Along with many other commercial heating and air conditioning companies across the UK, Accurate Mechanical Services have gained plenty of experience in installing, repairing and replacing heat pump systems during the last few years. Therefore, we can see the potential of this heating and hot water option for every home and commercial building, and we want to help you do the same.
As many property owners in the UK have a limited understanding of how these systems work and why they’re becoming more popular, we’ve used knowledge from our commercial heating engineers to answer some of the most common questions that you may have about this sustainable option.
1. What is a Heat Pump?
As its name suggests, the primary purpose of a heat pump is to use renewable energy to move warmth around your property as required, fulfilling the same function as a traditional gas boiler. This type of industrial heating has been rapidly implemented across Scandinavia, with over 1.4 million units sold in Norway by 2019.
This technology has become much more well-known in the UK due to its discussed implementation as part of the incoming gas boiler ban. Traditional commercial heating systems such as gas and oil boilers use fossil fuels that produce high carbon emissions, negatively contributing to climate change. Now that we all know how important it is to become more eco-friendly, switching to a heat pump is an excellent way of reducing your carbon footprint.
2. How Do Heat Pumps Work?
All domestic and commercial heat pumps work using the same general technology, which involves using natural heat to warm up refrigerant, which then moves around your home, office or workplace to warm wherever is required. The specific nature of this depends on where the heat is sourced from, which tends to be one of three popular options. These include:
- Air Source Heat Pumps – Possibly the most common type used in the UK, this is the option that Accurate Mechanical Services can fit for our customers. They work by taking heat from the air outside a property, using it to heat refrigerant before being moved to areas of the property as required.
- Ground Source Heat Pumps – If there is a lot of space outside your property, taking heat from the earth may be the best option. Lots of space is required for this option because it uses large pipes laid underground, absorbing heat which is then transferred to your home.
- Water Source Heat Pumps – As its name suggests, this type of commercial heat pump uses natural bodies of water as its source of heat. Similarly to the other options mentioned above, pipes submerged under the water absorb heat which is then used to heat a property using the same refrigerant system as the different types of heat pump available.
3. What Are The Benefits Of Heat Pumps?
Understandably, many homeowners are unsure whether to commit to paying for heat pump installation because their benefits aren’t particularly well-known. However, anyone who has experience with these types of commercial heating and cooling systems will be able to tell you how good of an investment they can be.
The main benefit they can provide is a massively reduced carbon footprint which is an issue close to the heart of many people. This option’s reduced carbon emissions are due to the absorption of heat from natural sources, which is a significant advantage compared to commercial boilers.
4. How Do Heat Pumps Impact Energy Bills?
As a technology that hasn’t been added to most UK properties, a query that commercial heating engineers often hear is “how much does a heat pump cost?” Whilst the cost differs depending on the type of system you choose and the installers you use, you can be sure that the price will be quickly offset by the energy bill savings they create.
The sustainability of heat pumps creates these savings due to the reduced number of components that power them, increasing their energy efficiency by around 300% compared to traditional boilers. Whether you’re interested in heat pumps for homes or commercial properties, these reduced running costs could save you money on heating your building.
5. Do Heat Pumps Stop Working?
Whilst air source heat pumps fitted by experienced teams such as Accurate Mechanical Services are very reliable, there’s still the chance of issues occurring that could stop them from working. One problem is if the weather becomes particularly cold. Each type of heat pump has different temperature limits, so it’s worth checking the specifications of your product before it’s installed.
Air Source Heat Pump Installation Services
Hopefully, this guide has helped answer any questions you have about heat pumps and how they can benefit your property. If you have any further queries or are interested in air source heat pumps, contact Accurate Mechanical Services today. We can provide heat pump installation, repair, replacement or maintenance services.