We are often asked “Where should I put my air source heat pump?”.
The simple answer? Most places you would wish to put it! However, we are aware that it is sometimes not as easy as that. So lets take a look a the basics of where you can and cannot place your Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP).
- Air Supply.
As you may have guessed by its name, an Air Source Heat Pump uses air as its main source of heating your house. So our first tip is to position the unit where it has a good supply of ambient (outdoor) air.
Now what exactly is ambient air? What we mean when we say this is that it should be in an open space, not an enclosed space. If you place your Air Source Heat Pump in an enclosed space such as a basement or attic, the room would effectively become a freezer; as the heat pump would take the same air over and over again and keeps cooling and cooling it until the temperatures get to a point where it would be impossible for the heat pump to extract heat effectively.
- Maneuverability
When having your Air Source Heat Pump installed, always keep in mind that, in the unlikely event that your unit should need professional attention, there should always be enough space to access it if a service engineer needs to take a look at it.
- Where should I position my Air Source Heat Pump?
Almost always, we would recommend positioning the unit on the floor immediately outside your house or property. This has two large benefits: first, it reduces the amount of pipework you need in order for your air source heat pump to fully cater to your property, avoiding increased unnecessary heat loss. Secondly, any service or maintenance work you need doing will be far easier.
Allowance should be made to make sure that any ice caused by the defrost cycle in sub zero temperatures as this may potentially result in hazardous surfaces. If you are fitting the unit into a corner made up of two walls, make sure there is enough space around the unit to allow for free air flow.
Cold air bouncing back into the rear of the unit will reduce the average air temperature the unit is extracting its heat from, which in turn reduces the efficiency of the unit and increases running costs so allow some distance around the unit where possible.
In some circumstances however it is not always possible to fit a unit on the ground and in this scenario the unit must be fitted on brackets at a higher level. If this is the case, take care not to cause any hazard at head height and to ensure it is easily accessed for any service visits.
- Noise Cancellation
If possible we would recommend avoiding positioning the unit directly outside or below a bedroom window. There will always be occasions where you may not be able to sleep and when they occur the slightest sound, like the refrigerator downstairs in the kitchen, becomes an irritant.
While modern air source heat pumps are extremely quiet, in the middle of the night you are just as likely to notice them as you would the refrigerator in the kitchen downstairs if they are right outside your open bedroom window. Therefore the further away you put them from the bedroom window the more likely it will be that it is only the fridge’s murmur irritating you!
- Shelter from the weather
One final consideration is if you live in an area that is prone to extreme weather changes. Avoiding positioning your unit against a wall that snow might pile against or that may pool water when raining. If the snow was to drift against the unit and reduce its air flow, it would reduce its efficiency and its output as a result.
Wherever you choose to position your air source heat pump, make sure it is an eco-friendly choice that allows us to create a greener, low carbon footprint way of life. If you have any questions regarding our installation process and would like a quote for your premises, simply call us today on 01603 406052 or email us enquires@heatdifferent.co.uk – we will be happy to go through your requirements with you.