AIR SOURCE HEAT PUMPS

Air source heat pumps extract heat from the air and use refrigeration technology in reverse to deliver the heat to the inside of the building. Heat is absorbed from the outside air and heat is delivered inside at a higher temperature than the outside air via a heat exchanger to provide space heating via radiators or underfloor heating. More heat energy is delivered than is required to power the  equipment. This is known as the CoP or coefficient of performance.

GROUND SOURCE HEAT PUMPS

Ground source heat pumps use pipes buried under the ground to extract heat from the ground. The temperature of the ground at a depth of a metre or so will be constant at around 8-12C. A heat pump will raise the temperature of water passing through a pipe buried at 1.5 to 2 metres below ground level. More heat energy is delivered than is required to power the  equipment. This is known as the CoP or coefficient of performance. Generally, heat pumps are well suited to providing a source of heat for underfloor heating as the flow temperatures required are lower than for conventional radiators.