What is an air source heat pump?

An air source heat pump system uses similar principles to a ground source heat pumps to extract heat from air instead of the ground.

Air source heat pumps can be fitted outside a house or in the roof space. You just need a place outside your house where a unit can be fitted to a wall or placed on the ground. It will need plenty of space around it to get a good flow of air.

A fan draws in the outside air and the heat contained within the air is transferred to the heat pump's refrigeration circuit which then extracts the heat. It is best used in conjunction with an underfloor heating system rather than with radiators.

Types of Air Source Heat Pumps

There are two main types of air source heat pump:

An air-to-water system which uses the heat to warm water. The heat pump heats water to a lower temperature than a standard boiler system would, so they are more suitable for underfloor heating systems than radiator systems

An air-to-air system which produces warm air which is circulated by fans to heat your home.

Advantages and disadvantages over other systems

The big advantage of an air source heat pump is there is no need for boring or digging to lay pipes in the garden. It can be connected to your existing heating system and provides both heat and hot water.

Not quite as efficient as ground source systems, air source heat pumps generally perform better at slightly warmer air temperatures.

Costs

Costs for installing a typical system suitable for a detached home range from about £5,000 to £9,000 including installation.

Running costs for space heating and hot water for washing are likely to be around £790 per year. This will vary depending on a number of factors - including the size of your home and how well insulated it is.

Once only of interest to a small minority, green is the new black as far as self-building is concerned.

With the effects of global warming becoming increasingly apparent, more and more people are seeking greener ways to provide the energy needed to run a home.

Whether it's solar panels, heat pumps, high specification glazing or eco-friendly wool insulation in the loft space, there is little doubt that it is self-builders who are setting the standards for a greener future for the building industry and the way we live our lives.

Underfloor heating for example, has been available for years but, by and large, the self build market has been the industry's bread and butter - with large scale property developers still opting for standard, less efficient radiators.

But it's not all about saving the planet. Incorporating green ideas into a home can lead to reduced running costs and save you money in the medium to long term too. And when you come to sell your home in the future, you can guarantee that the greener it is the more attractive it will be to prospective buyers.

There is a greater sense of purpose from the government to promote green alternatives too with a stick and carrot approach in place.

Building regulations now demand far better energy efficiency while government grants are available for loft insulation right through to solar panels, heat pumps, wind turbines and other microgeneration technologies.

Self-builders are leading the way as far as greener homes are concerned and greenselfbuild.co.uk will be with you every step of the way towards a greener future for you, your family and the wider community.