Air source heat pump

[Avocadoandlemons]

What do I need to know about these!?

Might be getting a house with one

Pros / cons / things to watch out for before we buy?

Are they easy to upgrade in years to come as technology improves?

Thank you!

Really interesting to hear your experiences. Thank you.

Are there any makes / models that are considered better than others?

@TheDeckchairGardener

May I ask which radiators you put in? Do you have a link to them, please? We have ASHP and I don't care for the radiators we have currently (they came with the house). Thank you!

@Pea79

Sorry, I don’t have a link, the installers chose them for us! They look like bog standard radiators but with 2 panels (one behind the other). They were fitted purely to increase the surface area in a couple of rooms to enable them to heat up more quickly.

So it would be to power underfloor heating throughout the house - no traditional radiators anywhere. ..

Are you potentially buying a house with one already fitted, or thinking about Installing one in your house OP? Because I'd say advice is completely dependent on which.

Already fitted!

@Hairyfriend you have been misinformed regarding heat pumps and older properties. There are a number of manufacturers who produce ASHPs specifically for retrofit. The Daikin Altherma HT and the Vaillant aroTherm Plus being just two. Some of the complete nonsense being promulgated by the likes the Mail and the Telegraph is disgraceful.

Heat source pump here, new build, underfloor heating downstairs and radiators upstairs. Ours is set at 21 degrees and 19 degrees in the night. This is I think the manufactures recommended settings. Our house is a constant temp. Underfloor heating needs time to react, so it is best to keep it on a low heat. If it goes suddenly cold then it our heating takes a bit of time to react which can be a pain. All our pipes centre in the hallway so often our hallway is 23 degrees, but it warms up other parts of the house. If already fitted I would say it is a benefit and the way to go.

[quote Daftasabroom]@Hairyfriend you have been misinformed regarding heat pumps and older properties. There are a number of manufacturers who produce ASHPs specifically for retrofit. The Daikin Altherma HT and the Vaillant aroTherm Plus being just two. Some of the complete nonsense being promulgated by the likes the Mail and the Telegraph is disgraceful.[/quote]
I shall look into those, thank you. We've been told about issues with ASHP on retrofitted properties from multiple different builders, carpenters, plumbers and trades we've had with 1st hand experience. Maybe they aren't aware of newer technology?

We've literally just had one installed in our 1950s detached house. It's pretty well insulated. It works so well and it's had to work hard as it's been around zero degrees outside since. It was a big outlay but we had to change the gas boiler anyway and we will be putting in wet ufh downstairs when we renovate. You can only hear the pump when you're literally standing right next to it outside. I think newer models are a lot quieter. I would definitely think it's a major plus to buy one already installed. It's nice not to be running on gas, that's for sure.

Hairyfriend is misinformed too, definitely not just for new builds.

Great thanks everyone!