Heat Pumps Explained

Heat Pumps work a bit like a refrigerator (but backwards) and are units that transfer useful heat from a natural source such as the air, ground or water to heat another. Even on the coldest winter days, enough heat is available from natural sources to warm the home.

Essentially heat is transferred to the heat pump from the natural source by loops or air units. This low grade heat is used to boil refrigerant. The heat is then pressurised and once the temperature goes up to 55-65 degrees it can then be used for heating or hot water.

A heat pump requires electricity to run the compressor-driven refrigeration process. However, for each unit of electricity used the heat pump will generate 3-5 units of clean renewable energy.

Most heat pumps are installed with an immersion which gives a boost when hot water demands are higher than the heat pump output.

If installed with a solar thermal system a heat pump can to provide a complete hot water and heating solution.