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Saving money and making greener choices are two goals many of us strive for. And investing in a heat pump can be a great way to achieve both.
Heat pumps are low-carbon heating systems that take outdoor heat and use it to warm our homes.
In Scandinavian countries like Sweden and Norway, heat pumps are the norm, and households have been choosing them as a heating solution for decades. However, they’ve recently gained traction in the UK as an eco-friendly, money-saving alternative to traditional boilers – especially since the government is now offering grants to make the switch more affordable.
Here, we’ll take a closer look at heat pumps and explore why they’re growing in popularity.
What are heat pumps?
Heat pumps absorb naturally occurring thermal energy from the outside environment and transfer it to a refrigerant fluid. This fluid is typically compressed and turned into a hot gas to heat radiators, under-floor heating, or water.
Some heat pumps can also do this process in reverse to cool our homes in the warmer months.
Two main types of heat pumps are used in the UK: air source and ground source.
Air source heat pumps
Air source heat pumps (ASHPs) are the most common type. They absorb heat from the air via an outside unit and transfer it indoors. These are typically cheaper and less disruptive to install than ground source heat pumps.
ASHPs come in two types: air-to-water and air-to-air. Air-to-water heat pumps are the most common. They provide hot water and use radiators or underfloor pipes to heat our homes. On the other hand, air-to-air heat pumps use fans to raise the inside air temperature and don’t provide hot water.
Ground source heat pumps
Ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) absorb heat from the ground via underground pipes. These are generally more expensive and disruptive to install due to the excavation work needed. Unlike ASHPs, they don’t need an outdoor unit, but do require a sizeable indoor one.
Since the ground is a more stable heat source than the air, GSHPs can be more efficient than ASHPs.
Which heat pump is best for you will depend on your budget and how much outdoor space you have. For example, if you don’t have outdoor space or it’s relatively small, an air source heat pump will be best by default.
10 reasons why more people are choosing heat pumps
Now that we know a little bit about what heat pumps are and how they work, let’s look at some of the reasons why more people are choosing them.
1. Heat pumps are environmentally friendly
Traditional boilers burn non-renewable fossil fuels, including gas and oil. This process releases greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), which contribute to air pollution and global warming.
Instead of burning fossil fuels, heat pumps rely on a small amount of electricity, meaning they release far less CO2 than traditional boilers.
In fact, heat pumps can reduce your home heating CO2 emissions by at least 70%. This increases to 100% if your electricity is generated by renewable energy sources like wind and solar power.
Research suggests that replacing 30% of Europe’s boilers with heat pumps would save the same amount of CO2 as removing 65 million cars from the roads. Individually, switching to a heat pump is twice as effective at reducing CO2 emissions as driving an electric car (and 20% of the cost), three times better than stopping flying, and four times better than eating a plant-based diet.
So, if you’re looking to do your bit for the planet and reduce your carbon footprint, switching to a heat pump is a great step in the right direction.
2. Heat pumps are suitable for almost any home
One of the common myths surrounding heat pumps is that they’re only suitable for modern, fully-insulated houses with gardens.
However, according to a government-funded research project, all types and ages of homes in the UK can be suitable for heat pumps – including flats, semi-detached houses, mid-terraced houses, and early 20th-century detached homes.
Plus, the Energy Saving Trust tells us that heat pumps can work well in homes that aren’t fully insulated. However, as with any heating system, the better insulated your home is, the more efficient your heat pump will be.
It’s worth remembering that the type and size of your home will determine which type of heat pump is best for you. For example, if you live in a flat, an air-to-air heat pump may be more suitable than an air-to-water one because the outside units are smaller.
3. Heat pumps are efficient
According to the Energy Saving Trust, A-rated gas and oil boilers produce around 0.9 units of heat for every unit of electricity they use. This means that some of the electricity you pay for is lost.
By contrast, heat pumps generate three to four units of heat for every unit of electricity they use, making them more than three to four times more efficient than gas and oil boilers. This is because they work by moving heat around instead of generating it.
4. Heat pumps can save you money on energy bills
While heat pumps typically have higher upfront costs than boilers (which we speak about below), they can reduce energy bills and save us money in the long run (even as much as £500 a year).
However, whether a heat pump can save you money and how much depends on a few factors, including what type of heat pump you install and what heating system you’re replacing. To get an idea about how much you can save, head over to the Energy Saving Trust website.
5. Heat pumps have long lifespans
Another reason to consider investing in a heat pump is that they have long lifespans, which can offer peace of mind and save you money in the long run. The average lifespan of a gas boiler is around 10-15 years, while heat pumps can function efficiently for over 20 years.
You might also hear that heat pumps need a lot of maintenance. However, this is a myth, and as long as they’re installed properly, they require no more than a gas boiler.
By choosing qualified installers, you can feel safe knowing your heat pump system will last 20-25 years.
6. Heat pumps work in cold weather
Another common myth surrounding heat pumps is that they don’t work when temperatures are colder.
Like any heating system, their efficiency fluctuates with the seasons (when it’s colder, they need to work harder to extract heat from the environment). Modern heat pumps are designed to be efficient in temperatures as low as -25°C. To put this into perspective, Scandinavian countries have the harshest winters in Europe, and they’ve been relying on heat pumps to keep their homes cosy for decades.
As well as insulation, investing in larger radiators or underfloor heating can help your heat pump work at maximum efficiency.
7. You may be eligible for a government grant to help with the cost of a heat pump
Higher upfront costs can make people think twice about choosing a heat pump. According to the Energy Saving Trust, you can expect to pay around £14,000 for an air source heat pump, while ground source heat pumps will set you back around £28,000.
However, the government is currently offering eligible homes in England and Wales a £7,500 grant to replace their fossil fuel heating system with a heat pump through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. This can make the switch more affordable.
If you live in Scotland, the incentives are even greater. Through the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan scheme, you can get a grant of up to £7,500 for clean heating systems (£9,000 for rural properties). Plus, you can access the same amount for energy-efficient home improvements like insulation, resulting in over £15,000 total. Individuals can also apply for an interest-free loan to cover some of the costs.
And while there’s no dedicated scheme in Northern Ireland, you may be able to access limited funding from the Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme (NISEP).
8. Heat pumps are safe and quiet
Heat pumps are generally considered safer than traditional gas and oil boilers. This is because they don’t rely on combustion to produce heat, which can present fire and carbon monoxide poisoning risks.
Unlike gas and oil boilers, heat pumps also don’t release pollutants, which can lower air quality.
Another popular myth surrounding heat pumps is that they’re noisy. However, if properly installed, most heat pumps aren’t much louder than a refrigerator, with the sound blending into the background of its surroundings.
9. Heat pumps could increase home value
Besides saving us money on energy bills and maintenance costs, heat pumps may also increase the value of our homes.
According to a research-led report from Scottish Power in collaboration with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF-UK), installing an air source heat pump could boost your property’s value by up to 3%.
And research from real estate firm Savills suggests that 59% of people would be willing to pay more for a home if at least 75% of a property’s energy was powered by renewable sources, which can be fulfilled with a heat pump.
10. Heat pumps are future-proof
The previous Conservative government intended to ban the sale of new gas boilers by 2035. While these plans have been scrapped, it’s feasible that fossil fuel heating systems will eventually be phased out in favour of greener alternatives, like heat pumps.
In fact, European countries like France, Ireland, and Germany have announced bans on certain fossil fuel heating equipment or have already put them in place.
With this in mind, investing in a heat pump can help you stay ahead of the curve, preparing you for the changing landscape of home heating.
Final thoughts…
It’s clear why so many people are switching to heat pumps: they provide year-round comfort, are efficient and environmentally friendly, and can save us money on energy bills and maintenance costs.
So, it’s not surprising if you’re interested in joining the 250,000+ UK households who’ve already upgraded to a heat pump.
For further reading, check out our article: Can I get a heat pump installed?
Are you thinking about getting a heat pump? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
* Links with an * by them are affiliate links which help Rest Less stay free to use as they can result in a payment or benefit to us. You can read more on how we make money here.
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