An overall assessment if you’re considering purchasing a heat pump

Heating accounts for over half of home energy use – something to consider when searching for an efficient way to reduce heating costs! The most economical way to reduce costs is opting for a heat pump. For every pound of electricity that you invest in a heat pump, you get back up to four pounds of heat.

A heat pump transfers or pumps heat from one place to another. The air-to-water heat pump generates heat from the outside air even if the temperature below 0 degrees.

Why a Heat Pump is greener and cheaper?

Heat pumps do not require energy to cool or produce heat and are much more energy-efficient compared to conventional heating methods. A heat pump can generate three to five kilowatts of heat for each unit of energy it consumes. Since the heat pump burns no fossil fuel when producing heat, it generates far fewer greenhouse gas emissions than a conventional furnace. Additionally, heat pumps eliminate a potential source of carbon monoxide within your home.

An additional way to save more money is to apply for the UK Government’s Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). If you are planning to install or have already installed an eligible heating technology based on renewable sources, you could receive quarterly payments over seven years. The Renewable Heat Incentive encourages the uptake of renewable heat technologies among not only private householders, but businesses and communities as well.

Why is it significant for heat pumps to be designed for the UK climate?

The efficiency of a heat pump is often connected to climate factors such as temperature and humidity. Equipment manufactured and tested in the conditions much different from those in the UK will not perform as well. The design and performance of a heat pump must be optimised by UK climate conditions. If not, poor performance and higher than expected running costs will lead to unhappy customers. If you’re switching from an oil boiler to a well performing heat pump, significant savings can be made.

Which heat pump is the best for you?

The two most common heat pumps are air source heat pumps and ground source heat pumps. If you are using electricity to heat your home, a heat pump can reduce the amount of used electricity for at least 30% – 60%.

Before deciding on the type of heat pump, there are several key questions to be considered:

• Is your garden suitable for a ground loop? It does not have to be huge, but the ground in your garden must be suitable for digging deep enough for a borehole.
• Is your home appropriately insulated? For the heating system to be effective, it is essential that you ensure your home is well insulated. The heat pump will provide you with the best efficiency when producing heat at a lower temperature than traditional boilers.
• What is the fuel that you are planning to replace? The pay-off for the installation of a renewable energy heating system will come more quickly if it is replacing oil, LPG or electric or coal heating. If your home is using mains gas, then a heat pump may not be the best solution for you.
• What is your desired heating system? Warm air heating systems will give you the highest performance and energy efficiency. However, larger and high efficiency radiators particularly perform well when combined with a high quality heat pump.

What are the costs of a heat pump?

Installing and running costs of a heat pump will depend on several factors. These include the size of your home, insulation and the heating system you’re planning to use. According to Energy Saving Trust (EST), air source heat pumps cost between £10,000 and £18,000 to buy and install. If you take into consideration the RHI government grant and average savings, your costs can be quickly paid off!

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