Air Source Heat Pumps
The best way to think about a heat pump is to imagine a bicycle pump – when you pump a bicycle pump it heats up as air inside gets compressed whilst the air that is being expelled is cold. The same principle can be applied to an air source heat pump. The refrigerant gas is passed around a series of pipes that compresses the gas, heating it before it enters the inside of the house via heat exchangers. The refrigerant is then allowed to expand through an expansion device eventually expelling cold air outside. Another analogy is to imagine a fridge, but the other way around – with the cooler air being pumped outside and the warm air going inside. Heat pumps can also be reversed to pump cold air into a house during the summer.
Main Benefits
• Having a heat pump could eliminate the need for a traditional boiler and significantly lower your heating bills because heat pumps run on electricity.
• Heat pumps can be used for both heating and cooling a house.
• If run on renewable energy, they can be very environmentally friendly.
Grants
No grants available. However Air Source Heat Pumps that generate renewable heat are eligible for the government’s RHI Tariff. This will pay homeowners/private/social landlords 7.3p/kWh heat generated.
Is my home suitable?
- If you are renting you will need your landlord’s permission
- If you are on mains gas installing a heat pump may end up costing you more in total energy costs - this is because gas is cheaper per kWh than electricity and a heat pump runs on electricity. If you are offsetting heating oil or LPG, or your house uses electricity only, heat pumps offer a very cost effective source of renewable heat. You must also ensure your house is insulated as much as possible to make the most of your heat pump's potential efficiencies.
- If you want to have an air source heat pump installed you may need to get planning permission. Please contact your Local Authority’s planning department.
Contact Us today on 0800 783 2503 for a free, no obligation survey and quote.
For more information and to find out if you or someone you know would benefit from further assistance or to get the countywide leaflet contact Action Surrey on 0800 783 2503 or email [email protected].
Updated June 2014
Elmbridge Borough Council, ww.elmbridge.gov.uk
Epsom & Ewell Borough Council, www.epsom-ewell.gov.uk
Guildford Borough Council, www.guildford.gov.uk
Mole Valley District Council, www.molevalley.gov.uk
Reigate and Banstead Borough Council, www.reigate-banstead.gov.uk
Runnymede Borough Council, www.runnymede.gov.uk
Spelthorne Borough Council, www.spelthorne.gov.uk
Surrey Heath Borough Council, www.surreyheath.gov.uk
Surrey County Council, www.surreycc.gov.uk
Tandridge District Council, www.tandridge.gov.uk
Waverley Borough Council, www.waverley.gov.uk
Woking Borough Council, www.woking.gov.uk
