Boilers vs Heat Pumps: Which is best suited for your home or business?
With the increasing popularity of renewable energy sources, there is also growing interest in the use of non-traditional heating systems in the UK households.
Boilers?
A boiler is a sealed chamber device, in which the coolant (usually a water-based solution or steam) is heated to a set temperature, which is then used to generate heat and provide hot water. When looking for a boiler, the following technical parameters should be taken into account, which will assist the customer to easily compare boilers and choose the one that best suits their needs and budget.
Technical parameters of the boilers that should be taken into account:
• The power output (rated power)
• The efficiency rate (COP)
• The type of coolant used
• The coolant operating temperature
• The coolant operating pressure
• Hydraulic resistance
We will not go into detail on each of the technical parameters, as this is not the purpose of this post, but if you are unsure of which boiler to choose, please contact us.
Heat Pumps?
A heat pump is a more elaborate device than a boiler, but the main purpose of the functionality of a pump is more or less the same, namely the production of heatThe functionality of a heat pump is based on the absorption and transfer of a certain amount of thermal energy from a low temperature source (air or underground layers) to a heating element (pump’s coolant) with a higher temperature.
Things to consider when looking for a heat pump:
-The initial installation costs
-The pump’s refrigerant
-The pump’s size (BTU’s – British Thermal Unit)
-The pump’s technical features – SEER Rating (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) and HSPF Rating (heating seasonal performance factor)
-The pump’s warranty conditions
Heat pump types
It is advisable to compare heat pumps before investing in one, as there are many different types. Some of them are listed below.
-Air Source Heat Pump
-Ground Source Heat Pump
-Water Source Heat Pump
-Air to Water Heat Pump
