Heat pumps
Information and FAQs
An air source heat pump is a modern, energy-efficient way to heat your home and provide hot water.
It may look different from a traditional boiler, but it’s designed to keep your home warm and comfortable all year round.
It is a unit installed outside your home that takes heat from the air, even when it feels cold outside, and uses it to warm your home and water.
Think of it like a fridge working in reverse: A fridge removes heat to keep food cold. A heat pump collects heat from outside and brings it inside to warm your home.
They are a lot cheaper to run rather than using a standard gas/oil boiler or electric storage heaters.
Air source heat pumps help to:
- Reduce carbon emissions and protect the environment
- Improve energy efficiency
- Provide reliable, safe heating without using gas
- Support the UK’s move toward cleaner, more sustainable homes
- They are an important part of making homes fit for the future.
FAQs
- How do the heat pumps work?
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- It absorbs heat from the outside air.
- The unit outside pulls in air and captures the natural heat within it.
- It boosts the temperature
- The system uses electricity to compress this heat, making it warmer.
- It transfers the heat into your home.
- The warmed heat is sent to your radiators or underfloor heating, and to your hot water cylinder.
- It keeps your home at a steady temperature.
- Heat pumps work best when they maintain a consistent level of warmth, rather than being turned on and off like a gas boiler.
- Will my home feel different?
Your home should feel just as warm, but the way the system works is slightly different:
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- Heat pumps provide gentle, steady heat instead of short bursts of high heat.
- Radiators may feel warm rather than very hot—this is normal.
- The system is designed to run for longer periods to maintain comfort efficiently.
- Is a heat pump noisy?
You can expect the noise to be a similar volume to a fridge. As it gets colder outside, this noise will increase while it’s operating. However, you shouldn’t be able to hear the sound indoors.
- Are you replacing the radiators?
In some cases, we’ll recommend installing larger radiators. If you have old or single panel radiators, we may need to replace your radiators for double or triple panel radiators to increase the surface area. Radiator upgrades are important as they’ll improve the efficiency of your heat pump and reduce running costs.
- Will I receive instructions on how to use the controls, so the heat pump works most efficiently?
Heat pumps are thermostat controlled. You should set the room temperature between 18-21 degrees for a cosy home.
You can programme the timer to come on to match your lifestyle. Heap pumps are more efficient when used to maintain a room temperature rather than being turned on and off frequently.
- Why are you changing my heat source?
Heat pumps are an efficient way of heating your home and can significantly lower heating bills. It is also our way of reducing our carbon footprint.
- How long will it take to install?
The heat pump that's installed is bespoke to your home and will take three to five days to install.
- How do I use my heat pump efficiently to get the best from the new system?
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- Set a comfortable temperature and leave it there.
- Heat pumps work best when maintaining a steady temperature.
- Avoid turning the system on and off frequently.
- This can make it work harder and use more energy.
- Keep vents and radiators clear.
- This helps heat move around your home properly.
