One of the most common types of heat pumps is the air-source heat pump. An air source heat pump is a system which absorbs heat from the outside air transfers it to a water source and pumps it inside a building. This heat can then be used to heat radiators, underfloor heating systems, or warm air convectors and hot water supply in your home.
Heat from the air is absorbed at low temperature into a fluid. This fluid then goes through a compressor where its temperature is increased, and transfers its higher temperature heat to the heating and hot water circuits of the house. There are two main types of air source heat pump system;

An air-to-water system delivers heat via your wet central heating system. Heat pumps work much more efficiently at a lower temperature than a typical boiler system would. This makes them more appropriate for underfloor heating systems or larger radiators, which give out heat at lower temperatures over longer periods of time.
An air-to-air system produces warm air which is distributed by fans to heat your home. They are unlikely to provide you with hot water as well. For the warmer times of the year, particularly the summertime from June to August, air to air systems work like air conditioners to provide you with cold air.
Installing a typical system, costs around €8,500 to €13,000. Operating costs will vary depending on a several of factors including the size of your home, how well insulated it is and what room temperatures you are intending to achieved.

The payback period (the time required to depreciation the cost of the system in energy savings) depends on how efficiently your system works, the type of system you’re replacing, and how you’ll be using the heat generated from the pump.

Heat pump systems typically come with a warranty of two to three years. You can expect them to operate for 20 years or more, nevertheless they do demand programmed maintenance. A yearly check by you and a more detailed audit by a professional installer every three to five years should be adequate.

An air source heat pump system can assist to lower your carbon footprint as it utilizes a renewable, natural source of heat – air. The amount of CO2 you’ll save depends on the fuel you are replacing. For instance, it will be higher if you are replacing electric heating rather than natural gas.

A heat pump also requires a supplementary source of power, usually electricity, to power the pump, so an air source heat pump can’t be regarded entirely zero-carbon unless this is provided by a renewable source, such as solar power or a wind turbine.

Via Seai