, while generally unobtrusive, does vary and depends on the heat pump being installed correctly. Location is also a key factor.
The sound level of an ASHP is a key part of ASHP installation and will be calculated during the installation checklist.
The electricity heat pumps use comes from fossil fuels
A heat pump needs electricity for its compression cycle to work. There is a misconception that that electricity is generated through the use of fossil fuels, but in reality, ASHPs have the flexibility to use electricity from renewable sources.
Because they transfer heat rather than generate it, heat pumps can be highly efficient, in many cases upwards of 300% when compared to traditional methods such as boilers.
Heat pumps are only suitable for new build homes and not my property
When correctly designed, air source pumps can be used in most property types. There may be a need for additional home modifications, such as upsizing radiators to make them compatible with the lower flow temperatures that heat pumps work at, or improvements to insulation and double glazing, but these will be worked out during the heat loss calculation.
Other considerations when getting an air source heat pump installed
We know that you’ll have plenty to keep in mind when looking into getting an air source heat pump at your property. Our comprehensive guide takes you through each stage of an installation and the important factors that you’ll need to have in mind.
Download the guide here.
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