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CGR has completed his works in a very efficient and pleasant way.
Home / Air conditioning / Air Conditioning That Heats Your Home Too
Air Conditioning That Heats Your Home Too
Most modern air conditioning is an air-to-air heat pump. How it heats, what it costs to run against a boiler, and when it makes sense to use both.
They are the same machine
An air conditioning unit does not make cold. It moves heat from one side of a wall to the other. Reverse the direction and it moves heat into the room instead. That is all an air-to-air heat pump is, and it is why almost every modern air conditioning system heats as well as it cools.
Why it beats an electric heater, decisively
An electric heater converts one unit of electricity into one unit of heat. It cannot do better, because that is the ceiling.
A heat pump moves heat rather than generating it, so it delivers roughly three units of warmth for one unit of electricity. Against an electric heater it is not a close contest.
Against a gas boiler, it depends
This is where we will give you a straighter answer than a pure air conditioning company can, because we fit boilers too.
Electricity costs considerably more per unit than gas. A heat pump delivering three units of heat per unit of electricity roughly cancels that difference out, so for a whole house the running cost comes out broadly comparable — sometimes better, sometimes not, depending on the tariff and how well insulated the house is.
Where it wins clearly is the room your heating has never served properly. If a loft conversion or a garden office is currently heated by a plug-in electric heater, or not heated at all, an air conditioning unit is dramatically cheaper to run than the heater and dramatically more effective than nothing.
Using both together
This is what most of our customers end up doing, and it is a sensible arrangement. The boiler heats the house through the radiators as it always has. The air conditioning handles the one or two rooms the heating struggles with, and cools them in summer as a bonus. You are not replacing a system that works; you are covering its weak spot.
Air-to-air is not the same as air-to-water
Worth being clear, because the terms get mixed up. Air-to-air heat pumps — what air conditioning is — heat the air in a room directly. Air-to-water heat pumps heat water for radiators and taps, and replace a boiler entirely. Air-to-water is the one government grants apply to, and it needs MCS certification.
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He is a polite and knowledgeable tradesman. He communicates clearly and executes the job as planned and agreed.
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I have a great experience dealing with CGR. From the start he was very professional and efficient. Even when he ran into a complication with the combination valves, he resolved the issue without complaint and to an excellent standard. Thank you CGR.
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My shower pressure suddenly fell very low. I called CGR and they came to fix the problem. Not even a day later and my shower was fixed. Thank you for your quick and very professional service.
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We always call them as they are reliable and honest.
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CGR Heating serviced my gas boiler and magna clean system. They were punctual and completed the work to a high standard. I would recommend them.
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Very reliable and punctual. He's very tidy and gets on with his work quietly.
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I had a boiler fault that was actually caused by an airlock in my central heating. Chaudray identified the potential issue quickly and clearly communicated the steps required to fix it. He carried out the work then and there, and the problem was solved. He was very courteous and tidy, too.
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CGR carried out gas safety review and boiler service at one of our rental properties. Arrived on time and explained all the checks they did. Thank you.
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Quality of work, clarity and tidiness was excellent. Chaudray was clear about all the steps of work, fixed some historical issues as part of solving the job to the best standard, but checked, explained and gave options as he went.
Excellent service
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Chaudhry messaged me promptly and was able to come the next day. He was really friendly and carried out the work quickly and to a high standard.
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Very professional and competent.
Questions
Is air conditioning really a heat pump?
Yes. An air conditioner moves heat rather than making cold. Run it in reverse and it moves heat into your home instead. Same machine, opposite direction.
Is it cheaper than my gas boiler?
For a whole house, broadly comparable and it depends on your tariff and insulation. For one room your heating has never handled well, it is clearly cheaper than an electric heater.
Does it work when it is freezing outside?
Yes. There is still heat in cold air for it to move. Efficiency falls as the temperature drops, but it keeps working well below freezing.
Can I get a government grant for it?
Not for air-to-air. Grants apply to air-to-water heat pumps, which replace a boiler and heat your radiators and hot water.
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