Following their recommended use by the Government and climate advisors, many domestic and commercial properties across the UK are being fitted with heat pumps. This advice has been issued because sustainability experts in the UK believe that they’re some of the best ways to reduce the country’s use of gas boilers.
The removal of gas boilers from properties is a priority because these commercial heating systems are one of the leading contributors to the UK’s carbon emissions. Therefore, if you want to help reduce your property’s carbon footprint, contacting Accurate Mechanical Services and requesting heat pump installation is a brilliant option.
If you decide to invest in this type of heating for your property, it’s important to note that two of the most commonly used types are air source and ground source heat pump systems. Continue reading this blog post to learn about each option and compare the two.
What are Air Source Heat Pumps?
Possibly the most well-known type of heat pump available for UK properties, an air-to-water device operates by transferring heat from the air outside a property into water tanks, heating your rooms via radiators or underfloor heating. They can also heat water stored in a hot water cylinder to operate hot taps, showers and baths.
A common analogy used to explain how air source heat pumps work is to think of them like a fridge working in reverse, sucking in air, heating it up and then redistributing it around the property.
What are Ground Source Heat Pumps?
As its name suggests, a ground-to-water heat pump absorbs heat from the ground outside a property. It uses this to heat radiators or underfloor heating, also heating the water stored in a hot water cylinder to power hot taps and showers. Taking the air from underground means that the device is less affected by differing temperatures, but it’s not a common option because installation is intensive for commercial heating engineers.
Ground Source vs Air Source Heat Pumps
Hopefully, you can see the positives that come with adding heat pumps to your home or commercial property. In the future, we’re all going to have to invest in being more sustainable, and switching out traditional heating systems for these low-carbon options is an excellent way of getting ahead of this.
Despite their growing reputation, many people are unsure which heat pump option is best for them. Accurate Mechanical Services has compared the two options based on three key areas to help you make an informed choice.
Installation
Possibly the most significant difference between these two types of heating is their installation process. Air source heat pumps do not need to be installed into the ground, making them quicker to install correctly. Installing a ground source heat pump requires a much more labour-intensive process, which can only be completed if your outdoor space contains around 2.5-3 times more land than the floor area of your house.
Cost
One way in which both types of pumps are similar is that the same factors affect their installation cost, including the property size, type, and amount of preparation needed. However, their prices differ overall – an air source heat pump costs between £7,000 and £13,000, whilst a ground source heat pump costs between £14,000 and £19,000. The increased cost of the latter option is due to the complicated installation process for ground source devices.
Energy Efficiency
Air source devices are the more efficient option because they don’t need to use energy to pump fluid around the pipework outside, unlike a ground source heat pump. Air source heat pumps are very efficient in most temperatures, which reduces slightly on the rare occasion that temperatures drop below -5°C. In comparison, ground source pumps aren’t exposed to the air, meaning that they’re less likely to experience low temperatures, making their output more consistent. Overall, both are more efficient than less sustainable alternatives.
Which Heat Pump Option Should I Choose?
For most customers looking for an efficient and sustainable attentive to gas boilers, air source heat pumps are more than capable of comfortably heating their home or commercial property throughout the year. Accurate Mechanical Services recommend this, as you’ll be making a tremendous long-term change that benefits both you and the world around you.
Get an Estimate for Heat Pumps
If you’re interested in sustainable domestic and commercial heating systems, contact Accurate Mechanical Services today to request a free estimate for air source heat pump installation. Our team will be happy to talk you through the process, and our friendly engineers will efficiently install heat pumps when requested, leaving you to enjoy the benefits of your decision to use renewable energy.