Heating accounts for over half of home energy use – something to consider when searching for an efficient way to reduce heating costs! One of the most economical ways to reduce costs is opting for a heat pump.
A heat pump transfers (or pumps) heat from one place to another. They work by absorbing energy from the air outside and converting it to heat your home even in temperatures below freezing. In fact an air source heat pump can still be effective down to temperatures of -28°C which is more than suitable for the UK climate.
Why is a Heat Pump greener and cheaper?
Heat pumps are much more energy-efficient compared to conventional heating methods as they can generate three to five kilowatts of heat for each unit of energy they consume. Since the heat pump doesn’t burn fossil fuel when producing heat, it generates far fewer greenhouse gas emissions than conventional heating. Additionally, heat pumps eliminate a potential source of carbon monoxide within your home.
According to the Energy Saving Trust, if you are replacing an old, G rated gas boiler with an air source heat pump system, you could save up to £590 per year based on an average 3 bed house in the UK. (A guide to air source heat pumps – Energy Saving Trust).
Spread the cost into manageable monthly repayments
You don’t have to worry about funding cost of getting an air source heat pump. With financing options available, it’s never been easier to switch.
Discover an illustrative finance example on an average heat pump install for a 3-bed semi-detached house, costing £5,500 (£13,000 before the government BUS grant).
Credit subject to status and affordability.
| Two year plan | |
| Cash Price | £13,000 |
| Government Grant (BUS) | -£7,500 |
| Deposit (15%) | £825 |
| Amount of credit | £4,675 |
| Interest | n/a |
| Total amount payable (inc. deposit) |
£5,500 |
| No. of payments | 24 |
| APR | 0.0% |
| Monthly payment | £194.79 |
Why make the switch to an air source heat pump?
Environmental Impact: An air source heat pump is a fantastic renewable energy source with efficiencies that make it the perfect companion in your home if you want to reduce your carbon footprint. Moving away from fossil fuel burning heat sources like wood burners and gas boilers help you transition to Net Zero
Efficient Energy Use: Air source heat pumps can increase your energy efficiency to 300% and reduce your carbon emissions by 80% (2).
Year Round Comfort: An Air Source Heat Pump will keep you and your family warm all year round even in the coldest winter conditions here in the UK. You and your family will have enough home heat and hot water to keep you warm and toasty all year round.
Save Money On Your Energy Bills: Research from The Energy Savings Trust shows that you could save up to £240(1) a year on your energy bills. You could make further savings by switching to a specific Heat Pump Tariff such as one offered by our partners at EDF.
Heat pumps and 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 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. All of our solutions are fully tested for the UK climate. If you’re switching from an oil boiler to a high performance air source heat pump, significant savings could be made.
Will I need to replace my radiators?
Not in all instances, no. However, in some cases, we will recommend installing larger radiators and/or radiators with double or triple panels if you currently have single panel radiators. Larger radiators with convectors are generally the best radiators for air source heat pumps, while designer radiators, towel rails, and cast-iron models should be avoided due to their inefficiency with heat pump systems. Careful evaluation and measurement of your existing radiators will ensure that your heating system operates at its best, providing comfort and energy efficiency. These upgrades will improve the efficiency of your heat pump further, reducing running costs.
Before deciding on the type of heat pump, there are several key questions to be considered…
Heat pumps 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 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. All of our solutions are fully tested for the UK climate. If you’re switching from an oil boiler to a high performance air source heat pump, significant savings could be made.
Will I need to replace my radiators?
Not in all instances, no. However, in some cases, we will recommend installing larger radiators and/or radiators with double or triple panels if you currently have single panel radiators. Larger radiators with convectors are generally the best radiators for air source heat pumps, while designer radiators, towel rails, and cast-iron models should be avoided due to their inefficiency with heat pump systems. Careful evaluation and measurement of your existing radiators will ensure that your heating system operates at its best, providing comfort and energy efficiency. These upgrades will improve the efficiency of your heat pump further, reducing running costs.
Before deciding on the type of heat pump, there are several key questions to be considered…
Key questions to be considered
Is your home appropriately insulated?
For your heat pump heating system to be effective, it is essential that your home is well insulated. This ensures that your heat pump will provide you with the best performance and efficiencies.
What is the fuel that you are planning to replace?
According to the Energy Saving Trust, the savings are now greater for a gas system replacement than oil. Air Source Heat Pumps work best when replacing gas, oil or LPG as they run off a wet heating system. More savings can be made if replacing electric or coal but the pipework and radiators may need replacing.
What is your desired heating system?
Air Source Heat Pumps perform best with correctly sized radiators and underfloor heating, but our consultants will advise you on this during your call. They are not right for every property and we pride ourselves with providing honest and correct information.
Get in Touch with the experts today
Ready to upgrade your home heating with a reliable, cost-effective air source heat pump? CB Heating’s expert installers are here to guide you through every step. Contact us today for your free consultation and see why thousands of homeowners trust us to deliver energy-efficient heating solutions.
(1) Figures are based on fuel prices as of July 2024 (October 2023 for NI). Find out more about these calculations. The running cost you can expect will depend on the size of your home, any heating system upgrade and any saving will also depend on the fuel type being replaced. You can expect the saving to range between old and new, depending on the age of your current heating system.
(2) Annual heating demand of 25,000kWh; average heat pump SPF of 2.64; gas boiler efficiency of 84%; mains gas carbon emissions 0.21kg CO2e per kWh; electricity carbon emissions of 0.136kg CO2e per kWh; vehicle emissions of 225g CO2e per mile; average driving distance of 7,400 miles per year. https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/case-study/raj-and-his-familys-air-source-heat-pump/