What is a heat pump?
A heat pump is an energy efficient heating system that provides both heating and cooling by transferring heat between indoor and outdoor spaces rather.
How Does it Work?
In heating mode, heat pumps absorb heat from the air, ground or water outside and transfers it indoors. In cooling mode, much like the fridge in your kitchen, the reverse applies: It removes heat from inside and pushes it outside.
Why are heat pumps energy efficient?
The energy efficiency comes from the fact that unlike other heating systems, they do not have to burn fuel to generate heat. Using electricity, a heat pump extracts heat from sources around it – like the air or the ground or water.
The most common heat pump used in homes across Ireland is an air source heat pump because it’s easier and more cost effective to install.
What Are the Advantages of a Heat Pump?
There are several advantages of a heat pump, mainly because of their efficiency, cost and environmental impact:
- Energy Efficiency: By comparison to traditional heating systems that use fuel to generate heat, because heat pumps use the air outside to absorb heat it uses much less energy. For 1 unit of electricity, a heat pump can deliver 3 -4 units of heat.
- Cost: Because heat pumps are more efficient, having one can reduce home heating bills. This is especially true if your home is well insulated.
- Better for the environment: Heat pumps produce few carbon emissions that fossil fuel heating systems. They can also run on renewable electricity like that created by solar panels.
- Heating and Cooling: Even though the Irish summers might not be very hot, an added benefit is that many heat pumps can cool your home in warm weather as well as heat in the winter.
- Safe to operate: Because they do not burn fuel there is no combustion, so there are no fears of a gas leak, carbon monoxide poisoning or dangerous fuel storage.
What Else should I be Aware of When Choosing a Heat Pump?
There are a few things anyone considering installing a heat pump in their home should be aware of:
- Upfront costs: The initial cost of installing a heat pump can be quite high. However, the grant available through the SEAI will reduce the cost significantly.
- Heat pumps work best in a well insulted home: Because heat pumps operate at lower water temperatures than boilers as well as good insultation they also need the benefit of larger radiators or underfloor heating to be effective.
- Disruptive installation: Installation of a complete heat pump heating system can be disruptive since it may involve upgrading pipework and radiators. It may also require upgrading your electrics.
- Lower heat output: As mentioned throughout this article, a heat pump system has a lower heat output. To work properly they rely on a more constant heat output and so work best when run continuously.
- Noise: The outdoor unit of the heat pump has a fan and compressor which may produce a degree of noise. Similar to an air conditioning unit it is not normally that loud. The placement of the out-door unit is there fore very important.
- Efficiency in very cold weather: Although heat pumps still work in very cold weather, the efficiency drops with the temperature. In addition, during very cold spells, the system may use more electricity.
How Long Does a Heat Pump Take to Install?
The answer to this question depends on which heat pump system you choose. Typically air source heat pumps are the preferred choice for a homes in Ireland. This type of heat pump can take up to a week to install with minimal disruption.
What Government Grants and Initiative are Available?
There is a wide range of grants and supports available via the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to people interested in installing a heat pump in their home. Click HERE to find out more about the grants available.
Where do I go to get a Heat Pump Installed?
Heat pumps should be installed by a certified heating contractor, but to qualify for the Government grants, your heating contractor must be registered with the SEAI.
The SEAI offer great advice on how to go about installing a heat pump. Check out their step-by-step guide HERE
If you are planning more energy efficient home improvements a, it's worthwhile engaging an SEAI registered One-Stop-Shop provider. A One Stop Shop provider will manage your project from start to finish, including the applicable grant applications. Check out our One-Stop-Shop Provider explainer article HERE
