As the price of fossil fuels becomes more unpredictable and concerns over climate change increase, more people are considering renewable energy sources. A popular option is a heat pump, so let’s look at how they work.
The basics of heat pumps

According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the temperature increases the further into the ground you dig. This is called the geothermal gradient. This heat can be used to keep homes warm and to provide hot water. Alternatively, you can use heat from the air.

Converting air or ground heat

Believe it or not, there is still heat energy in the air and underground even on a cold day. Heat pumps can use this heat, but it has to be converted.

The outside or ground air is pumped over a heat exchange surface. This causes a refrigerant liquid to evaporate and turn into gas. The gas is then compressed, which makes it heat up. This heated gas passes over a second heat exchange surface, thereby transferring the heat to a central heating or hot water system. As the gas loses heat, it turns back into liquid and the cycle starts all over again.

You can get more details on how air source heat pumps Worcester work and how they can be installed here: https://gsmlimited.com/services/air-source-heat-pumps/worcester

Different types air source heat pumps

There are two main types of air source heat pumps.

The first is an air-to-water heat pump. These take outside air and use it to heat a wet central heating system. The problem is that the heat produced is not as hot as that created by a gas boiler, so you will probably need larger radiators. Alternatively, you could install underfloor heating. These are mainly installed in new houses that are also highly insulated.

The second option is an air-to-air heat pump. These blow hot air into your home through special fans. The problem with these is that you cannot use this heat to provide your hot water. You will need to use another fuel source.