Heat pumps are an effective and energy efficient way to heat your home and hot water. They work by absorbing heat from the environment and transferring it to a fluid which is compressed to increase its temperature. The heat is then transferred from the compressed fluid into the central heating system, to use for both heating and hot water.

A lot will depend on your circumstances, but there are some factors that will help make your decision between a ground source and an air source simpler.

Considering a ground source heat pump?

These are more efficient than ASHPs, especially in areas with cold winters. They’re also more stable, last longer and are less noisy than ASHPs. However GSHPs are more expensive and require a lot more space so you can essentially rule this out if you don’t have outdoor space available.

When laying the coil for GSHPs you have a two main options. One option would be to dig boreholes vertically on your land, they are usually 50-200 metres deep. The other option would be to install ground loops that uses coiled pipes called slinkies in trenches. Using ground loops would only be more suitable if you own a vast amount of land.

Considering an air source heat pump?

Air Source heat pumps generally tend to be a lot cheaper than ground source, however they don’t have as long life span. Things an installer should be considering before an installation is the size of the house, whether it’s a newbuild or existing house (installing pipework around an existing building can have challenges). The average ASHP installation costs around £14,000.00 however there are grants available where you can get a £6,500.00 government relief. Air Source Heat Pumps can continue working at temperatures of around -15C, however if the temperature is regularly below freezing you might find a ground source heat pump is a better option.

Air Source heat pumps and ground source heat umps may work in a similar way but they have different set ups and requirements. Both could help cut energy costs and heat your home efficiently as well as reduce your carbon emissions. If you’re limited by space restrictions and air source heat pump is more likely to suit you. Any MCS accredited installer should be able to discuss all these issues with you in more detail to find the right solution for you.