Installer Directory
author

Written-by

Richard Burdett

reviewd-by

Reviewed-by

Richard Burdett

calendar

Updated on

Sep 04, 2024

Read Time : 3 Minutes

How Do Heat Pumps Work in Cold Climates?

Heat pumps can be an amazing and cost effective alternative to conventional methods of heating. Plus, they tend to reduce your impact on the environment as they produce far less emissions. They can even be powered by renewable energy sources to completely remove your emissions footprint. However, not all of us live in warm climates where heat is easy for these systems to reach. If you are in a colder area, you need to know which (if any) systems will work for you. This page goes through this topic in detail, helping you to make the right choice.

The Best Climate for Heat Pumps

The best climate for all heat pumps is a moderate to warm one. This way, they are able to easily extract surrounding heat and convert it into energy at efficient levels. They can be used as either heaters or air conditioners, so even if you live in a hot country, you may find a heat pump to be a useful investment.

Some heat pumps work better in colder climates than others, as we will detail in the following sections. This is because, during the winter weather, heat pumps that have exposed piping need to work a lot harder to provide your home with the energy required to give it sufficient central heating or hot water.

If the heat pump system can’t get enough warmth from the air, then a supplementary system needs to be used in its place, which can increase your energy bills for a period of time. This can be inconvenient as the purpose of purchasing a heat pump is to save on your energy bills as well as use a greener source of energy.

Heat pumps with exposed piping tend to be more at risk in colder weather than those that have piping buried in the ground. The next sections will take you through the best cold weather models.

COMPARE PRICES FROM LOCAL INSTALLERS

Compare prices from local companies fast & free

Enter your postcode to compare quotes from leading professionals. We promise to keep your information Safe & Secure. Privacy Policy

Which Heat Pump is Best for Cold Weather?

Generally speaking, the ground source heat pump (or geothermal) is considered the best for use in cold weather. This is because it is buried under the earth, and the ground has a natural supply of warmth. Typically, the piping is buried far enough down that the frost and cold weather will not be able to reach it, and so it is prevented from freezing by the natural warmth that surrounds it.

This also means it does not lose efficiency at any point in the year. This is in contrast to the air source heat pump, which is installed outside. The next section takes a look at why it is not as suitable for cold weather in further detail.

Why Air Source Heat Pumps Lose Efficiency in Cold Climates

The amount of heat that your air source heat pump can transfer to your home is largely reliant on the overall outdoor temperature. At the temperature outside drops, so does the heat output of your air source heat pump.

The heating capacity of air source heat pumps tends to drop as the temperature decreases. The air source heat pumps tend to be sized to produce enough heat for 80-90% of the annual heating load, and it should be enough to fill 100% of the heating requirements for your home when temperatures are above freezing.

As a result, it is best that you have a backup heating source available when the temperature drops. That way, it can pick up the slack when your air source heat pump starts to decline in efficiency. If you don’t want to be hooked up to the gas mains or use typical heating methods, you can purchase large metal canisters of gas and use them in faux fireplaces in the home. These tend to be low in cost and also back up the air source heat pump nicely.

What to Do if Your Heat Pipe is Frozen

If your air source heat pump piping becomes frozen, this is not something to be immediately concerned about. It is normal for the pipes to suffer a little in the cold weather. What you must never do is pour antifreeze into the piping when it is frozen as this will end up making matters worse.

Your air source heat pump should naturally go into its defrost settings, which will throw all of its energy into thawing the ice that has formed in and around the piping. If it has not done this automatically, consult your owner's guide and see if there is a way that you can manually start the defrosting process. Should this fail, call the company that supplied it and see what advice they have to offer.

Want to Know More?

Have you found yourself interested in heat pumps? If you want to know more then make sure you head to our Renewable Shop where you can find our full range of products, each with the relevant information. Or simply give us a ring using the number at the top of this page and have a chat.

Find a local installer

Welcome to the biggest directory of UK renewable energy companies

image

Related Articles

Everything you need to know about Gro...

A major renewable source of heat for homes can actually be found in the ground. One of the...

Different Types of Heat Pumps

In the natural world, heat will normally transfer from a warm location to a cold one. A heat pu...

How Does a Ground Source Heat Pump Wo...

Finding new, greener and long-term, cost-effective way to heat your home is a great way forward...

What is a Geothermal Heat Pump

Geothermal heat pumps are also known as ground source heat pumps, and it can work as an excelle...

What is Ground Source Heating

Ground source heating is one of the best options available when it comes to heat pumps. They ar...

Can I get a grant for an Air Source H...

You may have been contemplating investing in an air source heat pump, especially as they are su...

Air Source Heat Pump Reviews

Heat pumps are becoming increasingly popular as a way to heat, and in some cases cool our homes...

The Disadvantages of Air Source Heat...

Air source heat pumps can be a fantastic way to generate electricity and heat for your home. Li...

How Does an Air Source Heat Pump Work

Air source heat pumps can be a fantastic and efficient replacement for your current heating sys...

How much do Heat Pumps cost to instal...

Air source heat pumps are a great way to heat your home, and they could be the ideal thing for...

Ground Source Heat Pump Cost to Insta...

The amount of heat that is produced by the ground is actually quite amazing. You may not think...

Information about Air Source Heat Pum...

What are air source heat pumps? Air source heat pumps work because of a phenomenon called he...

Find a local installer

Welcome to the biggest directory of UK renewable energy companies

Or

COMPARE PRICES FROM LOCAL INSTALLERS

Compare prices from local companies fast & free

Enter your postcode to compare quotes from leading professionals. We promise to keep your information Safe & Secure.

Privacy Policy
Contact
Contact Us

We keep your information Safe & Secure. Privacy Policy

What technology are you looking to install?
What do you require?
logo
Before you go... Can we help you with anything?

Leave your details and we'll contact you to discuss your requirements

We keep your information Safe & Secure. Privacy Policy

x
logo

quick and free price comparison for solar or heat pumps

We keep your information Safe & Secure. Privacy Policy