Heat Pumps
What it is:
An electric heating system that extracts heat from outside air (or the ground) and moves it into your home – replacing a gas or oil boiler.
How it works:
A heat pump works like a fridge in reverse: instead of moving heat out of a cold box, it pulls heat out of the air (or ground) outside, even in cold weather, and concentrates it to heat your home and hot water.
Key benefits:
- Lower carbon emissions than any fossil-fuel boiler
- Can cost less to run than gas in a well-insulated home, and the gap is narrowing as electricity and gas prices move
- Up to £7,500 off the upfront cost through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme
What it costs:
• Air source heat pump: typically £7,000–£13,000 before the grant; £7,500 grant available, bringing many installations down to £0–£5,500
• Ground source heat pump: typically £18,000–£30,000+ before the grant (higher due to ground works); same £7,500 grant applies
• Air-to-air heat pump (smaller flats and homes): typically around £4,500 before grant; £2,500 grant available
Is it right for your home?
This is the one upgrade we’re most careful about. A heat pump performs best in a well-insulated home with either larger radiators or underfloor heating – fitting one into a poorly insulated, radiator-constrained property can mean disappointing results and higher bills, not lower ones. We will tell you honestly if insulation should come first, even though that means recommending a smaller job before a bigger one.