Frequesntly Asked Air Source Heat Pump Questions

Listed below you will find answers to some of the most commonly asked questions. If you don’t find what you are looking for then please feel free to contact us on 01244 405285 or alternatively drop us an email and one of the team will get back to you shortly.

Will I be able to heat my whole house?

Yes Air Source Heat Pumps are designed to be able to offer a whole house solution to your heatign requirements. We often recommend combining with Solar Thermal panels and having and immersion heater as a back up for extreme weather conditions.

What sort of properties are suitable for Air Source Heat Pumps

Air source heat pumps are a suitable complete or partial solution for the majority of existing houses as well as new builds. Most properties that can achieve a reasonable level of thermal insulation could be suitable for an air source heat pump. In order to achieve the highest levels of efficiencies, all properties should have been updated with the basic thermal improvements i.e. cavity wall installation, loft insulation and double glazing. The air source heat pump then needs to be able to meet the maximum heat demand of the property under its maximum (coldest) conditions.

Will ASHP's work in my home?

The heat loss of your home needs to be calculated to ensure that Ecodan will give sufficient space heating. As a guide a modern house has a heat loss of approximately 50W/m2. So Ecodan would be able to heat a home up to 180m2 (based on a 9kW output). Careful consideration with older buildings needs to be taken, the heat loss of these homes can be much higher than in modern well insulated properties.

What is the Renewable Heat Incentive?

Thre Renewable Heat Incentive or RHI is an incentive scheme starting in April 2011 in the UK for non domestic properties, and OCtober 2012 for domestic poperties, intended to rewrd those who invest in renewable heating systems.

Virtually any heat-source which is renewables-powered. For most individuals, solar thermal, heatpumps and biomass are the most interesting options.

Will an Air Source Heat Pump work with my existign radiators?

New build properties will have the radiators correctly sized for Ecodan. For retrofit applications in newer homes, existing radiators are likely to be of suitable size and performance to cope with the lower flow temperatures provided from Ecodan. In older homes with older radiators this may not be the case. In all installations Mitsubishi Electric would recommend checking design of all radiators. Before installing Ecodan - additional or larger new radiators may be required. A radiator design sizing tool is available from Mitsubishi Electric.

What maintenance is required?

Very little maintenance is required for solar water heating systems. You should occasionally check the system pressure, to make sure there has been no water loss, and to check for any air in the system.

What kind of protecion do i need for sanitary hot water?

WRAS (Water Regulation Advisory Scheme) guidelines state that hot water needs to be stored above 60oC and distributed at no less than 55oC to prevent microbial growth (legionella). However, in recommendations it states that hot water should be distributed less than 50oC to avoid risk of scolding. Under G18.5 of the Water Regulations, terminal fittings or communal showers should be supplied through thermostatic mixing valves so water temperatures do not exceed 43oC. Mitsubishi Ecodan has built in controls to perform the prevention of microbial growth (legionella) by weekly boosting the water temperature to over 60oC to sanitise the system, therefore water can be stored at lower temperatures for maximum efficiency.

Do I need planning permission?

Air source heat pump installations In Wales and Northern Ireland require planning permission. In England and Scotland they may be considered Permitted Development, in which case you will not need planning permission, but the criteria are complex so it is always a good idea to check with your local planning office. In the event planning permission is required, do not worry, we have successfully gained planning applications for a number of installations, even where the building is in the vicintity of a listed building!

Can Air Source Heat Pumps be combined with solar water heating?

Solar thermal can be incorporated into a heat pump system using a twin coil cylinder. The solar output heats the tank during the day leavinfg any difference between actual and desired tank temperature to the heat pumpduring its programmed heat up time. An accumulator can also be used in conjunction with an unvented cylinder, which are popular in solar thermal systems to ensure higher use of energy available.

How long does it take to install the systems?

Fitting the ASHP should only take one day and it should be up and running the same day. If however the installation is more complex and other plumbing and heating work is being done at the same time then this can take longer.

If your question is not answered above, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are more than happy to help!