What are Heat Pumps?

Heat pumps are devices which are able to extract latent heat energy from one source and deliver it to another location at a higher temperature. The source of heat can come from the ground or from the air.

The heat is then transferred to warm water in radiators, underfloor heating systems, to preheat water for your boiler, or it can be used to heat air in your property.

Heat pumps are powered by using a small amount of electricity which runs the refrigeration unit of the heat pump. They are measured by a coefficient of performance (CoP). This is the amount of heat the pump produces compared to the amount of energy needed to run it.

The performance ratings are recorded in ratios and heat pumps are currently achieving ratios of up to 1:4. This means one single unit of electricity is generating four units of heat. In simple terms, for every £1 worth of electrically heat pumps provide £4 worth of heat.