What is an Air Source Heat Pump?

An air source heat pump is a device that extracts heat from the air outside and converts it into energy which can be used to heat a home. This energy is suitable to be used in radiators, underfloor heating systems and hot water tanks.

Air source heat pumps are usually situated outside a property, making it easier for them extract the heat from the air. They do need a certain amount of electricity to run, but can produce just over four times the equivalent amount of heat energy. Air source heat pumps look similar to air conditioning systems and are relatively easy to install. They are basically made up of three main components - a heat exchanger, a compressor and a device by which the heat is transferred. They are able to continue to generate heat even in extremely cold conditions (as low as -15C) and can be positioned unobtrusively to the side or behind the back of a building. During the summer or periods of hot weather, an air source heat pump can be used in reverse to provide cool air indoors.

Who are Nibe?

Nibe are one of the leading manufacturers of heating systems in Europe and are based in Markaryd, Sweden. They make a range of high quality hot water and heating systems, as well as air conditioning and air cooling systems, primarily for the domestic market. As well as air source heat pumps, they also produce ground source and exhaust air heat pumps.

Savings for You and Benefits for the Environment

A Nibe air source heat pump can reduce your heating bills by as much as fifty percent over the course of a year. The company have two current models available - the F2015 and the F2025. The F2015 can produce either a 6KW, 8KW or 11KW capacity output and the F2025 has a 14KW output capability. These Nibe air source heat pumps are designed to be used in conjunction with a conventional heating system and not intended to be a replacement, but are still capable of providing you with much cheaper heating than a conventional heating system alone.

Air Source heat pumps are considered to produce 'green' forms of energy because they rely on a renewable source, the air, as a natural source of heat. You will therefore emit less CO2 using one, with an even greater reduction when replacing an electric system compared to gas.

Cost of Installing a Nibe Air Source Heat Pump and Accredited Suppliers

A Nibe air source heat pump will cost anywhere between six and ten thousand pounds to have installed. The Energy Savings Trust estimate that you can save between three hundred and four hundred pounds a year by using such a device and you will also qualify for the renewable heat incentive (RHI), a scheme that pays you around 9p for every unit of heat energy you produce. There is also a government grant available worth £850 from to help with the cost of installation. However, you must make sure that whoever supplies and installs your air source heat pump is MCS accredited, as this is not only a legal requirement, but also a guarantee to you, the consumer, that they have the necessary knowledge and experience. Recent studies by the Energy Saving Trust found that as many as a quarter of all air source heat pumps tested were found to be not installed or functioning correctly, so it's best not to leave this to chance. Some MCS accredited installers of Nibe's products in the UK are Nu Heat UK Ltd, Greenworks Sustainable Building Solutions, PTS Plumbing and EcoLiving Ltd.