Who’s already had the heating on this autumn?! There is definitely a nip in the air and many of us are putting on extra layers and turning up the thermostat. But air conditioning in Maidenhead homes means that some of us are warming our homes in an environmentally friendly way that will make life more comfortable in the summer too.
In this blog, we look at why heat pumps are a great solution in the autumn, and what they mean for your home in summer and winter too.
Warm in winter, cool in summer
The Acclimatise team don’t just install heat pumps – we have them in our homes too. One of the key advantages of heat pumps is that they have a dual purpose. Not only do they warm our homes in winter but they also cool our homes in summer. This means they’re a really worthwhile investment and you can gain the benefits all year round.
How does a heat pump work?
As a nation that’s used to central heating, the idea that a heating system can also be a cooling system can be a bit tricky to take in. However, when we consider how a heat pump actually works, and the fact that it doesn’t burn fuel, it starts to make more sense.
A heat pump works by drawing heat from the air. Any air above -15 degrees centigrade contains some heat, which a heat pump can extract and use to create even more heat.
The air is drawn into the unit using the fan in the unit on the outside of your house. Once inside the unit, the air heats the refrigerant – this is a liquid with a very low boiling point. As the refrigerant boils, it turns to gas which can be compressed – this compression increases its temperature further.
At this point, the heat is released into your home to warm it. The remaining refrigerant is heated all over again by new air being drawn in from outside.
A heat pump works in the opposite direction to cool our homes in summer. In the same way as it can draw heat from the outside air to warm our homes, it can also draw heat from inside our homes and release it outside, leaving our living spaces cooler and more comfortable.
What are the benefits of a heat pump?
In addition to their heating options, it’s also worth noting that heat pumps are the most energy-efficient way of warming a home.
When we put two kilowatts of energy into a heat pump, the heat pump creates a total of five kilowatts of heat. It takes the further three kilowatts of heat from the surrounding air and uses it to warm your home.
This means that it uses a lot less energy than electric storage heaters or gas central heating, and in summer it uses less energy than electric fans. This makes heating and cooling your home more affordable for you and for the planet.
Air conditioning in Maidenhead
If you’re considering air conditioning in your Maidenhead home, we’d love to hear from you. An air-to-air heat pump is a great solution for both warming and cooling your living space, making it comfortable all year round. Explore our site to find out more, or get in touch today on 01483 570 120.