Miller Pattison

Air Source Heat Pump FAQ's

• Q. What are the benefits of Air Source Heat Pumps over Ground Source Heat Pumps?
• A. Air Source Heat Pumps are self contained units which can be connected directly to existing central heating or underfloor heating systems, if suitable. Installation costs are significantly lower than Ground Source Heat Pumps because there is no extra heat transfer requirements such bore holes or deep furrows which need to be created for the necessary pipe work.
• Q. Are there any issues associated with installing Air Source Heat Pumps?
• A. If an Air source Heat Pump is intended for use with a brand new heating system, the heating system can be designed to suit the Air Source Heat Pump. If the Air Source Heat Pump is intended to replace an existing heating system you will need to consider the following.
  • Size of the Radiators – Air Source Heat Pumps will supply a temperature of 50°C, 65°C for our larger systems, so you should check that your existing radiators will work efficiently at this temperature, as this supply temperature will usually be lower than existing heating source. To compensate for this lower temperature oversized radiators may need to be fitted.
  • Underfloor Systems – These do no pose the same problems, as they are intended to receive a lower water temperature.
• Q. Can radiator and under floor systems be combined?
• A. Yes, but if used in this way a mixing value would need to be used to lower the supply temperature of the under floor heating system.
• Q. Can the units be hidden behind Fences, Bushes etc?
• A. Units may be obscured behind barriers or even placed in enclosures such as sheds or garages. But as long as the units are given adequate ventilation/airflow the efficiency of the unit should not be effected.
• Q. Do I need to worry about the noise level?
• A. The sound levels associated with Air Source Heat Pumps are generally lower, inside the house, than a conventional gas or oil boiler. Noise levels outside may be 2-3db higher than those from a condensing boiler flu, which is something to consider when positioning the unit.
• Q. Can an Air Source Heat Pump supply water temperatures of over 50°C?
• A. Yes our 9kW and 13kW units are able to supply water temperatures of up to 65°C.
• Q. How will I be able to control the Air Source Heat Pump?
• A. The Heat Pump will be fitted with a control unit similar to that found on a standard central heating system.
• Q. Will my Air Source Heat Pump require any special maintenance?
• A. We recommend that your heat pump is serviced once a year by a qualified technician.
• Q. How long does it take for the radiators to reach the desired temperature?
• A. As a rule of thumb it takes 1 minute to raise the temperature by 1°C. So for the system to reach 50°C from a water temperature of 10°C it would take 40mins.