Air source heat pumps

Providing the property is well-insulated, an air source heat pump is likely to be suitable. Insulation is really important because it prevents heat escaping, enabling the heat pump to work efficiently at lower flow temperatures.

The levels of insulation in new build properties, and generally those built in the last 10 years, are likely to be suitable for an air source heat pump. Older properties will require insulation upgrades like loft, cavity wall and glazing improvements.

A heat pump could be a particularly cost-effective choice if your property doesn’t have access to mains gas. This is because for every unit of electricity the heat pump uses, it typically outputs three times the amount in heat energy. You can expect a heat pump to be more efficient and cheaper to run than an electric-only heating system or an LPG boiler.

Yes, it can, providing that the insulation is being improved – ideally as close to current build regulations as possible. This enables the air source heat pump to work efficiently and keeps running costs low.

Insulation should be up to modern Building Regulation standards to ensure the heat pump both effectively and efficiently heats the property.

An air source heat pump is around 300% efficient. This is because for every unit of energy it uses to extract heat from the air, it typically outputs over 3 units of heat energy into the property.

We can help you to find an installer for your heat pump through our Registered Installer Network.

If you already have an installer in mind, we can support heating engineers to fit heat pumps to Microgeneration Scheme standards, offering a range of commissioning packages.

The installer will need to have the following pre-requisite qualifications:

• Part L Energy Efficiency
• G3 Domestic Hot Water Systems
• Water Regulations 1999

They will also need to hold public liability insurance of over £2million.

An air source heat pump is a low-carbon, efficient renewable technology. A big benefit is that it offers a cleaner and greener way to heat a home – no fossil fuels.

Aside from their eco credentials, air source heat pumps are also eligible for a £5000 grant through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.

The Microgeneration Certification Scheme or MCS is often described as the renewables equivalent of Gas Safe. You will need your heat pump system to be MCS compliant if you wish to benefit from any government grant, like the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.

In the majority of cases an air source heat pump does not require planning permission, falling under Permitted Development in line with MCS020. Obviously, it is important to check this before getting started!

If the property is listed, in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or Conservation Area, planning permission will be required.

Yes! Heat pumps are at their most efficient when operating at lower temperatures, making this technology a perfect partner for underfloor heating (UFH), which operates at a much lower flow temperature than radiators.

Heat pumps can still be used in conjunction with radiators, but the radiators would need to be oversized in order to heat the property adequately.

Not much! The air source heat pump unit is fitted outside of the property. You will need some space inside for the domestic hot water cylinder, buffer tank and the other components.

For heat pumps up to 12kW, you need a footprint around the same size as a standard hot water cylinder – similar to a large airing cupboard.

Heat pump powered underfloor heating works best with highly conductive floor coverings such as stone or ceramic tiles, vinyl or lino. If the floor covering has good thermal conductivity, the heat pump and UFH can operate at a lower flow temperature for optimum efficiency.

The actual distance a heat pump needs to be from a neighbouring property depends on the unit used and any fences, hedges, walls etc. between the heat pump’s location and the assessment position. This is covered by MCS020 – something we take care of for you.

You can easily control your heat pump via a series of icons on the control panel that enable you to set heating and domestic hot water (DHW) schedules, as well as view live operating data and current temperatures. Every on-screen menu has a help button which provides clarification on each of the functions.

Yes. Any competent plumber can install an ASHP to MCS standards with our support.

Yes. Our heat pump systems come with a 7-year warranty when commissioned by a Nu-Heat engineer.

Nu-Heat offers a unique air source heat pump MCS support package. This includes an on-site commissioning visit from one of our engineers who will check that the ASHP has been installed correctly.

Nu-Heat supplies NIBE heat pumps that offer weather compensating technology.

Weather compensation works by adjusting the amount of energy it uses to achieve the desired inside temperature, according to the outside weather conditions. For example, your heating system will not have to work as hard to achieve and maintain a set minimum inside temperature on a warm summer’s day as it would in the depths of winter.

This is a more efficient alternative to a traditional central heating schedule, which will fire up the boiler to deliver heat to your radiators at certain times of the day or night, regardless of the outside temperature, and only regulates the heat output according to the temperature of the water circulating around the system.

Plumbing an air source heat pump takes a similar amount of time to installing a conventional boiler. Electrically, heat pumps are a little more involved, so it may take a couple more hours to wire than a boiler.

Yes. The most efficient way to provide domestic hot water (DHW) for your home is to allow the DHW cylinder to remain ‘topped up’, with the heat pump operating to replace the used hot water.

Most heat pumps can be set to switch on a standby electric immersion heater to ensure that you always have hot water when you need it.

No. An air source heat pump makes less noise than the flue of a gas boiler. NIBE ASHPs are the quietest on the market thanks to their Owl Wing Technology.

Yes. Heat pumps work effectively year-round.

The top 15m of the Earth’s surface maintains an average year-round temperature of 12ºC. Ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) use this heat source to supply the energy required to heat domestic water, and a low temperature heating system such as underfloor heating.

Air source heat pumps work in a similar way, except they extract available warmth from passing air rather than from the ground. In theory they should be able to extract useful energy from the outside air down to temperatures as low as -15°C. The storage cylinder provides both domestic hot water and a boost of heating energy in the coldest weather.

An air source heat pump should be serviced yearly to maintain the warranty and to ensure the system is working as it should be. The cost of an annual service will be around £200-£300.

Yes, absolutely. It’s the most efficient way.

NIBE air source heat pumps come with a 7-year warranty when commissioned by a Nu-Heat engineer but you can expect a life expectancy well in excess of 10 years.

No, we would not recommend it. Air source heat pumps are at their most efficient when producing low flow temperatures. Because of this, they should be paired with low temperature heat emitters, like warm water underfloor heating.

This stops the heat pump from overworking and keeps running costs low. Radiators are still an option but they would need to be oversized to effectively heat the room/s with lower water temperatures.

Yes, you can, but we would advise against it. This is because an air source heat pump is designed to work as a weather compensation system, running as and when needed to heat the home, rather than at predefined times.

No. Well-insulated properties that have access to mains gas are still suitable for an air source heat pump. Providing it is designed and installed correctly, the running costs will be low – comparable to mains gas – but with the added bonus of lower carbon emissions.

You will find that air source heat pumps are generally more popular in off-grid areas, and this is because they offer far lower running costs in comparison to oil, LPG or electric-only heating systems.

Making sure your air source heat pump system is set up correctly and maintained will ensure that its efficiency is maximised, keeping running costs low and improving your impact on the environment.

When using an air source heat pump system, make sure to bear the following steps in mind:

• Before considering an air source heat pump, ensure the property is well insulated to reduce heat losses and allow the heat pump to work effectively producing low temperatures. Ideally, insulation should be as close to current building regulations as possible.
• Air source heat pumps work at peak efficiency when gathering lower temperatures over a longer period of time. They are set up and controlled very differently to a boiler. One of our Field Engineers will ensure that the heat pump is set up appropriately during the commissioning visit.
• Ensure the ASHP is serviced annually and in line with recommendations by the manufacturer.
• Check that nothing impedes the flow of air into your ASHP vents.
• Make sure that the pressure gauge on the unit falls within the correct range as specified by the manufacturer.

We would recommend positioning an air source heat pump in a location that minimises the pipe and cable runs from the heat pump into the plant room.

You will also need to be mindful of its proximity to bedroom windows, the requirements of permitted development/planning permission, and sound assessment (MCS020) results.

We take care of all of this as part of our air source heat pump design.