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 up to 26% 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?
The most common type of air source heat pump, an air to water heat pump is a central heating system that uses heat 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 to water heat pumps are 4X more energy efficient than traditional gas or oil boilers, which means they not only slash your home's carbon footprint but cut your heating costs by 26%, 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 compared to a gas boiler – even in cold weather. Is there a way to measure this energy 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 or other renewable sources.
Are air to water heat pumps noisy?
Are air to water heat pumps noisy? Just like all the other types of heat pump, hardly. The outdoor unit of your air to water 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?
Air to water heat pump costs can range from £5,490 to £8,500 (including a £7,500 government grant).
However, the cost of an air to water heat pump depends on a variety of factors like the size of your home, heating system upgrades like larger radiators and your household heating needs.
We assess all of these during a free, no-obligation, clean energy assessment before providing you with a fixed 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 initial 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 via the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan. We'll guide you through the entire process and even help with planning permission if required.
See what you can save with an air to water heat pump
Electricity price (25p / kWh)
Oil price (6p / litre)
How to install an air to water heat pump
An installation must be carried out by a trained air source heat pump installer. Our Aira Technicians are MCS-certified and will ensure all safety regulations are met.
To ensure maximum heat pump efficiency and protect against heat loss, your home may require additional upgrades like insulation or larger radiators. Our experienced Aira Technicians will install everything for you, ensuring your heat pump running costs are as low as possible.
As part of our hassle-free switch, your seamless installation is included in the cost. Once you've accepted your quote and any potential planning permission is approved, we'll aim to install your system within 30 days. So you don't have to wait long to enjoy your cost savings.
What does an air to water heat pump install look like?
Gareth knew his boiler was coming to the end of its life and began looking into some alternative energy sources for his home. Initially, he didn’t think a heat pump would be a viable option. That all changed when he called Aira.
What type of house do you live in?
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.
Your Aira Heat Pump system is made up of an outdoor unit and indoor unit system
Outdoor unit
The outdoor unit draws in and extracts heat from the fresh air outside to heat your home and hot water.
Indoor units
Your outdoor unit works alongside an indoor unit to efficiently heat your home and water. We provide two indoor solutions: the Aira Indoor Unit and the Aira Indoor Unit Compact.
Learn more about heat pumps
Heat pumps vs boilers
Explore how heat pumps and boilers work, their differences, costs and long-term benefits, helping you decide which is right for your home.
How much is a heat pumps?
Air source heat pumps have the power to slash your heating bills by 25%. And they cost less than you think.
How do heat pumps work?
Heat pumps are a clean alternative to traditional heating systems. Learn more about the different types and how they all work.
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.
