AOS Blog
At home with a heat pump: 'It makes hot water when it's freezing outside'
On Tuesday 17th August 2021 AOS were featured in an article which appeared online in the Guardian newspaper. John and Carol Deed, Thriplow, Cambs "We had an air source heat pump fitted in January 2020 and it has proven to be a really good decision," says John Deed, a former marketing executive in the car industry. Deed and his wife Carol began considering home heating options for their detached four-bedroom 1970s house when it became clear their 25-year-old oil boiler was "on its last legs". "We considered cost as well as environmental impact and this ruled out going with oil again - [it's] volatile in price, a pain…
How An Air Source Heat Pump Works?
Using an air source heat pump to heat your home is more eco-friendly, more energy efficient, and can be highly cost-effective. Essentially, when using an air source heat pump, you can make your own - renewable - energy, thus saving money. When you use an air source heat pump, the heat will be delivered to your home at a lower temperature than using an oil or gas boiler. Although this means such a pump will have to be run for a longer time to get up to the right temperature, it is still cheaper than using other kinds of heating. If you need to replace your boiler, a great way to make it more affordable to run would…
My boiler is leaking, what do I do?
When your boiler is leaking, you need to get it fixed as soon as you can. If there is damage to your boiler, it could be causing a number of problems. Finding and fixing the problem is a must. to ensure your boiler is efficient and functioning safely. There could be several causes for a leaking boiler, but the most important thing is to take immediate steps to try and resolve the problem. Prevent Leaking You shouldn't try fix your boiler yourself, but you can do some things to address the problem. Start by turning off your water supply so that no more water is able to leak. Switch your heating…
How hard water can affect my heating system?
Soft water has a low content of calcium carbonate, magnesium, and other minerals. Hard water contains a high amount of these substances. The large majority of homes in England have a hard water system. It's fine to drink water with a high mineral content, but it's not the best water for a heating system. How might hard water affect my heating? Calcium and magnesium turn into hard deposits of limescale. These cause damage to the water system because they cause blockages. When your heating system…
What are Heat Pumps?
An air source heat pump extracts heat from the outside air in the same way that a fridge extracts heat from its inside. the system extracts heat from the air even when the temperature is as low as -15° C. Heat pumps require electricity to run, but the heat they extract from the air is constantly being renewed naturally. Heat pumps come with multiple advantages for your home. Pumping the heat uses less electricity as compared to when electricity is solely used to convert it. During the summers, the cycle can be reversed and the unit acts like an air conditioner. Heat pumps are rising in popularity in…
The difference between hard and soft water
We all use the terms "hard" and "soft" to describe the water that comes out of our taps, but the truth is that many of us don't actually know what that means. Plenty of people wonder what the difference is between the two is and whether or not there are any issues associated with these different types of water. The difference between the two is actually very straightforward. The hardness or softness of water is measured by the…
What to Do If Your Water Pipes Freeze
The ideal approach to dealing with freezing pipes is to anticipate the issue when winter approaches. However, when the unthinkable occurs, you will need to act quickly to limit the extent of damages and reduce the cost of fixing. Although it's safer to refer to a professional, you can keep these tips in mind to thaw your frozen water pipes and avoid extensive damage. Here is what to do. 1.…
Why your home might not stay as warm as it used to
If your home no longer stays as warm as it used to, then things can get pretty uncomfortable pretty fast. And that’s before you even consider that this could be the prelude to a total boiler breakdown! Where lost heat is concerned, you obviously want to think about external factors first. After all, gaps, single-glazed windows and faulty draught excluders are all some of the worst culprits for lost heat. If you’re sure these issues…
How to save money on your gas bill
If you're trying to cut costs at home, then your gas bill is a good place to start. The gas bill is often one of the highest home costs, but there are some things you can do to lower your gas bill, without having to make big or expensive changes to your home. 1. Turn down the thermostat. Dropping the temperature by only one degree can save energy and money, without feeling any difference. 2. Don't dry clothes on your radiators. Covering the radiators lowers the amount of heat that the radiator can release, meaning the boiler has to run for longer to get the room to the same…
Green Homes Grant
If you're a homeowner or residential landlord who's looking to reduce your energy use (and consequently energy costs), you should consider applying for a Green Homes Grant Voucher through the Green Homes Grant Scheme. Put simply, this is a government funded scheme that will contribute towards the costs of installing energy efficient improvements in your home. Some options available to you would include insulation your home to reduce your energy use or installing low-carbon heating to minimise the amount of carbon dioxide that your home produces. If you apply for the scheme, you could receive a voucher that will cover two thirds of the cost of any eligible home improvements you carry out. This sum…
Mitsubishi Electric Case Study
Nigel Furr from Buckinghamshire has become the latest homeowner to move his property away from oil-based heating to a renewable air source heat pump Undertaking a property wide conversion, taking his two-bed bungalow to a four-bed chalet bungalow, Nigel decided to make the move to a renewable heating solution after the positive feedback he had received from other local homeowners who had already made the transition from oil to a heat pump. "After talking to our neighbours, many of whom had been using oil previously, we researched air source heat pumps as a solution that was better for the environment and would also help us cut our energy costs." said Nigel. Following…
