Do You Get Air Source Heat Pump Problems in Cold Weather?

Air source heat pumps are a sustainable and efficient alternative to traditional heating systems. Although they have lots of advantages, many people worry about how they perform in cold weather conditions. In this post, we’ll outline two air source heat pump problems in cold weather and why they’re so rare.

Air source heat pumps: the basics

Before we look at how cold weather affects air source heat pumps, let’s be clear on how they work. Air source heat pumps extract heat from the surrounding air, then transfer it into a property to heat the space or water. They are made up of an outdoor unit and an indoor unit, connected by copper “refrigerant” lines.

The outdoor unit contains a fan that has been designed to draw in ambient air and pass it over a heat exchanger. This heat will then go through a phase change from a low-pressure liquid to a high-pressure gas. It can then be pumped into the indoor unit and released into the home’s heating system.

Air source heat pump problems in cold weather

Because air source heat pumps use the ambient temperature of the air to extract heat, changes in temperature can affect how they work. As outside temperatures drop, the heat available for the system to convert diminishes. This can cause a few issues that are uncommon but possible:

Frost buildup

In extreme temperatures, an outdoor unit’s heat exchanger can be affected by frost. As a heat pump extracts heat from the air, this moisture can condense and freeze. This can cause a barrier that makes it hard for the heat pump to extract heat.

Efficiency reduction

Likewise, in extremely cold weather, air source heat pumps can struggle to extract enough heat from the air. This can lead to a decrease in the unit’s overall efficiency. In this scenario, the heat pump will then rely on more electric heating to keep the space warm, which can increase energy consumption and utility bills.

How cold does it have to be for these issues to occur?

It’s worth noting that for air source heat pumps to become run into problems, the temperature drops must be extreme. Most heat pumps will function at a high level of efficiency, even at sub-zero temperatures.

Standard pumps work down to -1o°c, with some especially durable air pumps remaining efficient as low as -25°c. The lowest temperature ever recorded in Leeds is -12.6°c, meaning that there is little chance of UK homes encountering air source heat pump problems in cold weather.

Reap the rewards of an air source heat pump

With much milder temperatures than other countries, the UK is a great place for air source heat pumps to thrive. At COA Services, we provide professional installation throughout Leeds and Harrogate, so you can take advantage of their benefits without the extreme-weather problems.

To learn more, contact us on 01423 408336 or complete our contact form online and we will get back to you.