{"id":990,"date":"2011-03-31T11:13:43","date_gmt":"2011-03-31T10:13:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.housingenergyadvisor.com\/blog\/?p=990"},"modified":"2011-03-31T11:13:43","modified_gmt":"2011-03-31T10:13:43","slug":"how-to-choose-ashp-air-source-heat-pumps-123","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.housingenergyadvisor.com\/blog\/how-to-choose-ashp-air-source-heat-pumps-123\/","title":{"rendered":"Considerations for choosing an ASHP"},"content":{"rendered":"

When most people consider replacing their oil or gas boiler with a heat pump, it is generally thought that the boiler can be removed and the heat pump installed in replacement. Following this, the oil tank can be removed and the system is good to go.<\/p>\n

When the system is designed – the heat pump is sized according to the kWh demand of the property, which is in turn calculated from U values. Generally, the installers will connect the system, run through the steps of commissioning and switch the system on to heat. At this point the customers are convinced the heat pump is working and start to enjoy the production of hot water and heating.<\/p>\n

\"Danfoss<\/a>With a budget heat pump price of approximately \u00a31K – \u00a34.5K, and 2\/3 days installation costs many consider \u00a37K – \u00a38K a reasonable range of cost to install a heat pump. For some – this is in fact where the difference of opinion starts to occur. What loom\u2019s in the not too distant future could be problems with some systems which should not have been a simple exchange. I mention Budget Heat Pumps as there are many out there who supply heat pumps within this price range.<\/p>\n

We as installers – can and will install these systems if the customer specifically requests, however, the majority of systems we design and size are actually nearly double this cost due to the cost of the heat pumps and additional costs of making good etc. As being suppliers and installers of quality heat pumps, our preferred product range is actually in the price range of \u00a36K – \u00a320K+ plus the cost of installation. If you couple this with the fact that the radiators will most likely need changing to ensure the system runs efficiently and smoothly, the true cost of the heat pump is then in the range of \u00a310K – \u00a325K for an average system which is specified with a good quality heat pump, and by the end of the true cost of the project i.e. making good etc. Many customers also decide they want the heat pump installed into the garage, so if the boiler is removed from the kitchen and pipe-work is taken into the garage, there are many factors of re-piping and making good the fabrics after following installation. Again, these add to the heat pump project cost. Whilst some people appreciate that when they buy a “budget heat pump” they consider all equipment to be as good and as equal, if you analytically crunch the numbers for running costs and efficiency \/ water heat up times, they are actually worse off than if they had spent an additional amount on the initial cost of the kit.<\/p>\n

As mentioned, some properties are lucky enough to have correct “oversized” radiators installed in the first place, where as many are not. The lower the flow temperatures from your heat pump, the greater the radiators need to be oversized. Therefore, if a heat pump was \u00a31K more than one you were considering, would you get away without changing the radiators as the new heat pump flow temperatures would suffice on existing radiators? Your installer can carry out these calculations.<\/p>\n

I have no problem with “budget” heat pumps, but I would recommend asking certain key question so you are aware of what you are buying. When choosing a heat pump, do look at the technical specifications and ask the installers the following questions:<\/p>\n