Basic Principles of an Air Source Heat Pump

Air source heat pumps are becoming an increasingly popular choice for heating a home, especially in areas which are subject to less severe winters.

An air source heat pump has a motor powered by electricity that supplies more energy than it consumes when extracting heat from the surrounding air.

Heat pumps work in a similar way to a domestic fridge or freezer, utilising a liquid refrigerant that circulates through four components – an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser and an expansion valve.

The refrigerant has a boiling point as low as -40°C which makes it possible to extract heat from extremely low temperatures. When the refrigerant boils it vaporises, once it has become a gas it can be compressed and when a gas is compressed it produces heat. This heat is then passed through a heat exchanger to the heating system.

There are several makes, models and sizes of air source heat pump. Every project differs; occupancy, size, demand on heating, hot water and budget all need to be taken into account.

Contact us for assistance.