Creating Safer Buildings with Air Source Heat Pumps

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Once the weather becomes nippy towards the autumn and winter seasons, people start switching from air conditioning to central heating to help keep their homes warm. Central heating warms up the rooms evenly in a more energy efficient manner than other forms of heating.

For a long time, people have been using fire places to warm up their homes during the cooler months instead of resorting to more affordable options. Fireplaces on the other hand can be quite dangerous however, because the open flame poses a threat to children and pets that may be playing in the area.

Fireplaces are also a fire hazard, because a stray spark could easily ignite carpets, curtains, and other flammable material. The smoke from the burning coals is also bad for the health, especially for individuals who are sensitive to dust and ashes.

Typical heating sources

Other forms of traditional home heating include gas or oil heating systems. They are more reliable than fireplaces and provide more even heating for your home. Fireplaces tend to only heat up a a single room, radiating outward from the source of the flame.

Oil and gas on the other hand truly provide a more even, balanced amount of heat. An oil-fired heat burner and natural gas burner typically uses a furnace to create heat.

Are they safe?

However, these are not the safest options on the market. Both of these burners can have serious environmental consequences: They continuously release CO2 into the atmosphere, which contributes to global warming and climate change.

Oil burners are also dangerous because there is a risk that it would release carbon monoxide, a highly toxic gas, into your home. Carbon monoxide is odourless and colourless, so it might be too late before you even notice that there is a problem with the boiler.

Gas boilers are as potentially dangerous but in another way. Gas leaks are highly dangerous in an enclosed space and one spark could ignite any leaked gas causing your home to explode or go up in flames.

A safer alternative

To make your home safer, it is better to switch to a much more reliable source of heating that will not pose a significant threat to you and your family, even if it malfunctions. One of these options is the air source heat pump.

Air source heat pumps are very similar to air conditioners in that they pump air from outside of the home to circulate it indoors. The air is heated inside the pump to create a warm indoor ambience. 

Air pumps are safe to use at home because there is no danger of gas leaks or carbon monoxide poisoning. They are also easy to maintain and cheaper than traditional heating systems.


Mike enjoys comparing EOC Services Air Source Heat pumps prices to the prices of traditional oil burners and natural gas furnaces. He is also an expert at home heating safety.