5 Must Ask Questions About Heat Pumps

FAQs you need to ask

Whether you’ve been thinking about installing a heat pump for quite some time or you’ve just discovered what they are, we’re sure you’ll have some questions you want answered. That’s why this blog explores five questions you should ask before implementing a heat pump.

Heat pumps are an integral part to reducing the impacts of global warming and saving our planet, as they are a sustainable alternative to traditional heating products, like boilers.

With the government aiming to meet net zero emissions by 2050, it means we need to make a switch toward using more renewable energy sources, highlighting why heat pumps are the perfect option to do just that. To illustrate this further, 1.1 million homes currently rely on fossil fuels to keep warm, emphasising that alternative, affordable sustainable heating options are needed to reduce Co2 emissions.

Will a heat pump work for my home?

Heat pumps tend to work best in well insulated homes, making those undertaking big renovations that include installing double glazed windows and improving insulation the ideal home to implement a heat pump.

These are perfect for installations as these heating solutions operate more efficiently and cost less to run in the long term compared to traditional boilers. This therefore helps you waste less energy and reduce the cost of your energy bills as heat pumps are 400% efficient compared to traditional boilers being 90% efficient.

Ultimately, a heat pump is right for you if you’re looking for a sustainable way to heat your home and if your house is well insulated.

What type of heat pump is best for my home?

You can choose from three types of heat pumps that could be perfect for your home, including:

Air source heat pumps - These take the air from outside and transfer it into heat to warm a home.
Ground source heat pumps - These transfer the thermal energy from the ground and use it to heat your home.
Water source heat pumps - These transfer energy from a water source and transfer it into water or air that can help warm rooms.

Here at Enula we specialise in air source heat pumps and believe they are a great option for heating your home. Air source heat pumps have many benefits, such as:

Them running more efficiently than traditional boilers
They reduce the cost of your energy bills
They don’t waste any energy they produce
They can operate in temperatures as low as -20°C.

How much does it cost to install and run a heat pump?

Installation costs vary depending on the size of your project and the type of heat pump you want to install. For example, air source heat pumps can cost between £5,000 and £15,000 to install. However, there are multiple grants available that you could be eligible for to help you cover the cost of installations.

These grants include:

To learn more about how these grants could help you, read our blog on maximising government grants.

What heating emitter should I choose?

When it comes to installations, you won’t just need to choose what type of heat pump you want to use, but the type of heating emitter as well. Heating emitters are items that distribute heat around a room or building and can take form as:

Traditional radiators
Fan coil units
Underfloor heating

So what's the difference between each heat emitter?

Traditional radiators

If you want to carry on using traditional radiators, it’s likely that you’ll need to replace your current radiators with larger ones, as they’ll reach optimal heating requirements.

The change is usually needed to be made as the temperature (65-70°C) of the water within the pipes in the radiator is much higher when heated by a traditional boiler. Whereas, air source heat pumps have a ‘low temperature flow’ (40-50°C), causing traditional radiators to emit less heat.

You may already have radiators large enough to be compatible with an air source heat pump, but if you don’t you will need to add the costs on top of your installation fees as well.

Fan coil units

Fan coil units use a small fan to push warm or cold air around a room. With them being smaller than radiators but still emitting the same amount of heat, they’re a great option if you're looking for something that won’t take up a lot of space.

Here at Enula we use Reverso 361° fan coil units as they work seamlessly with air source heat pumps to help provide heating and cooling solutions to your home while operating at a low temperature and high efficiency rate.

Underfloor heating

Underfloor heating is a great emitter choice, however, it can be quite costly due to the requirement to rip up and completely replace your old flooring.

Even though it can be quite expensive, it’s completely worth it as they essentially act as a large radiator. The benefits of underfloor heating include:

A larger surface area makes it easier and more efficient for heat pumps to warm them up.
They can be easier to install on the ground floor of a property.
They can be easier to install in a new build.

Why should Enula install my air source heat pump?

At Enula we believe our planet and everything on it deserves a future, which is why we’re using our passion and technology to lead the way to achieving net zero emissions.

Our partnerships with Samsung, Panasonic, Haier, Aerfor and Swegon allow us to offer sustainable products without the astronomical prices, helping us to help you make decisions that will positively impact both your home and the environment.
Get in touch with us today to see how an air source heat pump could work for you.