Energy bills are sharply rising. On average, they have risen up to 50%, which affects 422 million households across the UK. Due to rising wholesale prices, energy suppliers such as Bulb are going bust. But it’s not just the financial pressures that homeowners have to contend with. Millions of people are also looking for a more sustainable alternative to home heating, and this is backed by upcoming legal requirements.
With a bold target of a 78% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2035, gas boilers will no longer be fitted in new homes from 2025 onwards. However, 95% of UK homes are centrally heated; this means that nearly every single house in the country will eventually need to change the home heating system in the future to comply with the law. It's clear we are at a turning point in how we make our homes warm and cosy. The more sustainable way of heating your home for the long-term is to install a heat pump.
What is a heat pump?
A heat pump is a device that transfers heat from one source to another location. It uses a small amount of electricity, but achieves an incredibly high efficiency rate, as the amount of heat that is produced from a heat pump is much higher (200-600%) than the energy it consumes.
The committee on climate change has stated that 19 million heat pumps will need to be installed to meet the commitment but to reach net zero by 2050.
There are a different types of heat pumps and which one you choose will depend on the source of the heat and how you're going to use the heat in your home:
- Air source heat pump: An air source heat pump is where you use the ambient air as the heat source-a bit similar to how an air conditioner would cool the room, except you’re using heat. Normally air source heat pumps are placed outside - they look a bit similar to an air conditioning unit and they are usually placed in the garden.
- Ground source heat pump: A ground source heat pump is where the heat is extracted from the ground (which means digging up your garden!) . It will use the ambient air or a body of water if you have some close to your house - the heat source is the soil. But once your ground source heat pump is installed, you won't need to bother the land again.
Heat Pump Advantages
1. Require minimal maintenance
Heat pumps require less maintenance than combustion based heating systems. What's more, they also have a longer life than combustion boilers .In terms of maintenance, heat pumps require professional maintenance every 3 to 5 years compared to other heating systems. However, there are some checks that you can do yourself.
2. Can be fully automated
Heat pumps are easily integrated with smart features and smart homes which means that the temperature of any room can be controlled easily through the touch of a button or even a phone app. This means that the spaces can heat quickly and can even be controlled remotely so they heat up ready for when you get home.
3. Safer than boilers
With a heat pump, there's no combustion involved - which means there's no toxic gases being released into the environment and no flues are required. It also means that there are no potential dangers from carbon monoxide poisoning and other health issues. Heat pumps also prevent condensation which means you are less likely to get mould.
An air-source heat pump circulates air and can even improve air quality, making your house safer. The filters can clean and purify the air, removing mould odours, smoke and other particles, which can be very beneficial if you suffer from health issues.
4. Reduce the cost of your bills
Installing a heat pump will help you save money because even though a heat pump is more expensive initially, the total amount of money you will save as compared to a gas boiler is much lower.
However, this will depend on the number of windows in your house, the climate, season, and the type of insulation behind your walls. If you're going to stay at a property for a long time, the heat pump will most likely save you a lot of money on your annual fuel bills, and they may also add value to your property.
5. Provide cooling
Heat pumps can also provide cooling in the summer as well as heating in the winter so they are multifunctional. This is what is clever about heat pump systems - they can work in reverse so it can remove heat from your home when it's hot. Ideal if you're somebody that works from home or spends a lot of time in the home on a regular basis.
6. Eligible for Renewable Heat Incentive
If you get a heat pump installed you're eligible for discounts under the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme - when you buy a heat pump for your home or for your business, the renewable heat incentive gives a discount after installation (discount rates vary, but you can check Domestic tariffs here), It's a financial incentive from the government that runs for 7 years from when you pay for the installation and payments are made quarterly. The RHI scheme started in 2019, and since then a few changes to the regulations have occurred. Read all about them on Ofgem’s information pages.
7. Reduce carbon emissions
Like burning oil, gas or biomass, an air source heat pump produces zero carbon emissions on site (there's no carbon emissions whatsoever as long as a renewable source of electricity is used). This means it will reduce your carbon emissions over time, because it converts energy into heat quite efficiently compared to other heating systems. In fact, a significant carbon emission saving is made through using heat pumps. For every single unit of electricity a heat pump uses, 3 to 4 units of heat are produced.
8. Long lasting and reliable
Did you know that the average lifespan of an air source heat pump is between 14 and 15 years? However, if looked after well, it can last up to 50 years.
What's more, a heat pump is quiet and won’t be as noisy as an electric heater or a furnace. As long as you maintain your heat pump, it will last an incredibly long time. Speak to your licensed installer about how to keep it working to the best of its ability.
Heat Pump Disadvantages
1. Can be expensive
As mentioned, heat pumps can cost up to £25,000 - with an average cost being around £5,000. However, if you're fitting a new underfloor heating system or an air distribution system, you will also need to factor in additional costs for these. That's right, heat pumps aren't cheap.
On average, if you have a medium sized house with average insulation, you can expect to receive around £6,000 for an air source heat pump, and £13,000 for a ground source heat pump. However, for a larger house with less insulation, this could be even more - so with the additional savings on your fuel bills, it works out as cost-effective in the long run.
2. May need upgrades
If your radiators aren't up to par, you may need to install bigger radiators. Heat pumps also lend themselves well to underfloor heating in order to increase the surface area of the heat delivery system, which may mean upgrading your home.
3. Running costs can be high
Air source heat pumps in particular use a small amount of electricity to run, but with rising prices everyone is looking to save money wherever they can. The rate for each unit of electricity is up by 40% to 29.24p per kWh, and currently the cost of each gas unit consumed is rising by 81% from 4.05p to 7.34p per kWh. This might mean a heat pump could cost more. t. For example, if you have a really good boiler which is energy efficient, replacing it with an air source heat pump might even increase your bills.
4. Might not provide same level of heat
If you're used to a roaring fire and hot radiators throughout your house, you might be surprised to learn that air-source heat pumps in particular don't provide the same level of heat as these methods. That means a heating system like an air source or ground source heat pump is best suited to underfloor heating and radiators. The larger radiators are required which does incur an additional cost. Again, it all depends on your insulation - insulation is absolutely essential because that means every bit of heat generated is utilised the maximum.
5. Need planning permission
Depending on where you live, you might need planning permission to install a heat pump. Special planning permissions are needed in Wales and Northern Ireland, but in England and Scotland it really depends on where your house is, and the size of your house in order to install a heat pump system.
You have to make sure that any heat pumps are a metre away from the land boundary of your home and that they only are used for heating. They also have to be installed on a flat surface.
6. Cold weather can reduce the efficiency of a heat pump
Some heat pumps experience a bit of trouble in cold areas,as more electricity may be required to remove the heat from the air, which can result in a lower efficiency. But it really depends on how cold the weather is. It might just mean that the efficiency is only very slightly compromised. There is a possibility of getting modifications that might be able to overcome the problem, but it depends on your heating and insulation system.
7. Not completely carbon neutral
Of course, the heat pumps aren't entirely carbon neutral, and they do require some electricity to run. That means you can't go completely off grid and you are still using electricity, unless you choose a supplier like OVO who supply 100% renewable energy.. However, what you could do is install renewable energy sources yourself - like having solar panels on your house to help with the running costs and energy usage of your heat pump.
8. Disruptive work to house and garden
Installing a ground source heat pump in particular is labour intensive. The installation process will mean significant work and temporary disruption to your garden as well as your house for both types of heat pumps.
Work will have to be done on the actual building too, including penetration of the walls so it could affect your day-to-day living. With an air source heat pump, the cold air comes out of it which might be annoying if it is placed close to where you might be sitting outside.
So which heat pump is best for your home?
Which heat pump is best for your home really depends on a wide range of factors such as:
- Your budget
- The size of your property
- How well insulated your property is
- Location of your home
- Weather conditions
- Planning regulations
It’s a big decision to install a heat pump and it depends on a wide range of factors. It's not just the installation and costs you have to think about, but also the potential commercial benefit to your property, how long you might be staying in the property, and what lifestyle changes you might be having over the next few years that may affect your finances or ability to purchase one now.
Weigh up various factors like your budget, size of home, and the thermal efficiency of your space. It’s important to get a licensed contractor to explain the installation and running costs for your situation. Of course, every home is different so we recommend getting professional advice from an official installer before you make any decision.
If you're looking to get a quote for a heat pump from a local installer, click below and receive up to 3 quotes from MCS certified installers.
