Air source heat pumps

An air source heat pump (sometimes referred to as an air-to-water heat pump) transfers heat from the outside air to water. This in turn heats rooms in your home via radiators or underfloor heating. It can also heat water stored in a hot water cylinder for your hot taps, showers, and baths.

How does an air source heat pump work?

Heat from the air is absorbed into a fluid. This fluid then passes through a heat exchanger into the heat pump, which raises the temperature and then transfers that heat to water.

See our in-depth guide to heat pumps for more information on how a heat pump works.

Air source heat pumps are suitable for many types of homes. They’re the most common type of domestic heat pump in the UK, with tens of thousands of installations.

You can use our online assessment tool, Go Renewable, to find out what renewable technologies are suitable for your home.

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There are a few things you should consider before deciding whether a heat pump is right for you.

There are several benefits of air source heat pumps:

• Lower your energy bills: depending on how your heat pump is designed and how you use it, you can save money on your energy bills. Find out more.
• Reduce your energy use: unlike traditional boilers (which use fossil fuels), heat pumps use electricity. However, the heat energy delivered to your home is much more than the electrical energy used to power the system.
• Cut your carbon emissions: heat pumps are a low carbon heating source, meaning that your emissions are lower than if you were using a gas or oil boiler.

As with any heating system, installing an air source heat pump requires consideration. You should think about:

• Installation costs: the typical cost of installing an air source heat pump is around £14,000, but funding support may be available depending on where you live.
• Space requirements: Not everyone will have space for a standard air source heat pump and hot water cylinder, but there are other options for smaller homes or homes without outdoor space. Explore different options for heating your home.

The cost of an air source heat pump installation varies depending on:

• the size of heat pump.
• the size of the property.
• whether it’s a newbuild or an existing property.
• whether you need to change the way you distribute heat around your property.

The typical cost of installing an air source heat pump is around £14,000.

Running costs depend on how your heat pump is designed and how it’s operated. Savings on your energy bill also depend on the system you’re replacing.

Heat pump running costs can vary depending on:

• Whether your radiators are appropriately sized.
• Your electricity tariff.
• How the heat pump is controlled.

For more information, head to our in-depth guide to find out how to get the most out of your heat pump and maximise your savings.

Here are the potential annual savings of installing a standard air source heat pump, including any recommended radiator upgrades, in an average sized, three-bedroom semi-detached home.

If you live in England and Wales, you can get £7,500 towards an air source heat pump with the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.

If you live in Scotland, you might be able to get an interest-free loan or a grant to make your home more energy efficient.

If you live in Northern Ireland, there isn’t a specific grant currently available but you can still ‘get heat pump ready’ and apply for funding for insulation via NI Energy Advice.