Adam from the Mr A Builders YouTube channel partners up with the Professional Builder and Professional Heating and Plumbing Installer YouTube channels to talk air source heat pumps with Warmflow.
Visit Retrofitting an Air Source Heat Pump with Warmflow – YouTube to watch the video on the Professional Builder YouTube channel.
Adam from Mr A Builders fame is currently conducting quite an extensive extension of his end-terrace house, which has allowed him to reassess his current energy situation and think about possible alternatives. With that in mind, we arranged a meeting between Adam and Niel Rumbold, National Sales Manager for Renewables at Warmflow, one of the UK’s leading heating manufacturers, to have a chat about air source heat pumps.
Adam admitted himself that he’s no expert when it comes to air source heat pumps, so Niel started with a useful introduction to the fundamentals of one. He explained that air source heat pumps use the air around the pump to boil a refrigerant contained within it at a very low temperature which is then turned into heat the homeowner can use. As Niel puts it in the video, the outside air is essentially your fuel.
Using a heat pump
Some key differences Niel noted for using up this type of energy is that peaks and troughs should be avoided where possible. That means rather than having the heating off for most of the day and then cranking it up to full blast in the evening, it’s best suited to being on constantly at a very low temperature. Although this may sound like money going down the drain to those new to the heat pump train, it actually has the potential to save big on bills in the long run.
This leads naturally into the next section of the video, where Niel explained that the potential to save money on your energy bills is not an absolute for every household. A whole house approach to insulation and heating is needed for heat pumps to be effective. Thankfully, Adam’s house has been reinsulated and he’s planning to install underfloor heating, which he was surprised to learn was ideal for heat pumps.
Installation
Next, Adam and Niel discussed the particulars of getting an air source heat pump installed. First the pair sized up the new utility room Adam had built for where the inside kit could go. Then, the two took a look outside, where the heat pump itself would be positioned. Niel provided some insight into requirements here, such as the space needed around the pump to maximise airflow.
Going outside also allowed Adam to raise a concern of his – noise. Niel allayed these concerns by explaining that a Warmflow 20kW pump was no louder than 54 decibels when at maximum – quieter than a gas boiler flue!
Final thoughts
At the conclusion of their meeting – and as Warmflow does with all its potential customers – Niel gave Adam a quote for his property with a recommended heat pump size. By assessing a property from the ground up the company works out what would work best to maximise energy efficiency.
Adam then gave us his updated thoughts on air source heat pumps and what he’d learned. Some of his main takeaways were his surprise at how quiet they were and how well they work with underfloor heating. He now feels much more confident about heat pumps for his own home and when it comes to informing future building customers.
Visit Retrofitting an Air Source Heat Pump with Warmflow – YouTube to watch the video on heat pumps and stay tuned for more exciting content on the Professional Builder YouTube channel.
For more from Warmflow visit Zeno Air Source Heat Pumps – Warmflow.
