Aerothermal heating

What aerothermal heating actually is

Aerothermal heating (aerotermia) uses a heat pump to draw energy from the outside air and turn it into heating, cooling and hot water for your home. Because it moves existing heat rather than burning fuel to create it, an aerothermal system can deliver several units of useful energy for every unit of electricity it uses. That ratio is measured as the COP (coefficient of performance), and it is the main reason aerothermal is one of the most efficient ways to heat and cool a property on the Costa Blanca.

Unlike a gas boiler, there is no combustion, no flue and no fuel deliveries. The system runs on electricity, which means it pairs naturally with the solar panels many homes around Torrevieja and Orihuela Costa already have.

How the system works

An aerothermal setup has two main parts: an outdoor unit (the heat pump itself) and an indoor unit that manages hot water and your heating or cooling circuit.

• In winter it extracts warmth from the outside air, even on cool mornings, and uses it to heat your rooms and water.
• In summer it reverses, pulling heat out of the house to cool it, much like an air conditioner.
• All year round it produces domestic hot water for taps and showers.

The heat is distributed through underfloor heating, low-temperature radiators or fan coils, depending on your property. We look at what suits your home before recommending anything.

One system instead of three

The biggest appeal of aerotermia is consolidation. Instead of a gas boiler, a separate water heater and standalone climate control, you have one system that covers:

• Heating for our mild Costa Blanca winters
• Cooling for the 30-35°C summers
• Domestic hot water throughout the year
• Optional integration with solar PV and existing air conditioning

For second-home owners who only use the property seasonally, that means less equipment to maintain and a single point of contact for service. If you also want room-by-room climate control, aerothermal works well alongside a standard air conditioning installation.

Is it right for your home?

Aerothermal suits both villas and apartments, but the right design depends on the building.

• Villas with space for an outdoor unit and underfloor heating tend to get the most from a full aerothermal system.
• Apartments can often use a compact heat pump for hot water and heating, sometimes combined with ducted or split AC.
• Coastal properties need corrosion-aware siting and components, because the salt air near La Zenia, Cabo Roig and Punta Prima is hard on outdoor equipment.

We are RITE and F-Gas certified, so the refrigerant side of the work is handled correctly and legally. We look after Spanish homeowners and the local British and Nordic community alike, and we are happy to explain every step in plain English.

Running costs, efficiency and grants

Because an aerothermal heat pump produces more energy than it consumes, running costs are typically much lower than direct electric heating and competitive with, and often better than, gas, particularly when paired with solar. Exactly how much you save depends on your home’s insulation, how you use it and your electricity tariff, so we give honest estimates rather than headline figures.

Spain also supports efficient heat pumps through IDAE programmes and Next Generation EU funds. Because availability and amounts change over time and depend on your circumstances, we will tell you what is current when we visit and prepare your quote.

To keep efficiency high year after year, an aerothermal system benefits from regular checks, just like any heat pump. Our servicing page explains what that involves, and you are welcome to ask us anything about whether aerothermal makes sense for your property in Torrevieja or Orihuela Costa.