A Guide to Air Source Heat Pumps in Your New Build Home
At Gleeson, we’re committed to being a sustainable business, supporting the government’s goals of Net Zero Carbon by 2050. This means that we are placing sustainability at the heart of everything we do, ensuring all our efforts have a positive impact on communities, people, and the environment.
As part of our sustainability commitments, all Gleeson homes which commenced build post-June 2023, are built with air source heat pump technology (ASHP) included as standard. In this blog, we outline what an air source heat pump is, how it works, and what some of the benefits are for new build homeowners.
What is an air source heat pump?
An air source heat pump (ASHP) is a heating and cooling system that transfers heat from the outside air to heat a home (or vice versa for cooling) using a refrigerant cycle.
How do air source heat pumps work?
The pump takes the heat from the air and transfers it to a fluid refrigerant. This fluid passes through a compressor, which raises the temperature before transferring to the hot water cylinder and heating system inside the home. In simple form, ASHP technology works in the exact same way as a domestic fridge, but in reverse. The ASHP is installed outside, and typically within a Gleeson home, will be located in the rear garden.
For more information on what an ASHP is and how the heating process works, watch our helpful video which will help you get to know more information about your air source heat pump.
What are the benefits of an air source heat pump?
There are several benefits of air source heat pumps:
1. They are highly efficient
Our air source heat pumps are industry leading with average efficiencies that can exceed 300%. This means that for every 1kw of electrical energy you pay for, on average you will get 3kw of heating energy (the extra 2kw of energy is taken from the outside air which is completely free!) Thanks to these efficiencies, you can save money on your energy bills when compared with an existing property using a traditional gas boiler.
2. A safe solution
Unlike gas boilers, there are no dangerous or explosive gases inside the air source heat pump unit, nor is there any risk of carbon monoxide build up. Air source heat pumps are just as safe as the kitchen fridge, making them a safe alternative to a gas boiler.
3. They can be smart control ready
With a simple plug-in, your air source heat pump can feature smart functionality; making it easily controllable from your phone, allowing you to monitor energy usage in real time, set schedules and more. This feature can be chosen as an optional extra. You can learn more about the upgrades and extras available within a Gleeson home here
Maintaining your air source heat pump
The air source heat pumps installed within our homes come with a minimum three-year warranty. However, just like a traditional gas boiler, you will need an annual service to maintain your warranty. Annual servicing is not carried out by Gleeson and should be booked with an approved plumbing and heating engineer.
We hope our blog provided some assurance and information regarding air source heat pumps and the benefit of this technology in your new home. For more information about the energy efficiency of our new build homes, visit our dedicated energy efficiency page.
Ready to begin the search for a brand-new, energy efficient Gleeson home? Find your preferred development here and book an appointment with our Sales Executive to find out more information.
