Heat Pumps vs Heaters – Which is better?
What type of heating is better?
When it comes to heating your home, comparing heat pumps vs other heaters can often be a difficult and overwhelming decision. Will a heat pump be cheaper to run than a wood fire? Is a heat pump safer to use than a gas heater? This guide will help you decide.
How much does it cost to heat my home?
The costs below are based on using a heater in a moderate climate, for six hours a day over 12 weeks in winter. They are indicative costs only; your costs will depend on your home, your local climate and the prices you pay for electricity and gas.
Efficiency
Heat pumps are widely recognised as the most efficient form of heating. They create between 3.5kw and 4.5kw of heat for every 1 kW of power consumed. This efficiency far exceeds a fireplace, electric or gas heater, which averages 1kw of heat for every 1kw power. While we do recognise the initial purchase price of a heat pump can be a bit of a hit to your wallet, the reduced running costs can outweigh the initial outlay in the long run.
Learn More about how heat pumps work
Fast and convenient heating
Heat pumps also have the added convenience of heating a room very quickly. It generally takes between three to five minutes to warm the coils and the heat pump will then start to blow warm air into your room. Compare this to a fireplace which can often be hard to start, and then take a lot longer to actually warm the room. Most heat pumps also come standard with 7-day timer control. This allows you to set the heat pump to automatically come on at set times. Great for warming the house in the morning or just before you come home from work.
Temperature control
The world health organisation recommends the minimum temperature for an occupied room to be 18 degrees. However, an excessively hot room can be just as uncomfortable and unhealthy as a cold room. Heat pumps have built-in thermostats allowing you to control your room temperature at the exact temperature you like. Most fireplaces or pellet burners don’t have this ability and you can only control the temperature of your room by the amount of wood you burn. Heat pumps also offer the option of cooling as well. Simply adjust the temperature on your remote and say goodbye to sweltering summer afternoons.
Home safety
A significant factor to consider when comparing heat pumps vs other heaters is the added safety of a heat pump. With no flames or combustion taking place the fire risk is significantly lower. A heat pump also has no exposed hot surfaces so there is no risk of anyone burning themselves should you accidentally touch it. Another bonus of not using combustion to heat means there is no release of smoke or other toxins. With an advanced filtration process taking place as your heat pump cycles the air, you can rest easy knowing your family is breathing fresh healthy air.
Variety
Every home is as unique as the people occupying it. As we set up the interior of our homes often a bulky heater or fireplace takes up valuable space right in the centre of the room. Heat pumps come in a variety of different models and can discreetly compliment your décor. High wall units are the most common and sit on your wall, while cassette options fit into the ceiling and gently blow air down and in all directions. There are also floor console models which sit on your floor against a wall, but offer the benefit of being very slim and unobtrusive. For those looking to heat the whole home, there is also a range of ducted systems available which heat all rooms with no more than a small disk visible in your ceiling.
Discover the different types of heat pump solutions
Conclusion
Having covered the various benefits of heat pumps vs other heaters the next question is what type of heat pump do you want in your home? Aeon Energy solutions offer an obligation free home consultation where we can discuss your individual needs. We can ensure you have the right size heat pump for your home, as well as discuss the various placement and model options available to tailor a heat solution for your home.
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