Air Source Heat Pump Owner's Experience 5 Years On

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Roger interviews an air source heat pump owner who has been heating his house with the system for 5 years.

John's LG Therma V Monobloc Air Source Heat Pump

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Air Source Heat Pump Pros and Cons

Air source heat pumps (ASHPs) have garnered significant attention as an eco-friendly alternative for heating and cooling homes. They extract heat from the outside air, even in cold weather, to heat homes and provide hot water. This technology offers several advantages but also comes with some drawbacks.

PROS

1. Energy Efficiency: ASHPs are highly efficient, often delivering three to four times more energy than they consume. This is because they move heat rather than generate it, making them more efficient than traditional heating systems like boilers and electric heaters.

2. Reduced Carbon Footprint: By using electricity, often from renewable sources, ASHPs lower the carbon emissions associated with home heating. This is crucial in the context of climate change and the global push for greener energy solutions.

3. Lower Heating Costs: Over time, the efficiency of ASHPs can translate into lower heating bills, especially when replacing conventional electric, oil, or coal heating systems.

4. Cooling Function: In addition to heating, ASHPs can cool homes during warmer months, working like an air conditioner but often more efficiently.

5. Government Incentives: Many regions offer incentives, such as tax credits or rebates, for installing energy-efficient ASHPs, further offsetting the initial investment.

CONS

1. High Initial Cost: Installing an ASHP system can be costly, especially when retrofitting older homes. This includes the cost of the unit and any necessary modifications to the home's existing heating system.

2. Performance in Extreme Cold: While ASHPs can operate in cold weather, their efficiency drops as the temperature falls. In freezing climates, supplementary heating might be necessary, reducing the overall benefit.

3. Noise Level: Some ASHP units can be noisy, which might be a concern in densely populated areas or for homes where outdoor units are near living spaces.

4. Aesthetic Impact: The external unit of an ASHP can be large and may not blend well with the building's exterior aesthetics.

5. Requires Electricity: While more efficient, ASHPs still rely on electricity, which can be a downside in areas with high electricity prices or frequent power outages.

While air source heat pumps offer an efficient and environmentally friendly option for home heating and cooling, they also require a significant initial investment. They may not be ideal in all climates or settings. The decision to install an ASHP should be based on individual circumstances, including local climate, the current heating system, and financial considerations.

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#heatpump #homeimprovement #heating

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[Alan-nd]

I am a Retired Plumber and Gas Safe Engineer, and I still have my 18 year old Worcester 28i Junior Conventional output Combi Boiler and I have no plans to replace it !

[Chanesmyname]

He has much, much more patience and tolerance than I could have.

[roblloyd]

One of the problems never mentioned is the noise. A friend has a couple of neighbours who have installed air source heat pumps and the low frequency noise is annoying, particularly at night. Thank you for mentioning this! It is a real problem.

[billholmes]

I fitted a ground source heatpump 16 years ago and had a similar experience to this guy. My installation was £20k then and the pump packed up within 2 years. Although my house was brand new and had underfloor heating throughout it was utterly useless unless you enjoy a cold house and cold showers. Fortunately like this chap I had an oil boiler to assist the HeatPump. After the pump stopped working I just bought another oil boiler for a tenth of the price of the HeatPump and the house and hot water is lovely and warm. Buy a HeatPump at your peril.

[tellthemborissentyou]

We lived in a flat with wonderful heating. We ran the gas an hour a day and we had hot water and plenty of warmth. Then at Christmas the old couple in the flat below turned off their radiators and went away. We nearly froze and had the gas on continuously until they came back.

[hommer]

I am a retired heating/plumber engineer and i have a large edwardian house. 5 bed .I installed a potterton cast iron floor standing gass boiler, balanced flue in 1984 and i have no intention whatsoever of replacing it and my gass bill are not too bad, my house is warmer than the adjoining property .

[simonmcowan]

One of the best videos, to not get a heat pump, i shall pass this on to my landlord, our gas combi boiler is a gem, easy to use.

[austenlowe]

I didn't expect to sit through half an hour on heat pumps, but you both spoke very well, and i enjoyed that! Thank you!

[LastWatch]

I got a quote for an air source heat pump last year, they recommended solar panels to power the system, the total price was £24k, after government incentives it worked out at close to £17k. The salesman warned me that the system would struggle to produce heat at an outside temperature of -10 to -15 degrees. I live in Scotland and although it’s a rare occurrence I realised I’d be paying a ton of cash for a system that wouldn’t work when I needed it the most… I still have my gas boiler

[bordersw]

I did the math for my house, new gas boiler 7 years ago for £2500. £70 service once a year and a full service today for £150. Spent £700 last year on gas for all our heating and hot water- 4 bed detached house.

[jonellison]

Retired electrical and electronic engineer. Simplicity is divinity and reliability.

[adambradley]

What a patient guy.
Moral of the story, 'Don, 't Bother'

[derekwaudby]

Great video, the size of the radiators says it all, trying to make heat form an inadequate System.

[ajaysudan]

Well done to Roger for continuing to have an open mind. A big well done to John for leading the way and doing what you've done. Hopefully you get sorted.
And in the words of Roy Keane, Adam is doing his job.

[petersmith]

Can imagine waking up at 3am and listening to hundreds of them humming across my densely packed housing estate. Together with battery cars, what a nice life people will have in the second half of this century.

[robjones]

It just goes to show as a consumer of renewables the biggest task is finding an installer you trust, recommended by others, who should remain in business for the foreseeable future and likely to be around to fix stuff and honour warranties

[nigelbarratt]

As a heating and aircon engineer for 40 years I'd never touch a heat pump with a barge pole. Basically a heat pump is a refrigeration or aircon unit working in reverse. All it does in principle is move heat from one place to another. Aircon takes heat from inside and dumps it outside, heat pumps take heat from outside and dump it inside, reverse cycle heat pumps work either way. Just think about it, if it's minus 5 outside how much heat are you going to pick up from outside to dump inside? The other problem is that the flow temperature through the radiators with a heat pump is getting on for half of what you get from a gas boiler in cold weather, hence you need huge radiators to get the same output. Underfloor heating needs lower flow temperatures so that's less of an issue, but you need to run it 24/7. It's all a load of nonsense unless you build a new eco house with virtually no heat losses.

[pauldavies]

We have an Esse Ironheart in the dining room. Three logs and six sticks and two firelighters light it immediately and it kicks out terrific heat. Another 10 - 12 logs will keep it burning all day. It has two hot rings for cooking and a wonderful oven for baking. Totally efficient and there is nothing that can beat coming in on a cold day and standing by the fire watching the flames flicker.

[hansstofberg]

I wanted a heatpump . Changed my mind I keep my oil boiler lreland . Thanks

[advantagemarine]

Interesting, I bought an 18th century farm in Sweden last year, the main house currently has a wood fired system, it works really well, heating the house beautifully with 70 0dd degree water, but, I need to be at home and load it three or four times a day when it´s cold which as you can imagine can be a bit of a pain, we have a guesthouse on a seperate system that is heated by burning grain, similar to a pellet or wood chip burner but converted for water damaged grain that I then dry with fans, this system is a bit more automated but I still have to service the burning unit once a week during winter and have to fill up the grain bunker as and when required so I am looking to install heat pumps within a hybrid system just to take care of that base heat level and boost when required. Being a Brit living in Sweden I found it hard to get the information I wanted but watching this video has made me confident I am thinking along the right path. Thanks mate! If you have any opinions on my setup I would love to hear them