Energy efficiency is at the forefront of many homeowners’ minds, as they think about protecting the planet and reducing their bills. If you're considering installing an air-to-air heat pump (also known as an air conditioner) to heat and cool your home, it’s sensible to have an idea of how much electricity it will use.
What determines the energy consumption of an air-to-air heat pump?
Many factors affect air-to-air heat pump energy usage and cost to run, including:
- How well insulated your home is and how well it retains warmth or stays cool.
- Its position and orientation. If it's sheltered from the sun and wind, it might need less energy for cooling and heating. If it's south-facing, with lots of windows, it may heat up more in summer (requiring more energy) but be warmer in winter (so need less).
- How large the space is. Bigger spaces take more power to heat and cool.
- How many people live in your home and what their needs are. Babies and elderly people may need a warmer house in winter or struggle more with heat in the summer. It also depends on how much time you spend at home, e.g. if you go out to work.
- If you have blinds or curtains that keep the heat in or block out the sun.
- If you have photovoltaic solar panels to provide “free” electricity.
The type, size and capacity of the air-to-air heat pump units also matters. If they're too small, they won't be effective or efficient. They may have to work harder to heat and cool the room, using more energy, at a higher cost, with less benefit in achieving a comfortable temperature. If they're too big, they'll create excess airflows, which could cause a draught. Again, that's inefficient and costly and may feel unpleasant.
How can I learn more about air-to-air heat pump efficiency and power consumption?
All electric and electronic devices sold in the EU have an energy efficiency rating. These range from A+++ (the most efficient) to D (the least), so you can make an informed choice. You can find the energy labels for all Daikin products on our website.
There are also seasonal efficiency ratings for heating and cooling products that all manufacturers of units sold in the EU must use. The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) refers to energy efficiency in cooling, and the Seasonal Coefficient of Performance (SCOP) refers to energy efficiency in heating. They measure efficiency in a typical environment and annual energy consumption.
You can estimate the heat pump energy usage yourself: most manufacturers state the annual consumption of their models in kilowatt-hours on their websites or in their brochures. If you know how much your supplier charges per kilowatt-hour, you can calculate roughly how much your bill will be – bearing in mind the variables above.
Find out more about air-to-air heat pump efficiency in the Daikin product range..
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Find the answers to all the questions you might have about air-to-air heat pumps and how they can work for you
The air-to-air heat pump indoor unit is the part of an air-to-air heat pump system that’s located within the home, and provides the conditioned air into the space.
The choice of an air-to-air heat pump indoor unit depends on your specific needs but it's important to understand how the system works as a whole. There are different air-to-air heat pump systems (also known as air conditioners), each with its own unique characteristics. One of the most popular types used in homes is a split system, which is split into two units: one indoors and one outdoors. While heating, the outdoor unit extracts heat from the outside air and transfers it inside via the indoor unit, or reverse when cooling your home.
There are three types of air-to-air heat pump indoor units:
Wall-mounted units
Wall-mounted models (Stylish, Ururu Sarara, Daikin Emura, Perfera,) come in different sizes and colours to match with your interior.
Floor-standing units
Floor-standing models (Perfera Floor) are compact air conditioner that fit perfectly under a window sill or in a room where the height is limited.
Concealed ceiling units
Concealed ceiling units. If you don't want a visible indoor unit, a concealed air-to-air heat pump can be installed in suspended ceilings or false walls.
The air-to-air heat pump indoor unit is the part of an air-to-air heat pump system that’s located within the home, and provides the conditioned air into the space.
The choice of an air-to-air heat pump indoor unit depends on your specific needs but it's important to understand how the system works as a whole. There are different air-to-air heat pump systems (also known as air conditioners), each with its own unique characteristics. One of the most popular types used in homes is a split system, which is split into two units: one indoors and one outdoors. While heating, the outdoor unit extracts heat from the outside air and transfers it inside via the indoor unit, or reverse when cooling your home.
There are three types of air-to-air heat pump indoor units:
Wall-mounted units
Wall-mounted models (Stylish, Ururu Sarara, Daikin Emura, Perfera,) come in different sizes and colours to match with your interior.
Floor-standing units
Floor-standing models (Perfera Floor) are compact air conditioner that fit perfectly under a window sill or in a room where the height is limited.
Concealed ceiling units
Concealed ceiling units. If you don't want a visible indoor unit, a concealed air-to-air heat pump can be installed in suspended ceilings or false walls.
Yes, and if you renovate your property and switch to renewable air-to-air heat pumps, you will add value to your renovated home, the environment and your pocket. Heat pumps can be installed in almost any home. There are, however some considerations that may need to be addressed, particularly regarding insulation. In order for a heat pump to function at its most efficient, your home needs to be well-insulated to prevent as much heat from escaping as possible. A suitably qualified heating engineer can advise you on what needs to be done in your home in order for it to be appropriate for a heat pump system. This might include upgrading the insulation of your walls and roof. You also need to consider location. The outdoor unit will need to be installed outside your home and should be in a place that you can access easily when you need to clean the unit, adjust its settings or have the heat pump serviced.
Yes, an air-to-air heat pump (also known as an air conditioner) can bring hot water to your home. With Daikin's Multi+ solution, heating, cooling and hot water are supplied with one system. It connects up to three units and one domestic hot water tank and is compatible with a 90 and 120-litre tank and a wide range of indoor units, offering unrivalled flexibility. Our Multi+ solution includes an intuitive full-text display on the domestic hot water tank for monitoring and adjustment of all settings, including scheduling and water temperature.
Daikin's air-to-air heat pumps (also known as air conditioners) can give you relief from your allergies because they can capture the allergens in the heat pump filter and improve the quality of air that you are breathing. Not only do our air-to-air heat pumps keep you warm and cool but they are also removing pollutants, pollen and particle matter from your breathing space.
Some Daikin units are also equipped with a Flash Streamer and different filters like the titanium apatite deodorising filter or the silver allergen removal filter, which are able to reduce the pollutants in the air quickly and efficiently.
No! Furthermore, our air-to-air heat pumps (also known as air conditioners) can help reduce the symptoms of allergies. Daikin integrates multiple filters in all its air conditioning units: titanium deodorising filters, silver allergen filters and flash streamers remove dust and capture bacteria. With proper air conditioning maintenance, and as long as they are cleaned regularly, these filters will provide cleaner, healthier air for everyone to breathe.
For your heat pump to function as it should, it is essential that the system is installed correctly. Only an authorised technician should carry out the installation and in a suitable location. The surface must be firm enough to withstand the weight and vibrations of the unit and there must also be sufficient space for airflow and for connecting pipes and power cables. Any plants or shrubs that may be located near your heat pump should be at least a metre away and regularly pruned. The pump should also be installed in a place that’s easy to access for services and other general maintenance.
We often get asked why we can’t put the heat pump inside. Could they not be placed in the loft or conservatory? The answer to this is no. This is because, after a few hours, the heat pump will have extracted all of the warmth from the trapped air, effectively turning this space into a freezer. This is why air-to-air heat pumps need access to the free-flowing outside air.
We advise having a service done by a qualified engineer once a year. Scheduled servicing, regular maintenance spot-checks and routine cleaning of the system will extend its lifespan and maintain its energy efficiency.
Here are some signs your air-to-air heat pump (also known as air conditioner) needs immediate maintenance:
If your air conditioner unit makes more noise than usual, the filters may be clogged. Clean the unit by removing dust with a vacuum cleaner. If the same noise persists or you hear a gurgling sound, there could be a mechanical issue. A qualified technician should then be called to examine the unit.
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