Everything you need to know about heat pumps

The total cost of getting an air source heat pump system, including installation costs, could be between £7,000 and £13,000⁴. But the exact price (plus the running costs) will depend on the size of your home, the system you choose, and your insulation. Always make sure you get several quotes, and go with a trusted installer. Read more about air source heat pump installation.

Ground source heat pumps come in at between £14,000 and £19,000⁵. And you can find out more about what’s expected in a ground source heat pump installation.

It totally depends. If your home’s very energy-efficient, then a heat pump shouldn’t cost more to run than a standard gas heating system. Most UK homes are a little draughty, though – so it’s a smart move to make any energy efficiency improvements your home might need, to keep costs down. You might want to get your home insulated, or double-glazed windows fitted, for example.

In the future, heat pumps are expected to become cheaper to run. This is because it’s expected that the government will switch the “green levies” we pay (through our energy bills) from electricity to gas. So, in the long run, the cost of electricity will drop and the cost of gas will rise. But by how much, we don’t know yet. Want to find out more about heat pump costs and prices? Check out this practical guide on heat pump costs and prices.

Your home might just qualify for a grant through the domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme. This is due to end in March 2022, and is going to be replaced with the new Boiler Upgrade Scheme.

It’s a new government scheme to encourage householders to switch to low-carbon heating systems. From April 2022 it’ll give you up to £5,000 (upfront) towards the cost of a heat pump.

Once a year you need to give certain parts of your heat pump a quick check over yourself – but the engineer who installs it will show you what to do. You’ll also find the info you need in the booklet you get with it. 

It can be a good idea to get an expert to check it once a year – although this isn’t mandatory in the way that it is with gas boilers. They need a full service every year to comply with manufacturers’ warranties. 

With heat pumps, the recommendation is that you get it serviced every 3 or 5 years, which will cost between £60-£100 a visit.

The short answer is yes. Although if you have an older, draughty home you might want to put in a little extra effort to make it more energy-efficient first. Otherwise it won’t be as cost-effective. Heat pumps work like a dream in well-sealed, ultra-energy-efficient homes that retain their heat for a long time. 

We’d always recommend insulating your home properly before considering a heat pump. Think about things like walls, your loft, and windows and doors. That way, when you make the switch to a heat pump you know your home will be keeping all that lovely heat inside.

Nope! Heat pumps are no louder than a traditional boiler – so your home can stay low-carbon, cosy, and peaceful at the same time.

It depends on the size of your home, how much heat you need, and the type of heat pump you choose. 

For a fairly simple installation of an air source heat pump in a mid-sized 3-bed house, you can expect 3 engineers to be on site for around 4 to 5 working days. Of those days, you might be without hot water for 1 or 2 days. 

When it comes to ground source heat pumps, your installer should be able to give you an accurate estimate of time after they’ve done the initial assessment. But you can expect the work to take at least a week. 

Read about installing an air source heat pump.

Read about installing a ground source heat pump.

With all this talk of “absorbing heat from the ground or air” you might be wondering how heat pumps cope in cold weather. The good news is that heat pumps can still work in very cold conditions – it’s just important to do your research and buy the right one. 

Heat pumps are used all over the world in much colder climates than the UK (think the USA and Canada). And some models operate in temperatures as low as -20℃ (like one from Mitsubishi). 

One thing to consider is that when temperatures really plummet, your heat pump might not be as efficient. That’s because more electricity will be needed to remove heat from the air or ground. 

On the whole, though, heat pumps are at least 3 times more efficient than gas boilers². Heat pump efficiency is measured using Coefficient of Performance (CoP). This is calculated by comparing the amount of input to the amount of output. For example, if an air source heat pump uses one kW of electricity to produce 3 kW of heat, the CoP is 3. The higher the CoP, the better, as it shows your heat pump is more efficient.

Once you’ve done your research and know which pump you want to buy, you need to find an MCS accredited installer. The MCS recommends getting quotes from 3 installers, and then making your decision based on the installer you feel you can trust. Your installer should also give you a design for your new system, which includes where it’ll sit in your garden.  

Remember, you can also register your interest for our carbon-cutting heat pump trials – and if you’re successfully accepted onto one you could get a heat pump for free. 

By registering, you’ll also be the first to hear about our current trials. Plus, any other new low-carbon heating tech we think you’d be interested in.