Are air source heat pumps any good?

With all the hype surrounding eco-friendly heating systems like heat pumps, you’d be forgiven for wondering “…but are air source heat pumps really any good?”

And while we don’t blame you for asking, the answer is an unequivocal yes!

Although they can be expensive to install, air source heat pumps will certainly pull their weight – helping your business to benefit from increased efficiency, lower energy bills, a long lifespan and (of course!) a reduced carbon footprint.

Plus, at Clade, we’re experts at designing bespoke heat pump systems that are made to help your business reach its goals – so you can be sure you’re making the right call for your organisation.

Here’s the full picture.

Why heat pumps really are as good as they sound

Sometimes, things sound too good to be true. But in the case of air source heat pumps, they really are as good as they seem.

Here are the main benefits.

Efficient

Air source heat pumps are incredibly efficient. In fact, they’re around three or four times more efficient than your average gas boiler!

While the most efficient gas boilers can only reach around 98% efficiency, air source heat pumps are around 300% efficient.

This is because they don’t actually create heat from scratch. Instead, they transfer it from one place to another, using just a small amount of electricity. Which brings us onto…

Reduced energy bills

Just 25% of the energy used by an air source heat pump is typically provided by electricity. The rest is generated for free by the environment through the air, allowing businesses to keep their running costs down.

Using electricity to power your heating system also opens up the opportunity to use power at times when it’s cheap, known as grid flexibility.

Businesses can maximise this opportunity by oversizing their thermal store, which can cut utility costs by up to 20%.

Futureproof

Slowly but surely, decarbonisation of heating is moving up the government’s priority list.

If you’re due an upgrade to your heating system, investing in a carbon-free option makes sense and protects your new asset from becoming stranded in the future.

Just be aware that most heat pumps manufactured today still contain harmful F-gases like HFCs and HFOs – the use of which is likely to become increasingly restricted as time goes on. Already, HFCs are being phased out and HFOs are the subject of litigation.

That’s just one reason why, at Clade, we only manufacture natural refrigerant heat pumps. These won’t contribute to climate change and will therefore allow businesses to safeguard their heat pump’s longevity long into the future.

Reliable

A common misconception of heat pumps is that they won’t work in cold weather. But this is far from the truth.

Air source heat pumps are able to maintain consistent indoor temperatures throughout the year, regardless of variable ambient conditions. They’ve even been proven to work reliably in the coldest parts of Scandinavia, where temperatures regularly drop well below freezing.

At Clade, our CO2 heat pumps and R290 propane heat pumps are particularly well-suited to operating at low ambient temperatures. This is because we design them for full operation in cold conditions. That is when you need them most!

Versatile

You might think that air source heat pumps are only suited to new builds, but that isn’t the case at all. Rather, heat pumps can be retrofitted in most buildings.

Not only that, but heat pumps can be a good solution for domestic hot water (DHW) as well as space heating.

With this in mind, they’re a great fit for lots of different settings and heating needs. At Clade, we’ve supplied heat pumps to all sorts of organisations, ranging from schools to libraries, offices and even swimming pools.

Easy to control

Heat pumps are easy to use and can integrate with a range of controls, including as part of a wider climate-controlled system.

The majority of Clade heat pumps are also remote monitoring and smart-enabled.

This means our experts can monitor your heat pump’s performance remotely from our headquarters in Leeds and make any necessary adjustments. So, you can be confident that your heat pump is working as well as it should be at all times.

Eco-friendly

Last (but certainly not least!), heat pumps are an eco-friendly heating method that doesn’t produce emissions – therefore allowing businesses to reduce their carbon footprint.

It’s true that much of the UK’s electricity is still generated by fossil fuels. However, the proportion of renewable energy supplied to the National Grid is increasing.

Plus, businesses can choose to reduce their carbon footprint even more by pairing their heat pump with a renewable energy source such as solar power.

It’s also worth noting that being an early adopter of heat pump technology can help businesses reassure clients of their commitment to the environment. In this way, it can become a powerful marketing tool.

What’s not so good about air source heat pumps

We think we’ve established that air source heat pumps are indeed as good as they sound.

But like anything, there are a few downsides that it’s important to be aware of if you’re weighing up whether to make the switch from a boiler.

Upfront cost

Firstly, an air source heat pump requires a significant upfront investment.

It’s hard to put a figure on the cost of an air source heat pump, as this can vary widely depending on each business and its heating needs. However, The Guardian estimates that a heat pump currently costs four or five times more than a gas boiler for supply and installation.

Luckily, there are some financial incentives available to encourage organisations to make the switch – such as tax breaks under the HMT expensing policy.

At Clade, we’ve also partnered with Plug Me In to offer a Heat-as-a-Service offering. This allows most businesses to spread out the initial cost of an air source heat pump with commercial heat pump financing.

Upgrades

Most buildings (but not all) will require some upgrades to maximise the potential of a new heat pump system. This can include upgrading emitters, pipework or insulation.

However, choosing a refrigerant with a similar temperature differential (or Delta T) to those used by traditional boilers – like the natural refrigerant R290 (propane) – can help to minimise the number of changes that you need to make to your building’s existing infrastructure.

And even if it isn’t possible to make upgrades to your building, you may still be able to benefit from a heat pump. Our new Elm heat pump acts as a direct boiler replacement and is designed especially for buildings where the existing infrastructure can’t be easily amended.

Less familiar

Heat pumps are still a relatively new technology and are an unknown territory for most people.

This means they can take a bit of getting used to, and there can also be an element of fear to overcome.

Having said that, they’re really easy to use and control. So, once your team gets past that initial hurdle, they won’t look back.

At Clade, our team of experts is also on hand to make the transition as seamless and worry-free as possible. We can even provide training to help your team understand how to use your business’ new heating system.

Is an air source heat pump right for my business?

While an air source heat pump might not be the perfect fit for every business, it’s a fantastic solution for the majority of buildings in the UK.

Heat pumps are a lot easier to retrofit than you might think, and can help to fulfil a wide range of commercial and industrial heating requirements – from space heating and DHW to process heat.

While the pros of heat pumps are many, there are only a few cons – the biggest of which is undoubtedly the upfront cost.

However, with help available in the form of tax breaks, occasional grants, and our own Heat-as-a-Service finance offering, air source heat pumps are within reach for more businesses than ever before.

And with their low running costs and unrivalled efficiency, it won’t be long before adopters of heat pump technology can make back their investment in energy bill savings.

If you’re still unsure whether a heat pump is the right route for your business, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team of experts, who’ll be happy to scope out your premises and offer you their insights.

Talk to us about an air source heat pump

At Clade, we have over 35 years of experience manufacturing, designing, installing and maintaining natural refrigerant heat pumps and refrigeration systems. So, we really know our stuff.

In fact, we pride ourselves on being at the front of the curve when it comes to heat pump innovation, which can be evidenced by the fact that we were one of the first suppliers of commercial R290 heat pumps!

All this to say that if you’re umming and ahhing about an air source heat pump for your business, you’re in the right place. Just get in touch to discuss your unique requirements and get the ball rolling.