Air source heat pumps function as a heating and cooling system that utilises the air outside as its source. When used in a residential home one of these heat pumps will absorb warmth from the air and release it inside the home during colder months to make the indoor air more comfortable and warm. The opposite occurs during the summer months to cool off the home. You can also use an air source heat pump to warm the water in your hot water tank, roughly to about 80 degrees Celsius.
While it might seem impossible to use heat from the air in the middle of winter to warm your home you can actually take heat out of temperatures just a few degrees above absolute zero. The equipment itself uses a few key items such as a heat exchanger coil both outside and inside. The outdoor one takes the heat from the air while the indoor coil transfers the heat to either your air or your hot water tank.
The process of heating and cooling using an air source heat pump requires refrigerant to flow through both the indoor and outdoor coils. The refrigerant is boiled to create the heat and then proceeds further to make its way into the house. A compressor, condenser and evaporator are then used such as in a regular refrigerator to alter air temperature that is pumped back into the home.
Air source heat pumps are extremely cost effective. You can create up to four times as much heat as you would be able to from a traditional electric heater and you use the exact same amount of energy to accomplish this. Over time, however, electricity can add up and gas can be dangerous because of carbon emissions. Heat pumps are much cleaner and more efficient. If the weather does become extremely cold where you are located, there is always an option to switch off the heat pump and use your traditional HVAC system which is still in place and ready to function. The coils outside can become frosted over if you are dealing with below zero temperatures. Your furnace can be a back up or emergency option which is always nice to have when it comes to keeping your home comfortable.
The lifespan of an air source heat pump is approximately 20 years and this doesn't include very much maintenance over the time that you have it. There aren't a lot of parts associated with a heat pump and this means there isn't much to maintain. You are required to keep the outdoor exchanger free of high grasses, leaves and debris. Occasional inspections are an option as well, just to ensure that everything is working properly but if treated well and maintained, this can be a highly cost effective option over a 20 year term.
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