Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How efficient is an Air-source heat pump system?
Q. Why have I never heard of these systems before?
Q. How large are these units?
Q. Can it supply hot water for the house?
Q. Can the systems provide cooling?
Q. Can I use a standard domestic electricity supply?
Q. I am currently designing a new house, which will be extremely well insulated. Would an air source heat pump system be worth considering and is it straightforward to install?
Q. My architect suggests I install under floor heating in my new house. Is this OK?
Q. I have an older property. Can I still fit an air-source heat pump system?
Q. Can radiators be used inside my house instead of under floor heating?
Q. Are heat hump systems really environmentally friendly?
Q. Are Heat Pumps dangerous? What about servicing and maintenance?
Q. How do running costs compare with conventional alternatives?
Q. Are these systems expensive?
Q. How efficient is an Air-source heat pump system?
A. Our systems are extremely energy efficient. For each kilowatt of electricity used to run the heat pump, three to four kilowatts of heat are delivered to the building. That means 75% of the heating is free.
Q. Why have I never heard of these systems before?
A. Around the world, the use of air-source heat pumps is the most common. The air-source heat pump was invented more than 70 years ago. Continuous development coupled to increasing energy-demands have greatly improved its efficiency and reliability ever since. Today it is a proven, cost-effective, safe and 100% environmentally friendly alternative to burning fossil fuels.
Q. How large are these units?
A. A typical heat pump unit for a domestic dwelling lives outside and is 100cm wide, 39cm deep and 120cm high.
Q. Can it supply hot water for the house?
A. Yes. Our domestic systems heat up to 60°C, so domestic hot water is easily produced via a modern high efficiency indirect water cylinder. You do not need to install an immersion heater to boost the temperature.
Q. Can the systems provide cooling?
A. Yes. There are reverse-cycle heat pumps that can deliver both heating and cooling.
Q. Can I use a standard domestic electricity supply?
A. Yes. There are a number of heat pumps that have been specifically designed to run on a standard UK single phase supply. However, if you do have access to a three-phase supply, which is essential for the larger units, then this is a preferable option.
Q. I am currently designing a new house which will be extremely well insulated. Would an air source heat pump system be worth considering and is it straightforward to install?
A. Yes, absolutely. All new houses in the UK must be able to meet or exceed Building Regulations, and from April 2010, ‘The Code for Sustainable Development’ means even higher standards are required. These mandatory regulations have been designed to conserve fuel, reduce heat losses and ensure greater energy efficiency, and so will ensure that all modern properties will lose less heat and need less heating. This means that the size of heat pump is smaller, and will therefore be less expensive. Your plumber can connect the heat pump unit to your heating system.
Q. My architect suggests I install under floor heating in my new house. Is this OK?
A. Yes. All Heat Pumps are ideally matched to modern low temperature under floor heating systems.
Q. I have an older property. Can I still fit an air-source heat pump system?
A. Yes, you can. The cost of a system is directly related to your property size and with heat losses being fairly high from older buildings, money spent on increasing insulation levels will be money very well spent. Ecotec heat pumps produce up-to 75°C so your existing radiator system can be used.
Q. Can radiators be used inside my house instead of under floor heating?
A. Yes, they definitely can. Having good insulation in your house is an excellent idea. This not only helps conserve your heat, but can very often reduce the size of the heat pump required and thus reduces capital costs. It is standard during the installation to flush your radiator system. This will improve the heat efficiency of your home as well.
Q. Are heat hump systems really environmentally friendly?
A. Yes. Heat Pumps emit no carbon emissions. The moves towards alternative technologies are well underway. Sustainable and environmentally beneficial solutions keep the world we live in safe from harm. Government figures suggest that nearly 50% of CO2 emissions are derived from the heating of buildings we live and work in.
Using renewable energy sources to heat your property dramatically helps to reduce these emissions. No fossil fuel systems, such as oil and gas can reduce emissions, in fact they increase emissions! Most electricity suppliers are now offering 'clean green' electricity from a renewable energy source and, if you use this to power your heat pump, your property will be totally heated from renewable energy with zero carbon emissions.
Q. Are Heat Pumps dangerous? What about servicing and maintenance?
A. There are no hazardous emissions whatsoever, no flammable oil, or LPG or gas pipes, no flue or chimney and no unsightly fuel tanks. Heat pump systems have absolutely NO carbon emissions. There is NO need for servicing. A simple annual safety checks and routine maintenance is required and is extremely low in cost.
Q. How do running costs compare with conventional alternatives?
A. Air-source heat pump systems can offer very high efficiency and moderate running costs. An oil-fired boiler would cost considerably more to run, and electric heating would be at least three times as expensive. It is true that the very best of the modern condensing gas boilers may only be a little more expensive to run but that is on lower gas prices, and these are set to continue rising. Also, all fossil fuel boilers need regular servicing and maintenance.
Q. Are these systems expensive?
A. The initial purchase cost of an air source heat pump system will be more than conventional oil or gas fired boilers. The initial expense is offset by considerably lower running costs, lower maintenance and zero servicing, throughout the installed life of the heat pump. There is also the security of knowledge that the vast majority of your heating and hot water energy comes from the air so will not increase in price.