Heat pumps have been available on the market for some time now. With the cost of energy supplies steadily increasing more people are opting to gain the benefit of adding a pump to their property.

Heat pumps can work to either cool or heat your home. To warm your home they can extract cold air from outside and draw it into your home. To cool your home they perform the same operation in the opposite direction.

There are fundamentally two different forms of pump available which provide similar effects using different sources.

Air Source Heat Pumps are the more common variety of heat pump. Air source systems work by drawing air from outside through a compressor into a system of tubes filled with refrigerating fluids that then lead into a unit inside your home. Once the air has entered the internal unit it is then directed by a fan towards a heating element and distributed around your home.

For colder days an additional element can be used in combination with the main system to provide more heat electronically. Although not as energy efficient as the pumps primary mode the option is a worthy addition to have for particularly cold days.

An alternative method of gathering natural heat is using Ground Sourced or Water Sourced Pumps. Ground and water sourced air pumps can be a more efficient method of gaining more heat for your home compared to air sourced methods. As air from these sources usually retains more heat in winter and has enhanced cooling properties in summer less energy is used converting the air to the desired temperature.

These systems work by circulating water mixed with anti-freeze through subterranean pipes which gather heat or cold as the solution flows past water. The water is pumped from one well and passed through your home before being sent back to a separate well.

Heat pumps are an energy efficient solution that will not only save you money on reduction of fuel costs but also help to protect the environment.

• Heat pumps supply a less concentrated source of heat then traditional heating methods. So instead of turning on your heating and feeling a solid, overwhelming forceful heat you will gradually feel the room warm at a comfortable rate.
• Heat pumps introduce more oxygen into your home as opposed to simply warming up the existing content. They can also be integrated into your thermostat to provide an even more efficient solution.
• Some heat pumps available on the market can also be used to heat your water. Some models contain a processor which performs a similar role to a thermostat by regulating the speed of the fan to control the water flow.
• Heat pumps are also available with supplemental storage tanks. These tanks can be used to store reserves of hot and cold water to be used on demand. This results in less energy being used to power the pump and is a highly economic addition.

If you are considering adding a heat pump system to your home contact your local heating contractor for details of product ranges and quotes.