What is a split air source heat pump?

Split air source heat pumps consist of an outdoor fan unit and an indoor hydro unit. While the outdoor fan unit extracts ambient air from outside the property, the indoor unit heats the refrigerant and transfers its heat to the water in the central heating system. It also acts as a thermostat and control panel.

Benefits of a split air source heat pump

When choosing a split air source heat pump over a monobloc heat pump, there are several benefits which we have detailed below.

More outdoor space

The outdoor units of split air source heat pumps are considerably smaller than their monobloc counterparts and will take up far less space outside of your property. Due to their smaller size, they are generally quieter to run as well.

Hot running water

Depending on the split air source heat pump you choose, you may not need a separate hot water storage tank to allow for hot running water in your home. This is because several indoor unit options include an integrated hot water storage tank in their design. These units can completely negate the need for a separate hot water storage tank, or reduce the size of a separate hot water storage tank you will need, depending on the unit you choose.

Flexible installation

As the indoor unit of a split heat pump is the only part that’s connected to the central heating system, this gives you more freedom with where you can place the outdoor unit. Some split air source heat pumps allow for the outdoor unit to be placed up to 75m away from the indoor unit. This gives you the potential to place the outdoor unit at the bottom of the garden out of the way, or up on a less intrusive wall.

Disadvantages of a split heat pump

When choosing the best heat pump for your property, it is important to consider the disadvantages of each unit too. You can find the disadvantages of installing a split heat pump below.

Complicated installation

Due to the separate indoor and outdoor units, split heat pumps are more complicated to install. Many of them require the installation of refrigerant connections (which can only be done by a heating engineer with F gas qualifications). This makes the installation more time-consuming and is likely to increase the cost. As these units are also relatively new, you may find it harder to find a qualified heating engineer in your area as well.

However, this is something we can help with. Click the link below and we’ll get you quotes from up to 3 qualified heating engineers in your area.

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Less indoor space

Unsurprisingly, installing a split air source heat pump will probably take up more room inside your property than a monobloc heat pump. Mainly due to their being an indoor unit as well as an outdoor unit. The most drastic loss of indoor space you could face with a split heat pump is installing an indoor unit and a separate hot water storage tank. This would not only fill the space your boiler previously inhabited, but take up further space with a hot water storage tank. This can be remedied by opting for an indoor unit with an integrated hot water storage tank, but it is not something that should be overlooked.

More expensive

Being more complicated in design than a monobloc heat pump, split air source heat pumps are generally a little more expensive to buy. Couple this with a potentially more costly installation and the price difference can start to add up. However, there is no guarantee a split heat pump will cost more than a monobloc, and you should always get comparison quotes to ensure you get the best installation price possible.