Do heat pumps improve indoor air quality?

Because the UK’s climate will get hotter, stormier, and a bit much less predictable, our houses are feeling the pressure. Many older buildings simply aren’t constructed for it, leaving us with stuffy rooms, damp patches, and even mould.

In line with the UK Well being Safety Company, we spend a whopping 95% of our lives indoors (and two-thirds of that at dwelling!), so the best way we warmth, cool, and ventilate actually issues.

Air supply warmth pumps usually get credit score for reinforcing indoor air high quality, however is that truly true? We spoke with an professional with a ardour for making clear air a fundamental proper, so you do not have to second-guess it.

Meet the professional

Georgina McGivern is the Co-Founder and Programme Director of The London Clear Air Initiative, a non-profit organisation devoted to enhancing air high quality throughout London.

Since its founding 5 years in the past, Georgina has performed a central position in shaping the organisation’s technique and delivering impactful programmes that increase consciousness, affect coverage, and drive community-led change.

How precisely can a warmth pump assist clear the air in your house?

We all know warmth pumps are nice for power effectivity, however do they really enhance the air we breathe?

Georgina: Warmth pumps can enhance indoor air high quality not directly by circulating and filtering indoor air. In contrast to conventional combustion heating, they don’t produce dangerous byproducts like carbon monoxide or nitrogen dioxide. Many methods additionally embrace fundamental filtration that traps mud and different airborne particles, decreasing pollution within the air.

Analysis reveals that switching to a warmth pump brings massive well being advantages. In London, gasoline boilers and cookers are chargeable for over 20% of nitrous oxide (NOx) emissions, a key contributor to poor air high quality and situations like bronchial asthma. By transferring from gasoline to electrical energy, we will lower these emissions considerably. Warmth pumps not solely assist cease the issue from getting worse, additionally they ship direct, optimistic well being impacts for the individuals residing in these houses.

Supply: Cleantech Houses, The Sustainable Markets Initiative

What sort of pollution or allergens would possibly they assist cut back indoors?

Are we speaking much less mud? Fewer pollen particles? Or one thing extra critical like combustion fumes?

Georgina: Warmth pumps may also help cut back frequent airborne particles akin to mud, pollen, pet dander, and mildew spores, particularly when geared up with high quality air filters. By decreasing particulate matter, they will alleviate allergy and bronchial asthma signs. They don’t instantly take away chemical pollution or gases, nevertheless they don’t produce these within the first place, in contrast to conventional combustion heating akin to gasoline boilers.

PRO TIP: Trendy warmth pumps additionally function easy-to-clean or exchange filters, with choices like plasma, ionic, and HEPA filters to additional neutralise dangerous pathogens. Selecting a ductless system can enhance effectivity and cut back pollutant build-up, whereas the absence of combustion fuels eliminates the dangers related to gasoline leaks. This mixture of unpolluted air, secure humidity, and environment friendly heating and cooling makes warmth pumps a wonderful alternative for households, notably these with kids, bronchial asthma victims, or anybody delicate to allergens.

So if warmth pumps already include filters, do I want something additional?

Should you’re anticipating a warmth pump to double as an air air purifier, what do you have to realistically anticipate?

Georgina: Most warmth pumps do include built-in air filters, however they’re usually fundamental and designed extra for shielding the system than purifying air. To considerably enhance air high quality, you might wish to add a devoted air air purifier or air flow system.

Cosy Heat Pump Outdoor Unit

Is switching from a gasoline boiler to a warmth pump higher for air high quality inside the home?

Many houses nonetheless depend on gasoline, however does ditching the flame-based system make a noticeable distinction to indoor air?

Georgina: Sure, switching from a gasoline boiler to a warmth pump sometimes improves indoor air high quality. Gasoline boilers can launch combustion byproducts, even in hint quantities, into the house. Warmth pumps function with out combustion, eliminating that supply of indoor air pollution fully. This makes a noticeable distinction, particularly in smaller or tightly sealed houses.

A group of scientists from Turin, Italy, discovered that changing home gasoline boilers with warmth pumps may lower common annual NOₓ concentrations by as much as 1.4 µg/m³, delivering measurable well being advantages value tens of millions in averted well being prices annually. For households in smaller or tightly sealed houses, the place pollution can construct up extra rapidly, that swap could make an particularly noticeable distinction.

Supply: Nationwide Centre for Biotechnology Data; “Environmental and Well being Impacts of Home Sizzling Water (DHW) Boilers in City Areas: A Case Examine from Turin”

Can warmth pumps cut back the chance of issues like carbon monoxide indoors?

Gasoline and oil heating methods can produce dangerous gases, does a warmth pump remove that threat?

Georgina: Completely. Since warmth pumps use electrical energy and never combustion, there’s no threat of carbon monoxide (CO) or different dangerous combustion gases being produced. This eliminates a serious security concern related to gasoline or oil heating methods.

What position does air flow play when utilizing a warmth pump?

If my house is well-sealed for power effectivity, do I must suppose extra about airflow?

Georgina: Air flow is essential for good indoor air high quality as a result of it removes pollution, moisture, and odors whereas introducing recent air, due to this fact decreasing the chance of well being drawback, controlling humidity, and stopping mildew progress. Warmth pumps recirculate indoor air, they do not deliver recent air in, so it’s nonetheless essential to ventilate.

Can utilizing a warmth pump really assist with bronchial asthma, allergy symptoms, or respiratory points?

Any real-life examples or analysis to indicate it makes a distinction?

Probably, sure. Particularly with high-quality filters. By decreasing allergens like pollen, pet hair, and dirt mites, warmth pumps can create a cleaner indoor setting.

In line with the American Lung Affiliation, fuel-burning home equipment launch dangerous pollution like nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide, which might set off bronchial asthma, lung illness, and different critical well being issues. Their recommendation? Swap to scrub, electrical options like warmth pumps. Warmth pumps ship year-round consolation with out releasing indoor pollution, and so they enhance air high quality with built-in filtration and humidity management. It’s a win on your well being, your private home, and the planet.

Supply: The American Lung Affiliation

How does a warmth pump evaluate to different clear air tech like air purifiers or MVHR methods?

Should you care about air high quality, is a warmth pump sufficient by itself?

Georgina: A warmth pump can play a supporting position, nevertheless it’s not a full alternative for devoted air purification or air flow methods. MVHR methods actively herald filtered recent air and take away stale air, whereas air purifiers can goal superb particulates and a few gases. For the very best air high quality, these methods work properly together.

Woman with Cosy Heat Pump

Will I want to scrub or preserve the warmth pump to maintain the air clear, too?

Let’s be trustworthy, is that this a “set it and neglect it” form of deal, or is a few maintenance required?

Georgina: Sure, upkeep is essential. Filters should be cleaned or changed periodically relying on utilization and air high quality. Soiled filters not solely cut back air high quality but in addition decrease the system’s effectivity.

Backside line: Is improved air high quality a cause to decide on a warmth pump, or only a good bonus?

We all know warmth pumps are inexperienced and environment friendly, however ought to clear air be a part of the choice?

Georgina: Improved air high quality is unquestionably a pleasant bonus. The principle advantages are power effectivity and decrease carbon emissions. That mentioned, should you’re switching from a combustion-based system, the air high quality positive aspects might be vital and significant, particularly for delicate people.

In London, buildings are chargeable for a big quantity of out of doors air air pollution. Warmth pumps can cut back air air pollution by eliminating the combustion emissions related to conventional heating methods. By utilizing electrical energy to switch warmth moderately than burning fossil fuels, warmth pumps keep away from releasing dangerous pollution like nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter into the environment, each indoors and outdoor. Which means by switching to a warmth pump, you might be decreasing your influence on native air high quality, whereas additionally enhancing it inside your private home.

So, do warmth pumps actually provide help to breathe simpler indoors? The reply is a assured sure. Past conserving your private home at a snug temperature, they actively assist higher indoor air high quality by filtering out mud, allergens, and different pollution, regulating humidity ranges, and selling wholesome airflow. Warmth pumps aren’t simply environment friendly, they’re a future-proof method to maintain our houses comfy, breathable, and prepared for regardless of the UK local weather throws at us.