From heating to air purification, air-source heat pumps are steadily capturing the northern heating market.

　　Air-source heat pumps are among the most popular new heating systems this year and have seen widespread adoption in the Beijing area. Although the “coal-to-electricity” conversion initiative was launched several years ago, it was only this year—with the entry of numerous heat-pump manufacturers such as Mitra and Newentech—that the project truly scaled up. The original intent of the “coal-to-electricity” program was to reduce air pollution and the frequency of smog; remarkably, some air-source heat pump products deployed in certain regions even come equipped with built-in air-purification capabilities—a pleasant surprise, indeed.

　　The primary functions of an air-source heat pump are space heating and domestic hot-water supply; does the addition of air-purification capability merely inflate the budget, or does it truly deliver practical benefits? The following chart shows air-quality data for major cities, revealing that, due to decades of coal-based heating and vehicle exhaust emissions, urban air-pollution levels in northern China are generally high. Severe air pollution has become a persistent source of concern for residents in these regions. According to reports, on December 11, the PM2.5 concentration at the Weigongcun subway entrance in Beijing exceeded 260, and even inside the subway car it remained above 220. As a result, specialized protective masks have become essential for anyone going outdoors, while air purifiers have become an indispensable “health shield” in many households. Consequently, specialized protective masks have become essential for outdoor activities, and air purifiers have become an indispensable “health shield” for numerous families.

　　Where there is a need, there is a reason for existence; therefore, the air-purifying function of air-source heat pumps is by no means superfluous. So how does an air-source heat pump achieve air purification? The air-source heat pump unit itself is simply a heating device that uses ambient air to produce large quantities of hot water. However, to deliver genuine heating and heat release, it must be paired with appropriate terminal heating equipment—and an air-source underfloor heating unit is one such terminal.

　　To facilitate explanation, let’s take a specific product as an example—the Newtai Comfort+ Air-Purifying Air-Source Heat Pump Floor Heating System. This system receives hot water from the air-source heat pump via piping and then delivers gentle, warm air from the floor to provide heating. This active-convection heating approach boasts a high energy efficiency ratio, comparable to that of an air conditioner, yet it is more energy-efficient than radiator-based systems. Moreover, because the heat pump employs a water-circulation heat-transfer method, the relative humidity of the indoor air remains closer to the ambient level, effectively alleviating dry mouth and throat—a common issue with conventional heating—and making it well-suited for long-term heating applications.

　　Its air-purification function stems from the filtration system of the air-source floor-heating unit. A large-area particulate-filter screen is integrated at the point where the floor heater comes into contact with the air, and when combined with the built-in eight-stage filtration system, it effectively removes pollutants such as formaldehyde, bacteria, and PM2.5. According to empirical testing, the removal rates for PM2.5, formaldehyde, and benzene all exceed 90%. Although these results fall short of those achieved by the most specialized air-purification equipment, the overall performance is nonetheless sufficient to significantly mitigate the health risks posed by severe air pollution, thereby providing households with a reliable, clean indoor air environment.

　　In air-source heat pump heating systems, the appropriateness of the terminal heating units significantly affects the overall heating performance of a residence. By pairing an air-source heat pump with an air-source underfloor heating unit, you not only achieve energy savings and cost-effectiveness but also accomplish two goals at once: heating and air purification.