The Two Main Types of Heat Pumps

The are two main types of Heat Pump. These are Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP) or Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHP). Air source heat pumps extract heat from the outside air in the same way that a fridge extracts heat from its inside. It can extract heat from the air outside even when temperatures are as low as minus 15C . 

Air Source Heat Pumps

There are two types of air source heat pumps. Air to water systems distribute heat through a wet central heating system. This is normally through underfloor heating and oversized radiators. Air to air systems produce warm air which is circulated through your home using fans.

Ground Source Heat Pumps

There are also two types of ground source heat pumps, the most popular using pipes buried in the garden to extract heat from the ground,commonly known as 'slinkys'. These systems circulate a mixture of water and antifreeze around the loop of pipe and the mixture absorbs heat from the ground as it is pumped through. 

The fluid is then pumped through a heat exchanger in the pump which then low grade heat is passed through a compressor and is concentrated into a higher temperature which can heat water for heating and hot water circuits. The fluid in the loop is now cooler passes back through into the ground and the process is repeated. The length of loop is dependent upon the size of your home and heating requirements. The longer the loop, the more space required. The loop is more often laid flat or coiled in trenches two metres deep. 

If you are lacking in space you can have a vertical loop buried to a depth of 100 metres but these installations are normally used for new build properties and involves the boring of holes which can be expensive for a retrofit installation. 

Heat Pump installations will benefit from the upcoming Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme (RHI) due for implementation this year.