What Are The Common Misconceptions About Air-Source Heat Pumps?

Air source heat pump grants are all the wrath in today’s energy-efficiency world. With a solid market presence and continual adoption growth in commercial and residential settings, customers are looking for the facts. However, with the acceptance of any new technology comes questions that stem from common misconceptions.

Make no mistake—we love air-source heat pump grants! This is why we feel the need to challenge the myths we hear time and again about these fantastic machines. Some truths we reveal here may surprise you, and some may enlighten you. Hopefully, once you’ve read this, you’ll love these big fans as much as we do. 

With a fifth of the UK’s carbon emissions coming from heating buildings, we must consider different ways of heating our homes.  

Air-source heat pumps are a clean way to warm your home without burning fossil fuels. They are crucial in reducing our dependence on gas and massively lowering the greenhouse gases we produce.  

When combined with a solar system, heat pumps also have the potential to reduce bills. Despite their potential, there’s a lot of misinformation out there. Myths spread about heat pumps' effectiveness and performance through social media and even some news outlets.  

Some of these claims are entirely false and quickly proved incorrect, but a couple do possess a slither of truth. Even these halve truths can be debunked with a better understanding of technology and how to live with it. 

Today, we’re going to break down the top misconceptions of heat pumps and share the truth.

Air Source Heat Pump Grants Only Provide Heat to Homes:

Despite their misleading name, air source heat pumps have heating and cooling qualities. The system can pass heat inside the home and release it outside (cooling). Or it absorbs heat from outside and releases it inside the building (heating). The reversing valve is the component in the system that switches the flow of the refrigerant for heating and cooling functions.

Heat Pumps Do Not Work Well During cold climates:

Heat pump technology has come a long way since it was introduced. Today, contractors can provide choices to fit heat pumps according to customers' heating needs in winter climates.

Heat pumps are noisy:

The noise from an air-source heat pump is minimal, sometimes as low as 51 dB—less noisy than a microwave! Indoor tools offer quiet operation for heating and cooling, and outdoor tools are installed away from areas where noise can be a concern, such as bedrooms or offices.

If An Air Source Heat Pump Is Installed, You Cannot Use Another Heat Source:

Hybrid systems, called dual-fuel heat pumps, are now available that allow integration with a gas furnace. This technology offers heating and cooling modes similar to a standard heat pump. In warmer months, the system operates as an air conditioner in cooling mode. During the more relaxed time of year, the air source heat pump will operate in heating mode to heat the space. When temperatures drop in the cold climate, the heat pump will automatically shift to let the furnace take over, efficiently heating the home.

Air Source Heat Pumps Are Less Efficient Than Other Heating Systems:

With the appropriate equipment and settings for your weather zone in place, heat pumps can be a more efficient choice than other sources. And they offer significant savings on energy costs as well. Work with a trained HVAC professional to ensure your system operates efficiently for installation and system settings.

Heat pumps do not require maintenance:

Air source heat pumps are machines, and like any other HVAC equipment, their mechanical and electrical units need routine maintenance. Annual and semi-annual inspections are necessary if you want them to operate reliably for many years. Regular filter changes will also keep them running efficiently.

Transferring the Thermostat Back Saves Energy in Cold Climate:

Heat pumps run more efficiently when set to a suitable temperature and left alone. Regulating each time you change the temperature settings requires more energy than if set at a medium range. If a backup heat source is installed, the thermostat back setting on the heat pump will formally turn on the backup heat (usually electric resistance heat), which defeats the energy-saving purpose.

Are you looking for more information on air source heat pump support for your organisation? Our experts can help. Contact us today.