Air source heat pump pros and cons

Little space required

In comparison to ground source heat pumps, an air source heat pump takes up very little room. The heat pump sits outside of a property and all that’s needed inside is a domestic hot water cylinder and a buffer tank, both of which can generally be stored in a traditional airing cupboard, or similar sized space.

Cost effective renewable heat source

Another great thing about air source heat pumps is they are really cost effective. If you are looking to reduce your carbon footprint and improve the efficiency of your home, installing an air source heat pump will allow you to do this for almost 50% of the cost of a ground source heat pump.

Really efficient

A well designed air source heat pump system will be around 300% efficient. This means for every 1kWh of electrical energy that it uses, you can expect it to output 3kWhs of heat energy.

Air source heat pump disadvantages:

It’s visible

An air source heat pump cannot be covered or boxed in as this would affect its efficiency. As a result, the visibility of the heat pump can be a drawback for some.

Worries about noise

Sound is often a concern for those thinking of installing an air source heat pump, however a correctly installed and commissioned heat pump should actually be very quiet. It is also worth noting that the times when this sound may be noticeable, like summer when you will be using your garden and having windows open, are the times when the heat pump is unlikely to be on as you won’t be using your heating system.

Not as effective in poorly insulated properties

Unfortunately, air source heat pumps are not suited to all properties. For older or poorly insulated properties, an air source heat pump would not be suitable as it would struggle to heat them and would cost too much to run.