Heat from the air is absorbed at low temperature into a fluid. This fluid then passes through a compressor where its temperature is increased, and transfers its higher temperature heat to the heating and hot water circuits of the house.

An air-to-water system distributes heat via your wet central heating system. Heat pumps work much more efficiently at a lower temperature than a standard boiler system would. So they are more suitable for underfloor heating systems or radiators, which give out heat at lower temperatures over longer periods of time.

To tell if an air source heat pump is right for you, there are a few key questions to consider:

• Do you have somewhere to put it? You'll need a place outside your home where a unit can be fitted to a wall or placed on the ground. It will need plenty of space around it to get a good flow of air. A sunny wall is ideal.
• Is your home well insulated? Since air source heat pumps work best when producing heat at a lower temperature than traditional boilers, it's essential that your home is insulated and draught-proofed well for the heating system to be effective.
• What fuel will you be replacing? The system will pay for itself much more quickly if it's replacing an electricity or coal heating system. Heat pumps may not be the best option for homes using mains gas.
• What type of heating system will you use? Air source heat pumps can perform better with underfloor heating systems or warm air heating than with radiator-based systems because of the lower water temperatures required.
• Is the system intended for a new development? Combining the installation with other building work can reduce the cost of installing the system.
• Running costs will vary depending on a number of factors - including the size of your home, and how well insulated it is, and what room temperatures you are aiming to achieve.

How much you can save will depend on what system you use now, as well as what you are replacing it with. Your savings will be affected by:

• Your heat distribution system.
• If you have the opportunity, underfloor heating can be more efficient than radiators because the water doesn’t need to be so hot. If underfloor heating isn’t possible, use the largest radiators you can. Gt. Yarmouth Heating are able to advise on this.
• Your fuel costs.
• You will still have to pay fuel bills with a heat pump because it is powered by electricity, but you will save on the fuel you are replacing. If the fuel you are replacing is expensive you are more likely to make a saving.
• Your old heating system - If your old heating system was inefficient, you are more likely to see lower running costs with a new heat pump.

Gt. Yarmouth Heating will teach you how to control the system so you can get the most out of it. You will probably need to set the heating to come on for longer hours, but you may be able to set the thermostat lower and still feel comfortable. As a result, saving money on your bills.

You may be able to receive payments for the heat you generate using a heat pump through the government’s Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). Click here for more information on the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI)

You may also be eligible to get help with the installation costs of a new air source heat pump through the Renewable Heat Premium Payment Scheme. Click here for more information on the Renewable Heat Premium Payment Scheme

This technology is an eligible measure under the UK government’s Green Deal which is a financing mechanism that lets people pay for energy-efficiency improvements through savings on their energy bills. Click here for more information on the Green Deal: energy saving for your home

Gt. Yarmouth Heating will leave written details of any maintenance checks you should undertake to ensure everything is working properly. Gt. Yarmouth Heating will specify the maintenance requirements to you. One of the yearly checks that you are likely to be advised to carry out is to check that the air inlet grill and evaporator are free of leaves or other debris. Any plants that have started to grow near the heat pump unit will also need to be removed.

You may also be advised by Gt. Yarmouth Heating to check the central heating pressure gauge in your house from time to time. If so, we will show you how to do this. To prevent the heat pump from freezing in cold winter weather anti-freeze is used. Levels of anti-freeze and its concentration is one of the things that a we will check when we come to service your heat pump.

In England, installing an Air Source Heat Pumps may be considered Permitted Development, this is only if an assessment is carried out and everything complies to Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS). In which case, you will not need planning permission, but the criteria can be complex, so Gt. Yarmouth Heating can ask for you to provide proof from your local authority as this is the safest option.

Since 2011 in England, domestic air source heat pump systems will be classed as Permitted Development if they comply with certain criteria, including:

• There is no wind turbine at the property.
• The external unit is less than 0.6 m3 in size.
• The unit is more than one metre from the edge of the householder's property.
• It is not on a pitched roof, or near the edge of a flat roof.
• It meets additional criteria if in a conservation area, World Heritage Site or similar.
• This list is not comprehensive. For full legislation, please contact your local planning office for full details.