Heat Pump Emitters Explained

When installing an air source heat pump you should consider the type of emitter(s) you may need for your home or business.

What is a heat emitter? 

A heat emitter is an item that distributes heat around a room or building. Solutions such as 

underfloor heating, traditional radiators and smart radiators are often used to help keep your or business home warm. Your emitter option will be based around your type of property, heating requirements and cost.

Underfloor heating 

Underfloor heating is a great option to pair with your air source heat pump. However, for retrofit installations this can be quite costly as flooring will need to be ripped up and replaced. 

Despite the cost of installing underfloor heating, the price is worth it as the floor effectively acts as a large radiator, helping to heat your home. 

How is underfloor heating installed?

Installing underfloor heating is typically easier in new builds or buildings undergoing big renovations. 

Installing underfloor heating usually works best with houses that already have an insulated concrete slab on the ground floor.  However, houses with suspended timber floors are more challenging due to screed systems adding significant weight to timber, meaning you will need to upgrade your joists.

If you’re planning on installing underfloor heating in an older house without un-insulated ground floors this will be more costly as your flooring may need to be completely replaced.

Pros of underfloor heating

Underfloor heating is a great heating option for your home and here’s why:

• It has a larger surface area making it easier for air source heat pumps to heat them up.

• Underfloor heating can be easy to install on the ground floor of a home or building.

• Underfloor heating can be easier to install in new builds.

Cons of underfloor heating

Despite underfloor heating having many benefits there are a few disadvantages, for example:

• It’s hard to install underfloor heating on upper floors of buildings and homes.

• It’s harder to install underfloor heating in older buildings or homes due to the way they're built.

Traditional Radiators 

If you install an air source heat pump and want to use traditional radiators then you are likely to need to replace your radiators with larger ones so that you can reach optimal heating requirements. 

This is due to the flowing water in pipes usually being higher when using a gas boiler over an air source heat pump. Gas boilers have a ‘high temperature flow’ where they operate between 65 and 70°C, allowing them to emit more heat.

Whereas air source heat pumps have a ‘low temperature flow’, as they operate between 40 and 50°C, causing traditional radiators to emit less heat. Due to this you are likely to need to replace your radiators to help keep your house warm. 

Pros of traditional radiators 

• If you already have large radiators that are compatible with air source heat pumps you may avoid incurring extra costs usually spent on emitters.

• They’re fairly easy to install.

Cons of traditional radiators

• You may need to replace smaller radiators with larger ones to help heat your home at your desired temperature.

• Using traditional radiators can add extra costs to an already expensive project, due to potentially needing to replace radiators and the cost of redecorating rooms.

Fan coil units

Fan coil units use an electric fan to help push out warm or cold air. The units can help you save space, by installing small fan coil units as they produce the same amount of heat as a large traditional radiator.

At Enula we use Reverso 361° fan coils as they work seamlessly with air source heat pumps to provide heating and cooling to your property with low temperature operation and high efficiency.

Benefits of the Reverso 361°C

• Low temperature operation

• High efficiency

• Super thin, 12cm thick

• Innovative

Learn more about the Reverso 361°.

Pros of fan coil units

• Small, low-profile units can be put on the wall or floor.

• Able to heat and cool a room.

• Suitable for new and existing homes.

• Heat or cool rooms quickly.

• Can be used with a variety of heating sources, however reversible heat pumps are needed if you want to use cooling and heating.

Cons of fan coil units 

• Fan coil units can be noisier than other heat emitters due to them containing fans.

• Add extra costs to an already expensive project.

• Fan coil units can’t be used in bathrooms.

• Units require a power supply.

Have you heard about the new high temperature air source heat pumps?

New high temperature heat pumps are great for residential buildings due to them achieving high water temperatures and low noise levels. High temperature heat pumps are highly efficient due to them operating in temperatures as low as -25°C.

Samsung have introduced their EHS Mono Quiet HT where they provide energy efficient heating and hot water to your home. The high temperature heat pumps can provide water temperatures of up to 70°C.  

Traditional radiators best operate at atleast 65°C to heat homes, making high temperature heat pumps an option for replacing boilers. Due to them operating at high temperatures, it may mean that you don’t have to replace all of your radiators, but you can use a combination of traditional radiators and high temperature heat pumps to keep your home warm instead.

Furthermore, the new high temperature heat pumps are made to be simple to install and maintain, by making it’s internal parts easily accessible through the side panel by easily undoing three screws. 

To learn more about EHS Mono Quiet HT visit Samsung’s website today.

Panasonic has also introduced their ‘Aquarea HT’ high temperature heat pump that can produce a flow temperature of 65ºC, making it a great replacement option for gas or oil boilers.

To learn more about the Aquarea HT, visit their website today.

Installing an air source heat pump with Enula

Here at Enula we strive to make a real difference to our planet without compromising on honesty and transparency about our solutions for clients. We can help you make the right sustainable solutions for your home or business.
Get in touch with us today to see how an air source heat pump can work for you!