Different types of Heat Pump

http://www.homebuildingshow.co.uk/en/different-types-of-heat-pump.aspx

To an extent there are 3 kinds of heat pump, broadly. Ground source, air source and water source.

Ground source has been around, in fact theyve all been around for quite a long time its a very old technology. People think this invented the week before last, and it wasnt.

The first one in the UK went in, in 1952, into the Royal Festival Hall in London, it takes its heat from the Thames. Theres an array of pipes laid in the bed of the Thames, and its still working.

Its fridge technology, its exactly the same as in the back of your fridge. So once its in and working it isnt going to stop working.

Is it right in any site? Well, theres been a big push lately with air source pumps, as they are cheaper than ground source heat pumps and water source heat pumps, and they do work, and theyre very effective in the right situation, and the right situation is when youve got a well insulated, relatively airtight house which has a low energy demand, a low heat demand and you dont have mains gas.

Its still about the same price as mains gas, and youve got under floor heating. If youre not meeting all of those criteria then it might not be the best thing to do.

You can step up in efficiency to a ground source heat pump, which will cost more to install, but over three to five years that will balance out with an air source heat pump, if you havent got the right conditions.

You still need good conditions, you still need good insulation, good air tightness and under floor heating, but not to the same extent as you do with an air source heat pump. And you can step up again in efficiency to water source, which will again cost you more, but is less dependent on having all those criteria met.

Find out more at http://www.homebuildingshow.co.uk

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• heat pumps
• energy efficient homes
• self build
• ground source
• air source
• water source