An air source heat pump (ASHP) is a renewable heating system that extracts thermal energy from the outside air and upgrades it to provide heating and hot water. Even on cold days there’s usable heat in the air, and a heat pump captures this energy using electricity and refrigerant technology.
Heat pumps operate like a fridge in reverse. An outdoor unit absorbs heat from the ambient air into a refrigerant. A compressor increases the temperature of the refrigerant, which then transfers its heat to your home’s radiators, underfloor heating or hot water cylinder. The refrigerant then cools and the cycle repeats. Because most of the heat comes from the air, heat pumps deliver three to four units of heat for every unit of electricity consumed.
Heat pumps work best in well‑insulated homes with larger radiators or underfloor heating. If your property needs insulation upgrades first, ECO4 or GBIS may cover those measures too. Our surveyors will assess your property and recommend the right combination of improvements.
Under ECO4, households receiving qualifying benefits or on low incomes can have an air source heat pump installed at no cost. For households not on benefits, the Great British Insulation Scheme may fund insulation that makes a heat pump viable. Retrov8 will identify the best route for you and manage the funding application.
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