I didn’t realise most modern heat pumps had the capability for active or passive cooling. Obviously not to the standard of full on air conditioning, but still given the current climate you’d think they’d be making more of a thing about it.
Replies
I like the term the Australians use for heat pumps, Reversible Air Conditioning or something like that.
aug 26, 2025, 5:38 pm • 1 0 • view
Didn’t know that either. Thank you!
aug 26, 2025, 11:34 am • 1 0 • view
This disconnect has confused me. In Florida all of our A/C systems double for both heating and cooling. You essentially just switch the direction of flow of the refrigerant. Heating elements in the system are often brought up, but it seems lost that those only come on in system failure.
aug 26, 2025, 3:45 pm • 1 0 • view
The climate in Florida vs the UK and Ireland is very different. Hence over here they'll push efficicent heating and as it seems not mention cooling, where I would guess in Florida the cooling would be the prominant selling point.
aug 26, 2025, 4:42 pm • 2 0 • view
The prevalence of hydronic heating systems in Europe versus air conditioning (with furnaces, heat pumps, and resistance heating) is why in Europe there is less emphasis on the ability of heat pumps to also cool. Cooling with hydronic systems is pretty much restricted to commercial buildings.
aug 26, 2025, 5:37 pm • 2 0 • view
I was going to go for it, but the last time I checked you have to bury a long length of pipe under ground (need property) and the cost was 2-3 times the cost of furnace/air-conditioner.
aug 26, 2025, 2:46 pm • 1 0 • view
That's ground sourced. Air sourced is just like an air conditioner outdoor unit. This is mine. Working out much cheaper than a gas-fired boiler.
aug 26, 2025, 6:15 pm • 2 0 • view
Cool. What is the cost?
aug 26, 2025, 6:17 pm • 1 0 • view
Averaging around £160-£170 per month for all my electricity. Heating is a part of that, plus charging the car, kids that don't turn lights off... I'd been quoted £500+ per month for the same, but with the old gas boiler, so it's paying for itself easily.
aug 26, 2025, 6:21 pm • 2 0 • view
How many sq ft is your house? Was there an upfront cost or is that built into the monthly.
aug 26, 2025, 6:28 pm • 1 0 • view
Maybe 2000sq ft. I got a government backed loan. Most of that, though, is covered by the government incentive scheme. Only issue I've had is that I needed bigger radiators. Beyond that, it's been fine in the Scottish weather.
aug 26, 2025, 6:45 pm • 2 0 • view
Heat pumps are just backwards aircon. Both could do both, but I don't think either is necessarily designed like that put the box. You'd have to buy a model that did that on purpose
aug 26, 2025, 11:22 am • 1 0 • view
*out
aug 26, 2025, 11:22 am • 1 0 • view
Pretty much every one I’ve looked at over the past week has the function out of the box. So I’m thinking a coil fan solution will pretty much cover everything I need.
aug 26, 2025, 11:30 am • 2 0 • view
I forgot you moved back to futureland.
aug 26, 2025, 12:30 pm • 1 0 • view
If you're paying for one, why not pay the tiny increment more and do both.
aug 26, 2025, 1:47 pm • 2 0 • view
I mean, I know about heat pumps for heating and cooling. I’ve heard a lot about them in my state.
aug 26, 2025, 12:34 pm • 1 0 • view
In the UK and Ireland it tends to get pushed more as an efficient heating solution, with the cooling side rarely being mentioned.
aug 26, 2025, 12:44 pm • 3 0 • view
Gotcha. Here in the desert its definitely being promoted for both. My parents just got one. My problem is I have an almost brand new furnace and you have to replace the furnace with a compatible one to install a heat pump, and I can’t justify the expense.
aug 26, 2025, 1:14 pm • 1 0 • view
Odd timing, l've had someone round this afternoon to put together a quote for air source/conditioning. They have lots of units that do both, or that will do heat or cool. The difference if they do both is slightly different control board and a reversing valve. They cost difference being negligible.
aug 26, 2025, 1:46 pm • 1 0 • view