Air to Water Heat Pumps
By using the free fresh air and a little bit of electricity to heat your home and water, air to water heat pumps reduce energy bills and household carbon emissions.
But how to they work? How much do they cost? And how are they installed?
Reduce your heating costs by 25% with an air to water heat pump
%Reduce your home’s CO₂ emissions by 100% when using green electricity
%Save £7,500 when you switch to a heat pump with the government grant
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What is an air to water heat pump?
An air to water heat pump is a heating system that uses thermal energy from the outside air and a little bit of electricity to heat your home’s water.
This hot water is then distributed across your existing network of radiators and/or underfloor heating to keep your home warm while also providing the hot water you need for your taps and showers.
Air source heat pumps are 4X more efficient than traditional gas or oil boilers, which means they not only slash your home's CO₂ emissions but cut your heating costs by 25%, too.
How does an air to water heat pump work?
The outdoor unit of your air to water heat pump system draws in the surrounding air using a fan and extracts heat from it. This heat is absorbed by the heat pump’s refrigerant, which turns from liquid to gas. The heat pump then compresses the vapourised refrigerant, causing its temperature to rise, transforming it into a hot liquid.
This hot liquid then passes across a heat exchanger where it releases heat to the water in your home. This hot water is stored in your system’s indoor unit and buffer tank (or hot water cylinder) before being distributed across your household.
See how an air to water heat pump works
How efficient is an air to water heat pump?
Air to water heat pumps are highly efficient heating systems that significantly reduce home energy bills and CO₂ emissions. Is there a way to measure this efficiency? Yes, it’s called Seasonal Coefficient of Performance (SCOP).
A rating over 3.5 is good. And the Aira Heat Pump? An impressive 4.7. This high efficiency translates to a 25% reduction in energy costs and a 100% reduction in home CO₂ emissions when using green electricity.
Are air to water heat pumps noisy?
Are air to water heat pumps noisy? Hardly. The outdoor unit of your heat pump makes a gentle running sound, so we advise not to place it directly under a bedroom window. That way, you won’t notice it when you’re inside. Neither will your neighbours, even when they're outdoors.
How much does an air to water heat pump cost?
The cost of an air to water heat pump depends on a variety of factors like the size of your home and your household heating needs. We assess all of these during a free clean energy assessment before providing you with a no-obligation quote.
Save £7,500 when you switch
As part of the UK government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme, eligible households in England and Wales can get £7,500 off the cost of their air to water heat pump when they switch from a gas or oil boiler. We’ll apply for the grant on your behalf and deduct £7,500 from your quote.
If you live in Scotland, you could be eligible for up to £15,000 in funding under the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan. We'll guide you through the entire process so you can begin saving before you even get your heat pump.
See what you can save
Use our calculator and find out
What type of home do you live in?
How to install an air to water heat pump
The installation of an air to water heat pump must be carried out by a trained professional. Our Aira Technicians are MCS-certified and will ensure that all safety regulations are met.
As part of our hassle-free switch, the seamless installation of your air to water heat pump is included in the cost. Once you’ve approved your quote, we’ll aim to install your system within 30 days. So you don’t have to wait long to start saving.
What does an air to water heat pump install look like?
After finding out how much they could save, Lina and her partner contacted Aira about installing a heat pump at their Victorian terraced flat in southeast London. Despite having no EPC and concerns about whether their property would be able to have a heat pump, Aira made it happen.
What heat pumps do Aira install?
When it comes to which heat pump is best suited to your home, there's no one-size-fits-all solution. Your home is unique, after all.
That's why Aira installs both the intelligent Aira Heat Pump and Vaillant's aroTHERM plus heat pump, ensuring you get the perfect fit for your home and heating requirements.
The Aira Heat Pump
The beautiful Aira Heat Pump is designed to be timeless. Outdated features like displays are replaced by a seamless app experience, a stylish thermostat and Intuitive Light Cues.
Impressively efficient and equally quiet, these future-proof and resilient air to water heat pumps come in three sizes (6, 8 and 12kW) and are approved for new builds and renovations, as well as any home wanting to get off gas for good.
And, with the Aira Comfort Guarantee, any parts and labour required to ensure the function of your product and installation are on us for the next 15 years.
Your Aira Outdoor Unit is complemented by an indoor unit & buffer tank
Outdoor unit
The outdoor unit draws in and extracts heat from the fresh air outside to heat your home and hot water.
Indoor unit
All your system information is gathered in the indoor unit. It is also where hot water for your home’s taps and showers is stored.
Buffer tank
The buffer tank is where the hot water for your radiators and underfloor heating system is stored.
Vaillant aroTHERM plus
With the highest possible energy class rating (A+++) and Quiet Mark awarded, Vaillant's aroTHERM plus air to water heat pumps are the gold standard in renewable home energy.
Vaillant provides a variety of outdoor unit sizes to suit your home (5, 7, 10, 12 and 15kW) and installation is quick.
These efficient products are still covered by the Aira Comfort Guarantee, with aftercare lasting 5 years.
We install all your clean energy-tech
Heat pumps
Air source heat pumps slash your CO₂ emissions by 75%, and shrink your heating costs by up to 25%, too.
Home insulation
Energy prices are going through the roof. Proper insulation keeps your heating exactly where you need it. Inside.
Solar panels
Clean, renewable solar power is a smart addition to any home. And when your home runs on sun, so does your heat pump.
How do air to water heat pumps work with radiators?
Just like with a traditional boiler system, an air to water heat pump works alongside radiators by pumping the hot water into the radiators to keep your home cosy.
Unlike boilers, air to water heat pumps provide up to 400% efficiency (which is great for your pocket) and can be powered with fossil free electricity (which is great for the environment).
Will I need to change any of my radiators when I install an air to water heat pump?
Radiators with a large surface area help to get the best efficiency from your heat pump. The larger surface area allows the heat pump to heat your water to lower temperatures than a gas or oil boiler. This keeps your energy bills down while still maintaining a cosy temperature in your home.
If you have older or smaller radiators, this may mean upgrading some of your radiators. But don't worry, we will let you know if any radiators need changing during your survey, and you'll hardly spot the difference.
How do air to water heat pumps work with underfloor heating?
The only difference you’ll notice when you switch to using a heat pump for your underfloor heating is lower energy bills. Underfloor heating uses radiant heat transfer to warm your home. Just as usual, the network of pipes under your home releases heat from the hot water generated by your air to water heat pump, providing an even and comfortable warmth.
Best of all, because underfloor heating uses a larger surface area, the water temperature doesn’t need to be as hot – meaning air source heat pumps and underfloor heating combined are a beautifully efficient match.
At what temperature does a heat pump stop working?
Heat pumps can provide effective heating in temperatures as low as -25 degrees celsius. And because your package includes our Aira Comfort Guarantee at no extra cost, you’re guaranteed 20 degree celsius cosiness on even the coldest day of the year – or we’ll come straight out to fix it.
How can I claim the £7,500 government grant and 0% VAT?
We'll ask some initial questions to check your home is suitable for a heat pump (70% of homes are). We will then help you claim this grant through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and guide you through the application. We will provide all the support and information you'd need from the initial application to the day of the installation.
How do I know if a heat pump is suitable for my property?
In order to install a heat pump, you should own your property (or have permission from your landlord), have outdoor space to store the unit, and have a reliable electricity supply.
During our quick call with you, we will find out if your home is already heat pump ready. We will discuss various aspects of your property, such as the size of your home and when it was built.
