Air-con/air-to-air heat pump - any personal experiences?

to_be_FTB

Hi All, I am thinking to replace my storage heaters with air-to-air heat pump/air con system (outdoor unit & 2-3 wall mounted indoor units or a ducted system).
The appealing factors are:
- hoping for lower energy bills with COP around 3
- ability to quickly raise temperature
- 2/3 zones of temperature control (at least with the wall mounted units, not so much with the ducted system)
- better humidity control
- cooling option for the heatwaves
- no radiators in the way of furniture
 
What I am worried about:
- WIll there the heat loss increase compared to storage heaters?
- Are the indoor units very noisy?
- How noticeable is airflow from indoor units?
- How would it affect resale value? (it's not a very popular system in the UK)

Does anyone use air-con based system as the main heating system for a house? Are you happy with it? What set up do you have? 

sk2402005

I swapped my main heating in my old house from LPG to split air heat pump/air con units, and it saved me an absolute fortune.

at the time it was using about 3p/hr per unit when heating (that will be more like 6-7p with the current energy pricing)

I set mine on the lowest fan speed, so it was not noisy, actually the refrigerant expansion when it kicked in was noisier.

you also get the advantage of the air conditioning too.

im not sure why you would get heat loss? it just recirculates the air in the room.

depending on if you get the cheap rate energy overnight, the savings may not be so substantial.

andre_xs

- Are the indoor units very noisy?
- How noticeable is airflow from indoor units?

You asked for personal experiences, but in my experience in particular these two questions are perceived so differently between people: What one thinks is whisper quiet and un-hearable will be annoying and un-bearable for the next person. It also depends where you live (background noise), next to a busy road or in a quiet residential area? Same holds for the airflow: One loves a gentle breeze and the other one gets a stiff neck. So I would take this very cautiously...

Of course it also depends on the units, the settings (low - high), etc. While one (big powerful) unit may be able to run on quiet low setting, the same room may require a high setting if a smaller unit is installed. And finally, the 'quality' or nature of the noise: The same Decibel noise rating may sound nice to you, while another unit may produce an annoying sound, although technically the same loudness.

Personally I don't like ACs in general, because it's never *fully* quiet (which I thoroughly enjoy) and I also don't like a permanent airflow.

But this is just my experience from the systems I know and I don't have too much experience. Maybe there are better systems which are way less "intrusive".

Probably best is to see whether you have showrooms you can visit where you can hear and 'feel' the units/installations?

Rodders53

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/lpg-heating-oil-solid-other-fuels has a sticky thread on them and also a few other threads in that sub-forum. 

Cheap units will likely be noisier than better brands.  So do your research carefully. Airflow can be an issue - even on the lowest speeds if close to the outlets of wall or in-ceiling units.  Ducted may be different.

E7/E10 type tariffs may not be the most suitable with such heating; rather a single rate? But then hot water will be 1:1 immersion, rather than stored from a cheap overnight rate?

NB In theory you need Planning for the outdoor unit (unlike an air to water single install which is usually a permitted development).   

Air to water and low temperature design radiators may be more expensive but could be a better investment (plus qualify for subsidies), and allow stored hot water (will need new tank, though)? 

Note that insulate, insulate and draught-proof are the first thing to get right before choosing any heating system.