An air-source heat pump is a device that transfers heat from one medium to another this process is done through a refrigeration cycle wherein it works by taking the heat out of the surrounding air and transferring it to water that is then used to provide heating or cooling.
The advantage this system has over the traditional ground-source heat pump, which transfers heat from the ground, is that an air source heat pump is much more efficient when it comes to transferring energy.
Additionally, they do not need to be installed underground as ground-source systems do, this means they are much easier and faster to install as well as maintain.
There are different types of air source heat pumps to choose from:
- Air-to-air is the most common type of Air heat pump (Luftvärmepump), these are the type of heat pumps you see most often in homes, with this, the compressor is outside, and the refrigerant gas moves between two coils inside your house.
This gas transfers the temperature from one area to another, if a home has a lot of insulation, this is typically the best option because it’s not as costly as air to water or air to ground. This is also more energy-efficient than other types of heating systems because it doesn’t use any fuel like natural gas or propane.
- An air to water heat pump operates similarly to an air to air system, but instead uses a hot water tank instead of a refrigerant coil, the hot water could come from solar panels in your backyard or roof and be used for heating your home or even hot water for showers, laundry or dishwashing.
The compression process takes place in your basement or crawlspace, similar to an air source electric heating system this means installation requirements are minimal and there’s no need for vents outside that could let cold drafts into your home during winter months.
Pros of Air Source Heat Pumps
• They are cheaper to run than other types of heat pumps
• They offer the biggest energy efficiency improvement of any heat pump
• The air source heat pump is less expensive to install than other types of heat pumps
Cons of Air Source Heating
• Air source heat pumps work best in climates with cool winters and hot summers.
• They require a lot more maintenance than other types of heat pumps
• It takes longer to warm up a room in the winter if an air source heat pump is used.
Conclusion
As the world’s population continues to grow, it is becoming more and more important to be conscious of our impact on the environment while heat pumps offer an environmentally-friendly solution to heating and cooling your home.
When it comes time to decide which type of heat pump is best for you, consider your budget, size of the installation, property type, climate, and more, now that you know about the different types of air-source heat pumps, you can make an educated decision on which one is best for your home.
