Samsung Air Source Heat Pumps: Overview and Costs

Why Choose a Heat Pump?

Heat pumps are generally regarded as the most energy efficient way to heat your home. Although they use electricity to operate, the heat they generate is much more than it takes to power them. According to Carbon Trust, heat pumps have the potential to deliver CO₂savings of 60–70% compared to conventional electric heating and 55–65% compared to an A-rated gas boiler.

Despite offering these savings, heat pumps are much more effective than traditional heating methods when combined with high levels of insulation and underfloor heating. As radiators aren’t the most efficient form of space heating, underfloor heating has low flow temperatures more suited for heat pumps, which makes them the perfect companion. Samsung heat pumps are regarded as some of the best in the business.

Should you get a heat pump?

An Introduction to Samsung Heat Pumps

Samsung produces air-to-water and air-to-air heating systems in a range they refer to as EHS. Standing for Eco Heating System, they combine high efficient heating and cooling technology with low operating costs. The air-to-water system that Samsung heat pumps use refers to how they extract ambient heat from the external air and transfer it to a wet central heating system. This is either through radiators or underfloor heating. Air-to-air is similar to air conditioning.

They have also developed a more eco-friendly refrigerant, known as R32. According to their own data, the Samsung EHS Mono and Split only requires 83% of the refrigerant used in a traditional heating system of the same size. The most polluting refrigerant has a Global Warming Potential (GWP) rating of 2,088, while Samsung’s R32 is a fraction of this at 675. As well as this, the R32 refrigerant allows Samsung heat pumps to operate with an Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) of 0.

What Kinds of Samsung ESH Heat Pumps Are There?

Samsung heat pumps come in three different models:

• EHS Mono

• EHS Split

• EHS TDM

EHS Mono

The EHS Mono Samsung heat pump is a single outdoor unit that can be easily integrated into any home heating system. As everything is together in one unit, it eliminates the need for any refrigerant piping. It is also able to be integrated with a hot water tank, which doesn’t have to be specifically from Samsung.

The Mono control kit that comes with these Samsung heat pumps allows connection to third party equipment. It includes a controller, flow sensor, hot water tank sensor, and leaving and return water sensors.

EHS Split

Taking up more space, the EHS Split Samsung heat pump has both an outdoor and indoor unit. The indoor hydro wall mounted unit works in conjunction with the external system to produce space and water heating. The main benefit is that it can be integrated with solar technology to supplement the cost of operation.

EHS TDM Plus

For the most amount of space heating and cooling, the EHS Time Division Multi Plus Samsung heat pump offers it all. Combining both air-to-water and air-to-air technologies, this has all the benefits of the EHS Split but with the addition of an indoor air unit.

The main advantages to this system is quicker heating, using a combination of both air and water heating modes. Samsung heat pumps are also capable of smartly allocating the most efficient heating type to run depending on the setup and weather. This also works with air conditioning too.

How to Improve Your Samsung Heat Pump

Samsung has developed a ClimateHub, which is compatible with every type of their heat pumps. It is an integrated hot water hydro unit that is also capable of being run through solar power. The tanks have a 200 and 260 litre capacity and come with a colour screen that you can control the system with. It’s also able to control up to two different heating zones, allowing for both underfloor and radiator heating integration.

If operating noise or aesthetics are concerns, you might be interested in the EHS Mono HT Quiet Samsung heat pump. The high temperature unit has been awarded the Quiet Mark for quiet operation. It’s also a stylish, black unit that has been designed with elegance in mind. This Samsung heat pump is ideal for renovation projects and new buildings.

How Much Is a Samsung Heat Pump?

When it comes to how much you’ll pay for a heat pump, it’s difficult to estimate. It’s not only the unit that you’ll have to pay for, but the installation as well. Depending on how big your home is and if any extra work needs to be done, this can drive up the costs you’ll pay for a Samsung heat pump.

Rough costs for these Samsung heat pumps can be seen in the graph below.

Heat Pump Installation Costs

What will really drive up the cost of your heat pump is the installation. Bear in mind that installation is not going to simply be a case of replacing your boiler with this new unit. The size of your home will dictate which heat pump would work for you, as well as how well insulated the property is.

With bigger properties comes higher hot water demands, which requires a more powerful heat pump to cover. Radiators, though often installed larger than necessary, may need to be improved or upgraded to generate the same amount of heat. This will all require money.

You can see typical installation costs for heat pumps in the graph below. Checkatrade estimates these to be between £2,000 and £20,000.

How Easy Is It to Control Samsung Heat Pumps?

The technology included with Samsung heat pumps is constantly being developed and improved. Smart Connectivity allows you to operate your system from the SmartThings App. This also enables you to view the energy use of the system and have complete control over how it’s all working. Up to 16 indoor units can be controlled using this app.

Alternatively, Samsung heat pumps come with their own touch controllers. A colour display allows for multi-zone temperature settings, which means you can set different climate controls for specific areas of your home.

Heat Pump Pros and Cons

The advantages and disadvantages of heat pumps are many and varied. A Samsung heat pump comes with its own strengths and weaknesses.

Pros

• Highly efficient (up to A+++)

• Eco-friendly refrigerant

• Quieter operation

• Dynamic range of products to suit any household

• Domestic heating up to 70°C

• Air cooling between 5°C and 25°C

• Reliable heating in temperatures as low as -25°C

• Easy controls with Wi-Fi integration

• Solar technology compatible

• Eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (£7,500 off)

Cons

• Only a two year warranty

• External space needed for installation

• Some models need internal space

• Potential additional wiring and plumbing costs at installation

• High levels of insulation needed beforehand to be effective

Should I Buy a Samsung Heat Pump?

It’s easy to see why Samsung is considered a market leader in this form of technology as there are so many positives from their heat pumps. While the costs can be high for some of the more capable systems, the cheaper Samsung air source heat pumps are less than £5,000. As they are eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which offers you £7,500 off, this can give you a big discount on the installation costs.

Before going ahead with a Samsung heat pump, it’s worth asking if your home is currently suitable for it. Older homes without much insulation will not be suitable as the high efficiencies that heat pumps operate at can only be achieved with a relatively warm home. High levels of heat loss render a heat pump virtually useless as they will be in constant operation and unable to maintain set heating temperatures.

With solar panels already fitted on your home, a Samsung heat pump installation could make sense. Most models can be directly linked to solar panels to maintain heat, but they can all benefit from free electricity, which will drive down their operating costs.

Find out how much you’d pay for a Samsung heat pump by using our quote comparison tool. Click on the button below to fill in your details and you’ll hear from local heat pump installers with tailored quotes.