Is Now the time to get an Air Source Heat Pump?
Are you warming up to the idea of replacing your boiler with a heat pump in your home?
At Your Energy we think there has never been a better time to invest in this tried and tested low carbon heating system.
The UK Treasury is quoted stating “Heat pumps are a proven option of decarbonising heat, and we remain fully committed on meeting our aim of 600,000 installations a year by 2028.”
Can a heat pump save you money on your energy bills?
The top priority for a lot of people is heating your home for less. Heat pumps differ from boilers in that they maintain the temperature of the the whole house rather than a boiler which heats on demand. If you’re replacing an older, G-rated gas boiler for a well-designed heat pump, you could save around £295 a year on your energy bills under current energy prices (A).
Topping up your home’s wall, floor and loft insulation before installing a heat pump will help reduce its running costs even more and when upgrading your whole heating system it’s best practice to ensure your home is insulated to a high standard. No point heating the garden!
Do remember that not everyone who installs a heat pump will see savings straight away. Electricity is more expensive than gas right now so if you’re replacing a much newer, more efficient gas boiler for a heat pump your energy bills aren’t likely to reduce in this scenario just yet.
– Highly efficient, low carbon heating method
– Constant warm home
– Can be mounted high to maximise wall space
– Can be coupled with an array of outlets, like underfloor heating
Can I get money towards an Air Source Heat Pump?
Right now, if you live in England and Wales you can get a £7,500 grant towards installing a heat pump with the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which brings the cost of upgrading (including radiator changes that might be needed) close to installing a regular boiler. Overall, the aim of the BUS grant, is to switch domestic dwellings to low-carbon heating solutions.
Is there proof that Air Source Heat Pumps work well in cold weather?
The easiest way to answer this is to look at our colder climate European neighbours. The countries with the highest number of heat pump installations per 1,000 households in 2022 are Finland, Norway and
Sweden. They all have colder winters than the UK.
According to the International Energy Agency, 60% of Norway’s buildings are fitted with a heat pump, followed closely by Sweden at 43% and Finland at 41%.
Air source heat pumps are designed to still run efficiently even when the outside temperature reaches -15 degrees.