How Do Heat Pumps Work?
Heat pumps use electricity to extract heat from the outside air and transfer it into your home, warming water for your central heating, radiators or underfloor heating. They offer an energy-efficient, eco-friendly alternative to traditional gas boilers and electric heaters, with reliable year-round performance. Here is how they work and what you can expect them to cost.
What Does a Heat Pump Do?
A heat pump uses electricity to extract heat from the outside air and transfer it into your home, where it warms water for your central heating system, radiators or underfloor heating. Compared with traditional gas boilers or electric heaters, it delivers energy-efficient, eco-friendly heating with reliable performance all year round.
How Does a Heat Pump Work?
Heat pumps use the same technology as air conditioners, but reversed — both contain refrigerant, and the key difference is a reversing valve that enables heating. The cycle runs as follows: heat is absorbed from the ground or outside air, the refrigerant liquid evaporates into a gas, the gas is compressed to raise its temperature, the heated gas passes through an internal heat exchanger to circulate heat or warm water, and the gas then cools and condenses back to liquid before the cycle repeats.
Do Heat Pumps Work in Cold Weather?
Yes. Even on cold days there is still a small amount of heat in the air, and heat pumps are very effective at pulling in even the smallest amount of heat. Efficient insulation is important to help retain that heat inside your home.
What Types of Heat Pumps Are There?
There are two main types. Air source heat pumps extract heat from the outside air — Liverpool Heating specialises in air-to-water installations. Ground source heat pumps pump liquid through pipes in the ground to raise its temperature for heating and hot water; they work similarly to a boiler but with zero carbon emissions.
How Much Do Heat Pumps Cost?
Costs vary by system type. An air source heat pump typically ranges from £12,400 to £25,000, while a ground source heat pump ranges from £10,500 to £37,000.
How Can Liverpool Heating Help?
Liverpool Heating brings over 30 years of experience with Gas Safe registered engineers, offering services including heat pumps and solar panels. You can reach the team on 0151 440 2000.
