What is a heat pump? How much does it cost? And can you book it through us? (Hint: you sure can, you just need to book a home assessment first). Read on for our full guide.
Definition: What is a heat pump?
A heat pump is a machine that can heat a home by transferring outside energy into the house as heat. It can be used in the place of a boiler or air conditioning unit. There are three types of heat pump; ground source, air source and hybrid. A ground source heat pump takes energy from the ground, an air source heat pump from the air, and a hybrid does a combination of the two. Because heat pumps use less energy to power themselves than the energy they create in the house, and because they use pre-existing energy, it burns no fuel and therefore creates no emissions.
What are the benefits of a heat pump?
- Reduce your bills
- Reduce your emissions
- Can cool your house as well as heat your house
- They’re highly efficient, creating more energy than they use
How do heat pumps work?
Heat pumps work a bit like fridges but in reverse. In the same way that a fridge uses outside heat to chill its body, a heat pump uses the outside energy, thermal energy, to keep a home warm. Whether an air or ground source heat pump, they take the air from outside or the warmth from the ground and blow or pump it across a heat exchange surface where the heat is enough to cause a refrigerant to evaporate as a gas. The gas then transfers into a compressor which acts a bit like a pressure cooker; the higher the pressure, the higher the temperature of the gas is raised too. T his is then either blown around the interior of the home, into the central or underfloor heating, or the hot water system. The heat pump will do this continually to keep your home at the right temperature.
How long does it take to install a heat pump?
A heat pump should take between 3 and 5 days for a team of two to install and complete all the electrical and plumbing work around the house. This does depend on your house size though. It can be a matter of hours for a standard air source heat pump to be fitted. You should have your house assessed beforehand so you know the scale of the work in advance, this should also make the job more efficient for all the contractors involved.
How much does a heat pump cost?
Heat pumps can cost anywhere between £5,000 and £25,000 to purchase and install. Although the government is running the Boiler Upgrade Scheme which is aimed at reducing the upfront cost of installing a low carbon heating system such as heat pumps. You can get: - £5,000 off the cost of installing an air source heat pump - £6,000 off the cost of installing a ground source heat pump
Can I have a heat pump installed alongside other work?
Yes. In fact we actively encourage you to get as much work done at the same time as possible as it saves money as you have builders already on site, it means less disruption as you only have the builders in once, and it’s less carbon intensive so better for the environment.
Can I book a heat pump insulation through Furbnow?
Yes, just fill out our assessment form for us to take a look at your house and its needs and we can go from there. We make sure all aspects of your house are considered and also take your priorities into consideration. You'll find out the best place to invest in your home to achieve the best results.
