What is a heat pump?

A heat pump is a device that can transfer thermal energy between spaces, usually between an enclosed space and the outdoors. When used to heat a building, the energy is transferred from the outside into the building. A heat pump can also work as an air conditioner by transferring heat from the building to the outside.BLOG 13

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

About Heat Pumps

To begin with, heat pumps are an alternative heating system to boilers for heating your home.

Efficiency:

Heat pumps are a greener and more efficient alternative to traditional boilers but are a greater investment.

This is because of their higher installation cost.

What do Heat Pumps refer to?

The term ‘Heat Pumps‘ refers to a group of technologies and devices that combine heating, ventilation and air conditioning.

How do heat pumps work?

These devices provide heat energy which is then taken from a source of heat to what is known as a heat sink.

This pumps warmth from one place to another very effectively.

Heat pumps transfer thermal energy in the opposite direction of the spontaneous heat flow. 

This is done by absorbing heat from a cold area and releasing it to a warm one.

The main task of the heat pump is to heat up space through using radiators and underfloor heating.

Can heat pumps heat water too?

You can use the heat pumps to heat water for use in your home.

Most heating pumps include fantastic climate control capabilities. They can be used to provide cooling as well by reversing the heating process.

A heat pump can be similar to conventional air conditioners. They simply reverse the process of a standard air conditioning device.

What are the different types of Heat Pump Systems?

There are many types of heat pump systems, but they all use the same principle of transferring heat to operate.

Air Source Heat Pumps

The air source heat pump is the most common type of heat pumps. It works by transferring heat between your home and the outside air.

How do air source heat pumps work?

An air source heat pump uses heat from the air outside your home in the same way a fridge would use heat from the inside.

Do air source heat pumps still operate in cold temperatures?

Firstly, air source heat pumps become less efficient the cooler it is outside your home.

They are able to work sufficiently in temperatures of -15 C, which is 99.99% of the year in the United Kingdom.

Their energy efficiency ratings are fantastic. Nonetheless, they have some impact on the environment. It is because they run on electricity but they do not combust fuels directly.

As a result, you can be sure that they lower your carbon footprint.

Ground Source Heat Pumps

A ground source heat pump works in a similar manner.

However, it works by taking the residual warmth from the soil or a water body outside your home and moving it to the inside of your property.

How do ground source heat pumps work?

Ground source, water source or geothermal heat pumps have higher efficiency levels. This is possible through transferring heat between your home and the ground or nearby water source.

Although they can be more expensive to install, they cost less to operate. Ths is because they depend on more constant source temperatures.

Are ground source heat pumps Energy efficient?

The ground source heat pumps have fantastic energy efficiency ratings as well.

They do have some negative impact on the environment but they do not combust fuels directly.

However, they still need electricity to run.

Above all, they provide a fantastic way of lowering your carbon footprint.

History of Heat Pumps

Heat Pumps were first mentioned in literature as early as the 19th century.

Lord Kelvin

Lord Kelvin predicted their use in his second thermodynamic law.

This law explains that if heat can’t pass from a colder body to a warmer one by itself, we must be able to help it somehow.

Robert Webber

It is the heat pump that solved this problem.

In the 1940’s, Robert Webber determined, during his experiments with cooling, that the freezing device condenser used by his freezer heats up considerably.

Subsequently, by adapting the devices’ principal function, he was able to build the first direct exchange heat pump.

1 million units of heat pumps

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 across the world.

How Heat Pumps Work?

A heat pump is an essential part of both the heating and the 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 one.

Can heat pumps cool too?

Yes, and thet use energy efficient heating methods. Source heat pumps work by taking heat out of the air or ground to heat your home. But they can be reversed to cool your home as well.

Higher Ground Temperatures reduces operating costs!

The higher the input temperature from the ground, the lower the amount of work needed from the heat pump. On the other hand, The higher the CoP (coefficient of performance), the lower the operating costs will be.

It’s worth mentioning that a heat pump doesn’t burn fuel. It simply moves heat from one place to another one. An air source heat pump, for example, will take heat from the air outside and pump it inside through refrigerant filled coils. A process very similar to the one on the back of your fridge as a matter of fact.

Do heat pumps still work in the cold?

Owing to the wonders of modern technology, this process can warm your house even when it’s -15C outside, with complete interior climate control.

What are the benefits of heat pumps?

There are many benefits, both financial and environmental that made heat pump systems so popular recently.

Air source and ground source heat pumps are a fantastic source of renewable energy due to using renewable heat from the environment.

Some of the main reasons why people buy heating pumps are:

• They provide both heating and cooling at the touch of a button by using a wall monitor, a remote or even a smartphone application.
• Heating or cooling are provided very quickly because of the nature of their design.
• Installed in the correct way, they provide effective control over the temperature of your rooms.

And other reasons are:

• Firstly, they are very quick to heat or cool a place.
• Secondly, they sustain the desired temperature in a room for a long time.
• Lastly, Heat Pumps have a very high energy efficiency rating. Heat pumps are right now the most cost-effective form of heating systems that run on electricity. They achieve an average COP (Coefficient of Performance) figure of 2.5 or more and this can sometimes be as high as 4. Meaning that to reach 2.5 kilowatts of heating or cooling power, they use an average of less than one kilowatt of electricity!

To put it into perspective, a conventional heating system such as an electric fire or gas boiler has a COP of less than one. This means they use more than one kilowatt of power to generate one kilowatt of heat power.

Efficiency

As a result, a heat pump system is much cheaper and more efficient to run and will, for sure, lower your carbon footprint.

Generally speaking, a heat pump system can be 200% to 400% more efficient than other conventional heating systems. 

Without a doubt, this makes a heat pump system one of the most cost-effective ways of heating your home.

Heat Pumps have many cost benefits:

A heat pump will possibly save you a lot of money on your annual fuel bills becuase of its very high energy efficient rating.

The initial outlay can be tiring. Although they add value to your property, it’s often a good idea to look at a theoretical pay-back-period.

Make sure that you are not looking to move!

If you don’t see yourself staying at your current property, it might be more cost-effective to keep your current heating system. However, you should also take into consideration some of the other countless benefits of having a heat pump system.

Heat Pump systems will likely reduce your carbon footprint:

Heat pumps don’t directly generate heat by using combustion (heat pumps do not burn anything). As a result, There are no carbon emissions except those produced at the point of the electricity’s production. In short, only a small amount of electricity is needed to run the compressor.

Therefore, a heat pump is an extremely eco-friendly heating and a cooling technology.

Constant Improvements!

Heat pumps are also more environmentally friendly than before. As they now use R410A refrigerant which does not cause harm to the ozone layer if released.

A heat pump can prevent condensation:

If you want to use your heat pump for cooling in summer, then your room will be automatically dehumidified.

On the other hand, in winter the circulated warm air around your home will also serve to reduce condensation.

A heat pump can improve the quality of air in your home:

Heat pumps don’t burn anything to produce heat so they, therefore, don’t create any smoke or add fumes to the air.

As your heat pump circulates the air in your room, the filters will clean and purify the air removing dust, mould spores, odours, smoke and other particles. That’s why they’re perfect for people who suffer from asthma and other breathing difficulties and allergies.

Can heat pumps save me money?

It is difficult to calculate the exact amount of money you’d save by using air and ground source heat pumps, given the large range of factors.

With Heat Pumps, you still have to pay energy bills because it runs on electricity, but you will save on the fuel that you are using. So the cost of this saving differs depending on what fuel you replace and the size of your usage.

The Heat Pump savings depend on the following factors:

• Your property’s RHI eligibility
• Current heating source (Gas, oil, LPG, etc.)
• Property size, specifications and available outside space
• Energy efficiency of your home
• Energy consumption of your home
• The cost of the heating pump system installation and parts, based on the size and quality
• Type of system installed (i.e. air or ground source).

More efficiency:

If your old heating system is inefficient, you will possibly see a lower running cost with a new heat pump.

*Because of their low running cost, heat pumps can provide you with significant savings over traditional heating systems.

We can provide you with more information on how to work out your pay-back period and further advice  you on what to ask of the engineers installing your Heat Pump system.

Electricity Savings!

If you use electricity for heating, then a heat pump can reduce the amount of electricity you use by as much as 40%.

What’s more, high-efficiency heat pumps can also dehumidify better than standard central air conditioners, resulting in less energy usage and more cooling comfort in summer.

However, the efficiency of most air-source heating pumps as a heat source can drop at low temperatures.

System efficiencies vary between both installations and the parts used. Your home’s energy efficiency is also an important factor to keep in mind when calculating potential system efficiencies. Read more here….

Heat Pump Boiler Funding:

According to a recent BBC article:

To begin with, the government will offer £5,000 to people in England and Wales who are willing to replace their gas boilers with heat pumps.

This funding is a part of efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the United Kingdom.

Costs:

The article then talks about the cost of heat pumps.

Heat pumps can be quite costly to install. Often at prices between £6,000 – £18,000.

The cost of a heat bump depends on the type and the size of your home.

The £5,000 subsidy will bring the price closer to that of installing a new gas boiler.

Currently, gas heating accounts for 21% of the UK’s carbon emissions.

The government’s plan is that no new gas boilers will be sold after 2035.

How do heat pumps work?

In short, a heat pump is a device powered by electrically that absorbs heat from the air, ground or water around a building.

For instance, air-source pumps use outdoor air and pass it over tubes containing refrigerant fluids to produce heat.

Are heat pumps cheaper to run than a gas boiler?

at present, considering the high price of gas, it’s possible, but it’s not clear whether heat pumps will be cheaper to run in the long run.

The government says it will look at measures to make sure that heat pumps are no more expensive to run than gas boilers.

Can I install a heat pump at my home or property?

It’s easier to install heat pumps in newly-built homes, but older homes can also be fitted with heat pumps.

Air Source

As has been said, most domestic heat pumps will extract heat from the air outside.

A box of about one metre by one metre would be installed outside (close to or attached to the property) to draw in air.

It should be at least one metre far from your neighbour’s home so they will not be able to hear it. At any rate, it isn’t much louder than your normal fridge.

You also need space inside for a heat pump unit and hot water cylinder. The unit will be about the size of a gas boiler, while the cylinder depends on the size of your property.

A ground source heat pump needs much more space outside. Either a bore hole as much as 100m deep or a horizontal system dug into the ground over a large area.

What are the drawbacks of using heat pumps?

Installation can be difficult and expensive. You might need bigger radiators or to dig into floors.

And the high levels of insulation needed aren’t always possible to have in older, solid-walled homes common across the UK.

Engineers:

Engineers who are trained in installing and servicing heat pumps are, at present, anyway, much harder to find.

It is also currently unclear whether people renting their homes will have a way to insist on them being warmed by heat pumps.

For more on heat pumps from this BBC article please visit – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-57159056

Energy regulations…

Over the last few years, the UK has passed several government guidelines for boiler installation and energy efficiency. These guidelines need to be followed. please remember:

• Gas boilers should have at least a 92% ErP efficiency regardless of boiler type.
• A Combi boiler installation should have one energy-saving feature.
• You should have functioning time and temperature controls.

Can I Finance my boiler replacement or heat pump?

Buying a new boiler and having a boiler installation or a heat pump, is an investment. However it can be expensive, especially paying for it all in one hit.

If you haven’t got the money on hand for the boiler and installation services that you require, you can get the job done on a finance package that is FCA-approved.

We can also offer a number of split payment options for you to consider.

Boiler Replacement Payment Options

For new boiler installation, you can pay by card, pay zero deposit, and pay monthly over 2 to 10-years or use our a finance package.

So why Smart Adapt for your boiler replacement?

A. Smart Adapt Are Quality & Accredited Boiler Installers

Smart Adapt professional engineers and emergency plumbers provide a professional and reliable emergency plumbing and heating service all across the UK.

This service includes Boiler Installation and Heat Pump Installation, in Cardiff and the surrounding CF postcode areas of South Wales.

We also cover the rest of Wales and all of England (see below).

Our installation & repair team are all fully qualified to the highest standards and take pride in producing exemplary work standards which include completing all boiler installation requirements regardless of the time and day.

Qualifications & Accreditations:

Our team of high-quality professional engineers has a high score of 4.9 out of 5on Trustpilot score. And we are fully accredited by Gas Safe and Corgi registered, as well as FCA approved for all of our financial transactions.

Experts:

All of our staff at Smart Adapt are experts in their field and have gathered many years of experience, working on A variety of emergency plumbing and heating solutions and services throughout Cardiff, the rest of Wales & the UK.

B. Because we care…

Are you still a little confused about where to start or who to use?

Our easy-to-use online questionnaire will guide you through everything that you, and we, need to know in order to make sure that you have the correct solution.

We will also ensure that you are completely satisfied with the solution offered before completing any work.

Why else?

• We cover Cardiff and the surrounding areas of South Wales
• We are reliable, professional, and trustworthy
• High Trustpilot score of 4.9 out of 5.
• Gas Safe Accredited (corgi registered),
• Our finance is FCA accredited
• Our prices are very competitive
• We ensure that your house is kept clean and tidy
• Our workmen use floor protection
• We make sure your rubbish is correctly disposed of
• Our Service comes with a 12-month snag guarantee
• We travel anywhere throughout the UK

Get an Online Quote

You can research your boiler replacement requirements and choose your new boiler and the boiler installation online, without leaving the house…

If you need a new boiler or heat pump and installation, don’t hesitate to contact our heating engineers team for more information.

If you need a new boiler or heat pump then we can cover everything. That includes the full boiler replacement from our Smart Adapt Team.

365 & 24/7

We replace boilers and install heat pumps nationwide and include next-day installation (on orders placed before 12/2 pm in all seasons.

We are experienced and skilled in all aspects of heating installation services, repair and maintenance. So if you have any further questions please feel free to contact us.  Alternatively, please take a look at our FAQS or blog, if you have any further questions.

Our facebook page.

Get an online quote

The full range of heating & plumbing services provided by Smart Adapt are as follows:

• Boiler Repairs & Installations
• Boiler Supply & Fit
• Financing Your Boiler
• Emergency Boiler Repairs & Installations
• Emergency Boiler Supply & Fit
• Plumbing Repairs
• Bathroom Plumbing
• Kitchen Plumbing
• Emergency Plumbing Repairs
• Bathroom Plumbing in Emergencies
• Emergency Kitchen Plumbing
• General Plumbing Services
• Emergency Plumbing Services
• Emergency Gas & Heating Engineer

Areas covered by our Boiler Replacement Services:

The Smart Adapt engineers cover all of Wales & England.

WALES:

Smart Adapt provide Heat Pump installations throughout Wales.

This includes areas like: South East Wales, South Wales, South West Wales, Mid Wales, East Wales, West Wales and North Wales.

This includes the cities of Cardiff, Newport, Swansea, and all other towns and cities in Wales

ENGLAND:

Smart Adapt provide Heat Pump installations throughout England.

This includes areas like; South West England, South East England, East Midlands, West Midlands, North West England, and North East England.

It also includes Rnglish cities in the south like; London, Reading, Southampton, Portsmouth, Bristol, Exeter & Plymouth.

Cities in he Midlands like; Gloucester, Swindon, Oxford, Leicester, Nottingham, Derby, Birmingham, Worcester, Wolverhampton & Walsall

And cities in the north like; Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, York, Sheffield, Newcastle, Sunderland and Middlesbrough.

Any more questions?

If you have any further questions about Heat Pumps or Boilers, please see our FAQ Page.

Also please try our News Blog for even more info.

If you want to check out our Gas Safe Registration or want to see our near 5 star Trustpilot rating please click the relevant link!

FAQ’s