With more and more concerns about the environment and increasingly larger heating up of Earth because of human activity, the alternative heating sources become more frequent for homes and enterprises, especially in the developed countries, of which the UK seems one of the most proficient. Pondering about heat pump installation in UK, you can read more here https://www.huskyheatpumps.co.uk/air-source-heat-pump-installation, one should take into account:
1. The gained benefits
They are further split in two:
- Decreasing the electricity bill on the yearly basis
After air source heat pump installation occurs, taking into account average yearly temperature in the most territories of the UK not lower than +4 °C (rarely actually dropping below -10 °C), you will always have a heating system that works with the better efficiency than your classic heating systems working on fuel burning (gas, woods, coal). While the applied efficacy of classic heating systems is never more than 95% of COP (Coefficient Of Performance), heat pump installation in UK provides you with a system having most usually COP ranging between 250% and 400%. In particularly cold weather, the COP decreases to 200%, which is still at least at 105% more effective than burners. While the system requires some electricity to run, it’ll make your costs for heating a dwelling range from £550 to £1,200 per year (depending on the heating power it has: from 5 to 20 kW), which is significantly lower than one might have at the moment.
- Participation in the RHI scheme
Started by the UK’s government for the air source heat pump installation in UK, the program provides remuneration for the use of ‘green technologies’ depending on several factors: the type of the heating system, its power, cost of installation, years of maintenance, the type of the previous heating system and more. You can find an RHI calculator online to make calculations on your own.
This scheme has several strict restrictions though:
- The system must be installed by the professional company only, licensed under Microgeneration Certification Scheme, a partner of Renewable Energy Assurance Ltd., also a participant of any recognized trade association – and they have to provide you with copies of these as well as to give the installation act approving that works were done by this company.
- The system you install must be certified by the manufacturer for you will have to provide a batch of documents to the RHI representative office.
Eventually, participation in RHI can compensate you from 50% to 100% of the installation costs, which range usually from 7 to 10 thousand pounds for an air-to-air system and more for air-to-water or ground-to-water systems.
2. The possible pitfalls
- Is insulation of your house well? If you ponder how to install air source heat pump, this issue in number one in to-do list when you prepare your house for the procedure (the company-installer also has to inspect your house before starting working). It is so important because non-productive heat losses may be so high (especially in the old houses) that will eventually make the heat pump installation meaningless.
- How big is your house? The bigger it is, the costlier the installation will be.
- Do you plan to heat air, or under floor heating/radiator heating, or to heat the sanitary water as well? The latter causes the drop in the output efficacy for at least 100% of COP (figuratively, from 400% to 300%) and even more – if the weather is cold.
- Do you understand that the maximum heat output is never over 60 °C? It is perfectly enough for air heating (it works the best in mid-seasons and spring/autumn), good for radiators/under floor heating (definitely okay for winter) but together with the sanitary water, the total heat might not be enough during cold days. In this case, the heat pump may be only the additional heating system to your casual burner.
