From: patchmoney@gmx.com   
      
   On 19 Oct 2025 at 20:07:31 BST, Retirednoguilt wrote:   
      
   > On 10/19/2025 12:51 PM, RJH wrote:   
   >> On 19 Oct 2025 at 17:41:28 BST, Retirednoguilt wrote:   
   >>   
   >>> the expense of installing air ducts   
   >>> would probably preclude amortizing the savings from a heat pump in fewer   
   >>> than 10-15 years.   
   >>   
   >> ASHPs in the UK are mostly used in wet heating systems, and directly replace   
   >> conventional boilers - no ducts.   
   >   
   > Please define ASHP.  I assume the HP refers to heat pump, but what's the   
   > AS?   
      
   Air source. There's also ground source, but they're less common due to the   
   need for land, and expense installing. There's plenty of air - even in the UK   
   -)   
      
   >  Also, if there aren't any ducts, how can someone take advantage of   
   > the ability of heat pumps to provide hot weather cooling in addition to   
   > cold weather heating?   
      
   Yes, that's one of the controversies. To take advantage of any incentives, and   
   I think comply with building regulations, even though the ASHP units are AC in   
   reverse and therefore capable of cooling and warming, they don't. Just   
   warming. And are therefore mainly used in wet systems, to circulate warm   
   water.   
      
   So it's just one unit outside the property. Apparently noise levels of newer   
   units is quite low.   
      
   Quite why they don't cool is linked primarily to environmental concerns,   
   supported by the current government (but not the opposition). And I'd imagine   
   it'd be quite complicated - as you say - to fit ducting.   
      
   I'm thinking of getting a standard AC split system that'd serve just one floor   
   of my home, with the compressor outside. Not sure yet. Like the OP, I have an   
   old boiler that just limps on.   
      
   --   
   Cheers, Rob, Sheffield UK   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)