Are you thinking of installing an air source heat pump? Are you wondering how an air source heat pump compares to a traditional boiler? Or how much it costs to run a heat pump?
With the government heralding air source heat pumps as the successors of the traditional gas boiler as part of their Boiler Upgrade Scheme, it’s an important time to weigh up your options and how these two compare. We dive it into it all below.
Already decided on an air source heat pump? Get in touch with us.
Air source heat pumps are an alternative way to heat your home which are much more efficient than traditional boilers since they move existing heat energy from outside your home into your home, whilst most traditional boilers burn fossil fuel. They essentially enable you to generate your own renewable energy and usually will save you money on energy bills.
Most heat pumps are based on air to water heat pump technology and transfer heat from the outside air to water which then heat your rooms via radiators or underfloor heating. It can also heat water stored in a hot water cylinder for your hot taps, showers and baths.
A boiler will produce a lot of heat with a high temperature difference in a very short space of time. A boiler can thus work with radiators with a very high temperature, whereas a heat pump, produces heat more slowly and with a smaller temperature difference. The low temperature of the heat pump means that the radiator (or emitter) needs to have a much larger surface area.
This also means that emitters such as underfloor heating (UFH), which run at a lower temperature than standard radiators, are an ideal emitter with heat pumps.
To homeowners, they create the same result, but the difference in the way the two technologies work means that they need to have a different design setup when it comes to how the heat is delivered to the property.
Heat pumps do use electricity to run, but due to the refrigeration (vapour compression) cycle the heat delivered to the home can be 300% up to 500% more than the electricity used.
The efficiency of a heat pump is known as the Coefficient of Performance (CoP) which is the ratio of the amount of electricity used to the amount of heat produced.
As an example, if the heat pump uses 1kWh of electricity and produces 3 kWh of heat, then the CoP is 3 or can also be referred to as a 300% efficiency.
Running costs will depend on how your heat pump is designed and how it is operated. Savings on your energy bill will also depend on the system you are replacing
Research from the Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP), a Brussels-based non-profit which specialises in the environmental impact of natural gas and power, found that those who switch from gas boilers to heat pumps could save £211 a year on their energy bills. Therefore benefiting from the soaring energy prices we’re going to continue experiencing for some time.
During the summer, certain heat pumps are able to reverse the process and providing cooling, effectively making the system an air conditioner.
An air source heat pump costs more than a new gas boiler to install. The typical cost ranges from £12,000 to £14,000, including installation. However, the Government are offering up to £5,000 towards air source heat pump installation from April 2022.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme launches in April 2022 and will replace the RHI until April 2025 to help homeowners in England & Wales afford the upfront costs of heat pumps. Homeowners can apply to receive a grant for their system for a flat rate of £5,000 for the purchase of air source heat pumps (ASHP).
Read our full guide here to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and whether you are eligible.
Get in touch with us for a free, no obligation chat and budget quotation about whether a heat pump will be right for your home. Email [email protected] or call 01708 528240.
We would recommend that you visit our Sustainable Home Centre so we can explain our heat pump solutions in more detail. We have a wide range of heat pumps on display as well as a working model complete with various indoor system options. We are close to the M25 and the A13 and our Centre is open weekdays from 09:00-16:00, so please let me know if you would like to arrange a visit.
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