Air Source Heat Pumps

Heat pumps have been used in a number of different areas for years. The first heat pump is said to have been built in 1856 and the first ground source heat pump in 1948. With the benefits of reducing our carbon footprint and also our energy bills, heat pumps are set to become as familiar in homes and businesses as the traditional gas boiler. Heat pumps are recognised as the best option for an efficient, cost-effective, low-carbon alternative to heating domestic and commercial properties for the foreseeable future.

A quick guide to explain how an Air Source Heat Pump works

The best way to understand how a heat pump works is to remember that temperature and the concept of hot or cold is subjective. With the coldest possible temperature being absolute zero at -273°C, your average fridge at 5°C could be perceived as hot! Heat is energy, the more intense the energy the higher the temperature produced. What air source heat pumps do is absorb energy from the outside air and intensify it to increase its temperature. The hot water produced is then used to heat radiators, underfloor heating systems and hot water cylinders in your property. It can extract and intensify the heat from the air outside even when the temperature is as low as -20°C.

Diagram to show how an Air Source Heat Pump Works

The Fan

A fan passes ambient air over the evaporator. The refrigerant boils and evaporates at low temperatures.

Vapour

Vapour is then channelled into an electric compressor, increasing the pressure and temperature of the vapour.

Warm Vapour

Warm, high pressure vapour then enters the heat exchanger producing heat for water or heating system.

Condensed Vapour

Condensed vapour returns to liquid, passes through the expansion valve, reducing pressure and temperature. The cycle repeats.

From Cold to Warm

An air source heat pump works by absorbing heat from the air into a fluid (commonly known as a refrigerant) that travels through a looped system of pipes. This process increases the temperature of the liquid until it transforms into a gas (the refrigerant effectively boils).

This gas then passes through the system towards a compressor, which increases the temperature even further (compressing a relatively large volume of gas through a relatively small hole creates heat – if you put your finger over the end of a bicycle pump and depress the plunger, it will burn your finger, please don’t try this, it will hurt!)

As the gas heats your home’s central heating system, it starts to cool and transforms back to a liquid (condenses). This liquid is pumped back outside into the looped pipe system, which restarts the process as the liquid begins to absorb more heat from the air.

Beautifully Simple

This process continues until its warm enough to provide you with central heating and your hot water. Any leftover heat can be stored in a hot water cylinder. The system and the technology are beautifully simple, efficient, safe and well proven – it simply works!

There is no need for a naked flame or combustible gases in your property, no need to have an oil tank or for big orange cylinders outside your window.

Air source heat pumps (also known as ASHPs) are a low carbon heating system that use the ambient air to heat up your home. They can be used for both hot water and space (room) heating. For more information / enquiries, please

Contact Us

What We Do

Wright Renewables have recruited a small but experienced team to supply, install and maintain ground and air source heat pumps to the existing housing stock (retro-fit), new build homes and commercial buildings.

Survey

Every system is designed to fit your precise requirements and is tailored specifically to your home. We will visit your home or business to conduct a survey of your requirements and carefully explain how you will get the best out of your air source heating system.

Installation

Our fully accredited and experienced team will be on-site for between 2 and 4 days to install your system including changing your radiators if required, installing a new cylinder and of course the heat pump itself.

Commissioning

Once installation is complete your system will be commissioned for use and you will be presented with a handover pack explaining how you should best use the system for maximum benefit.

Maintenance & Repair

We will conduct regular annual maintenance on your system to ensure optimal efficiency and in the unlikely event of any system failure or sub-optimal performance all our installations are guaranteed and remedial works will be completed free of charge.

Further reading and history of air source heat pumps

Many people still believe that heat pump technology is a recent innovation and, on this basis, are concerned that the systems may be unproven or at an early stage in their evolution. The truth however is that heat pump technology has been established for more than 150 years. In 1856 an Austrian mineral processor named Peter von Rittinger was credited with inventing the first-ever Air Source Heat Pump which he used to dry out marshes so that they could be mined for salt. The industry is now served by some of the most trusted household names such as Vaillant, Viessmann, Stiebel Eltron, Mitsubishi and Samsung. The development of heat pump technology is still continuing with advances in compressor and controls technology in particular enabling systems to be more efficient and easier to control. Heat pump technology is reliable, effective, efficient and is here to stay.

Approved installers of: Vaillant, Viessmann, Stiebel-Eltron, Mitsubishi and Samsung Heat Pumps

Quick Enquiry

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    Interested in an Air Source Heat Pump?

    Renewable energy and low temperature, low carbon heating systems help to create eco-friendly properties that reduce environmental impact, save money on heating bills and future proof our built environment. If you are interested in reducing your carbon footprint, increasing the value of and future proofing your property whilst keeping your home or business warm, efficient and safe then please get in touch with Wright Renewables in Worksop, Nottinghamshire today.

    Telephone: 01909 813456