The environmental impact of heat pumps

RATHER TRUE

When temperatures drop below 0°C, ground-source heat pumps are indeed more efficient. The lower the ambient temperature, the bigger the difference in efficiency. However, when the ambient temperature is above 7°C, air-source heat pumps are more efficient.

The average efficiency over a heating season can be slightly higher for ground-source heat pumps versus air-source heat pumps. This difference makes a minor difference in the yearly electricity bill.

Air-source heat pumps are easier to install and much lower in investment. Therefore an air-source heat pump is the best option for most of us.

NOT TRUE

This might have been true ten years ago. But Daikin developed air-to-water heat pumps especially designed for the renovation market. Those heat pumps can be used with any type of emitter: underfloor heating, radiators, convectors.

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NOT TRUE

Daikin has a very wide range of air-to-water heat pumps. Some 97% of the homes are suitable for a Daikin heat pump.
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We advice you to consult your chosen Daikin installer, or your government's website, for more information. Find out more about the different incentives on offer, and how to make your eco-friendly home even more affordable. 

Yes, heat pumps can be used for cooling, but this depends on the type of emitters you have.

For example, the ideal emitter for cooling with low- or high-temperature heat pumps is a heat pump convector (also known as a fan coil unit). This works similarly to a traditional radiator with the added benefit that it can both heat and cool a room.

Some hybrid heat pumps can connect to air-to-air heat pump (also known as air conditioners), which are another popular heating and cooling solution.

Yes, heat pumps can connect to either old or new radiators.

If you already have radiators in your home, high-temperature heat pumps or hybrid heat pumps (if you’re replacing a gas boiler) can easily connect to them and use existing piping without the need to replace the radiators or carrying out additional works.

The simplest answer is, it depends. Installing a heat pump is more than just the placement of an indoor and an outdoor unit, therefore there is no definite timeframe when it comes to the amount of time it will take to install a heat pump as it will depend on a number of different factors such as:

• Type of home: The first thing that will be taken into account is the type of home a heat pump will be installed in. Is it a new-build or an existing home? With new-build homes, the planning needs to be taken into account with all other building currently taking place. With existing homes, things such as whether existing emitters will be used or will be replaced with new ones will play a part in the time needed.
• Type of heat pump: Since there is a variety of different heat pumps, each one also has its own time requirement for the installation.
• Additional works: Whether you are installing a heat pump in an existing or new-build home, there may be additional works that need to take place in order to ensure that you’re getting the most out of your new system. This could include the installation or replacement of emitters (such as radiators), optimising your insulation etc.

The price of installing a heat pump varies depending on the type of heat pump you choose and the country you live in.

Other factors that can affect the price are renovation or additional building works (such as insulation) that need to carried out, plus your installer. Different installers will have different prices according to their expertise and experience.

Heat pumps are not very demanding. We advise scheduling an annual maintenance appointment with your installer or service provider to make sure your pump keeps working as efficiently as possible. A typical service would include a number of standard checks, as well as a thorough cleaning of the unit and filters.

Most heat pumps usually come with an indoor and an outdoor unit. Each unit produces sound when in operation, this sound is generally measured in dBA and these levels range from a scale of 0 dBA to 140 dBA.

When looking at sound levels you will also see specifications given for sound power level and sound pressure level.

Sound power level is the sound level measured directly at the source.

Sound pressure level is the sound level measured at a specified distance (usually 1.5 - 2 metres) from the source.

The indoor units of Daikin heat pumps generally produce a sound pressure level of about 30dBA, which is comparable to the sound of a person whispering.

Outdoor units, since they come in a bigger variety of sizes, range in sound pressure levels between 40dBA and 62 dBA, which are comparable to the sounds of birds a chirping and people having a conversation respectively.

The typical lifespan of a heat pump is generally between 15 and 20 years, though this depends on a number of factors. For example, maintenance. Although heat pumps are a low-maintenance solution, an annual check-up by your installer or service partner will help maximise its lifespan.

You can get advice on which type of heat pump is best suited to your home from a Daikin installer, one of our Sustainable Home Centres or using our Heat Pump Calculator.

A Daikin heat pump installer will manage everything related to ordering, delivery and installation of your heat pump. Find an installer here