Air Source Heat Pumps are one of the most energy-efficient ways to warm properties. They consume less fuel and reduce carbon emissions. That’s why most people are trying for Air Source Heat Pumps.
Let’s discuss the details about how the Air Source Heat Pumps can warm the property!
Air Source Heat Pump
An air source heat pump (ASHP) is a pump that takes heat energy from the outside air and uses it to warm the home. Their work is similar to that of air conditioners, but in the opposite way. They use the heat of outside air to warm air or water.
After solar thermal systems, it is the most environmentally friendly way to warm the home. Except for solar thermal systems, every other heating system produces different quantities of carbon dioxide. However, in Air Source Heat Pumps, there is little combustion and little carbon emissions.
How Does an Air Source Heat Pump Warm the Home?
To know how an Air Source Heat Pump works, you have to understand its parts. There are 4 main parts of the Air Source Heat Pump.
Outdoor Unit
The evaporator coil absorbs heat from the outside air with the help of a fan. There is a refrigerant liquid in the evaporator coil, which turns into a vapour. The compressor enhances this vaporisation by increasing pressure and raising temperature.
Indoor Unit
When these vapours come into the indoor unit, the condenser will turn the vapours into liquid again. In both cases, the duct system and radiator will transfer the heat energy present in vapours into the room air. The vapours after releasing heat turn back into liquid. The circulation unit will push the water to move through all the pipes.
Refrigerant
The refrigerant system is composed of pipes and refrigerant liquid. This liquid is converted into vapours in the outdoor unit, and vapours are converted back into liquid in the indoor unit. The pipe system allows both the vapours and the liquid to move in the loop.
Control System
The control system includes the thermostat and controller unit. You can easily set a level of temperature using a thermostat to control the working and energy bills of an Air Source Heat Pump.
In this way, each part of the Air Source Heat Pump contributes to the overall heating and cooling of a building.
Getting Free of Cost Air Source Heat Pump
To get a free air source heat pump, you can take help from different government grants. Some of the most common grants in the UK are the following:
Boiler Upgrade Scheme
Under this scheme, the UK government provides £7,500 for an Air Source Heat Pump installation. However, there are certain eligibility requirements for this free-of-cost grant. These eligibility criteria are given below:
- The goal of this scheme is to replace the carbon-emitting systems with the carbon-free systems. That’s why the existing systems should not use any of the fossil fuels, such as gas, oil, or electricity.
- This scheme provides free-of-cost boilers only in Wales and England.
- The applicant should have the ownership of the property. If any tenant wants to apply, they should have permission in the form of a document.
- The newly built properties are not eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
If you are eligible for this scheme, you should contact a MCS certified installer to visit your property. If your property falls under the eligibility criteria, they will install the new Air Source Heat Pump by themselves.
Energy Company Obligation (ECO4)
ECO4 is a government-backed scheme which provides free heating system installations. In this scheme, energy companies are obliged by the UK government to make the country carbon-free and reduce fuel poverty.
One of the main grants of ECO4 is the Air Source Heat Pump installation. When you apply for this ECO4 Air Source Heat Pump grants, they will check your eligibility by considering the following factors:
- The applicant should have ownership of the home. The tenants can also get these grants by having permission from the owner of the property. Moreover, the people living in social housing schemes can also get these benefits by showing at least 50% ownership.
- This scheme is mainly for low-income people, so it will consider only those homeowners who are receiving government benefits. These benefits include the Child Tax Credit, Income Support, Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Working Tax Credit, etc.
- They install new Air Source Heat Pumps only in those properties which have an EPC rating lower than D.
- If local legal authorities recommend any house due to high energy bills or other vulnerabilities, they will also become eligible for the free Air Source Heat Pumps.
The easiest way to determine your eligibility for the ECO4 Air Source Heat Pump is through an online eligibility checker.
Process of Getting Free Air Source Heat Pump
The process of getting an Air Source Heat Pump can become simple and easy if you follow the steps given below:
- First of all, you should confirm your eligibility. You can read the eligibility criteria by yourself or ask any installer for this purpose. At the same time, you can use a credible online eligibility checker and put your information in it.
- If you find yourself eligible for a Free Air Source Heat Pump, you need to find a certified installer. They will assess your property to know your heat requirements and decide on the type of Air Source Heat System suitable for your home.
- Then, you have to submit your personal details in the application form and documents in the recommended manner. When they have assessed your document, they will send an approval letter. They will contact you and provide a timeline for the Air Source Heat Pump installation process.
- Now, they will start the installation process according to the decided timeline. After installation, they will not only guide you about maintenance but also hand over all the documents of the Air Source Heat Pump.
In this way, you can get a new Air Source Heat Pump installed in your home.
Conclusion
The Air Source Heat Pumps are not the only ways to warm your property; there are several other options, such as biomass boilers and solar thermal heating systems.
However, if you compare different systems and look at the best air source heat pumps, you’ll find they are among the most eco-friendly and reliable ways to heat a home.