'Air-to-water' air source heat pumps installation, Pembrokeshire
free heat!
air source heat pumps
In simple terms, an air source heat pump works like an inside-out fridge!
It takes heat from the air outside, increases its temperature by using compression, then transfers this energy into your home to provide heating and hot water.
Far more efficient than traditional boilers, when properly installed, an air-source heat pump can deliver up to four times more heat energy into your home than the electrical energy it consumes. . . which is why more and more heat pumps are being installed every year, from 40,000 UK wide in 2023, to over 100,000 last year!
BONUS: Air-to-Water or Air-to-Air heat pumps?Air-to-water (A2W): This is the most commonly adopted form of Air Source Heating for homes across Wales. With A2W heat pumps, warmth from the atmosphere is transferred to water, which then circulates through your existing central heating system. . . and also provides hot water.
Air-to-air (A2A): Less popular due to the likely need for additional pipe work, and noisier operation, these systems transfer heat directly into the air, which is then circulated around the home using fans.
As a guide; Air to Air heat pumps are only really suitable for smaller homes or flats with limited outside space, fewer rooms, or without existing 'wet' central heating.
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the boiler upgrade scheme
Funding for an Air Source Heat Pump may be available for households via the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS).
The BUS is a government funded program that provides a grant of up to £7,500 to help homeowners in Wales replace fossil fuel heating systems with low-carbon alternatives. . . including heat pumps.
BONUS: Qualifying for the Boiler Upgrade SchemeTo qualify for a Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant, you’ll only need to meet three simple criteria:
- You must own the property (either as your main home or a second property).
- You must be replacing an existing gas, oil, electric or LPG heating system.
- Your property must have a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).
Don't worry about the paperwork, Solŵr Wales will apply for the grant on your behalf!
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Plus: Green Homes Wales, working alongside the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, are able to offer accessible finance if installation costs exceed the available grant funding. . . and several energy suppliers also offer finance deals, often at 0% interest.
Call the number below so that our consulting engineers can advise you, free of charge and without obligation!
freephone: 08000 30 27 77
installation
of air source heat pumps
The heat pump unit is located outside of the property close to an exterior wall, and takes up around the same space as a wheelie bin.
Indoors; you will need an insulated cylinder to store the hot water generated by the heat pump, and our engineers may recommend upgrading radiators to maximise the system's efficiency. These additions, if required, will be included in the installation quote and are covered by a BOILER UPGRADE SCHEME grant.
BONUS: Installing an air-source heat pumpThis example is based on installing an air-to-water heat pump into a home without a suitable existing hot water cylinder.
External & structural works will include:
- Constructing a solid base or plinth for the heat pump, close to an exterior wall.
- Inserting pipes through the wall, ready for connection to your central heating system.
Internally, this example installation would involve:
- Remove an existing boiler. If you have an existing fossil fueled boiler, Solŵr Wales will arrange for a Gas Safe registed engineer to remove it, make any changes necessary to the pipework or radiators, and flush the system.
- Installing a hot water cylinder. This will be positioned somewhere inside your home, ready to be connected to the plumbing (a typical cylinder should fit in a space of around 80cm x 80cm.)
- Plumbing in. Finally, your heat pump will be plumbed in to the central heating system, connect to an electricity supply and thoroughly tested.
In some cases you may wish to consider further improving efficiency by upgrading your radiators, work that would also be covered by a Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant as described above.
Tip: If your heat pump is being installed during the colder months of the year, please bear in mind that your central heating will be turned off during the installation process, which will typically take a couple of days.
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Solŵr Wales will apply for the BUS on your behalf!
As a bonus; to encourage adoption, heat pump installations are exempt from VAT
freephone: 08000 30 27 77
winter
will a heat pump still work?
Surprisingly, yes! Our moderate climate in Pembrokeshire & South West Wales lends itself very well to air-source heating. . . all year round.
Of course, as the outside air cools, there is less heat energy to extract, so a heat pump will becomes less productive. However, even with such a drop in efficiency, unless an air source heat pump reaches its minimum operating temperature (usually around -10°C ), it will continue to generate warmth throughout the winter!
As a rule-of-thumb, when temperatures are just a little above freezing ( 1°C to 4°C ), your heat pump will likely offer an efficiency of around 300%. This means that; for every £1 spent on electricity to power the unit, you will benefit from £3 worth of warmth, when compared to oil or gas fired heating.
BONUS: Average air temperatures in West WalesOver the course of the year, the temperature across Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire typically varies from 4°C to 18°C and is rarely below freezing.
According to the Met Office, the coolest (winter) season lasts for 4 months, from December to early April, with an average daily high temperature below 10°C. The coldest month of the year is February, with an average low of 4°C and high of 8°C, still well within an air source heat pump's operating window.
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Although air source heat pumps also lose efficiency when air temperatures exceed 30°C that's not something we need to worry about too much here in Wales!
Call our consulting engineers with any questions you may have, find out if a heat pump is right for your home and explore the grants or finance packages available.
freephone: 08000 30 27 77
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Solŵr Ltd. The Old School, Station Road, NARBERTH, Pembrokeshire SA67 7DU
