By the end of 2020, only 1% of UK homes had heat pumps installed in their residences. The UK came in last of 21 European countries striving to increase the use of more energy-efficient heating and cooling residential areas. With 90% of Britain's houses using gas and oil boilers, why is there a need to switch to a new energy source for your home now?

Heat Pump vs. Boiler

According to the Climate Change Committee (CCC), heat pumps are the only type of source with zero emission output which is well established to date. Compared to a heat pump, a natural gas boiler has a heat exchanger, which allows water to be heated. Water passes through a coiled rod and then through radiators to heat your home.

However, a heat pump is not suitable for all kinds of properties. Because of the slow type of heat it generates, homes need to be well-insulated to maximise the use of the unit and effectively heat the area. Home compatibility is not that tricky when it comes to boilers—they can be installed in less-efficient properties and require lower costs during the installation process.

Heat pumps also require bigger spaces to accommodate different types of equipment and changes in structural piping and insulation of the residence. Most installation packages already include these in the installation process.

The installation process for heat pumps may seem over budget at £8,000 - £25,000, but it can make your home energy more efficient in the long run.

This is because each heat pump is tailor-fitted to your area, so you get the unit with the appropriate size, strength, and performance for your home.

Why do you need to switch home energy sources now?

The rising gas prices and electricity prices plus the forecasted increase of 84% in the price of household gas will lead to higher gas consumption for boiler owners. Compared to a boiler’s 90% efficiency, heat pumps that run on electricity give 300% energy efficiency using only 1kW electricity to create 3kW heat. It can generally heat all types of homes, from flats to detached and terraced houses.

Compared to existing home energy systems, air-source heat pumps can help you save anywhere from £115 (vs. a new A-rate gas boiler) to as much as £3,400 (vs. an old G-rate LPG boiler).

The British government’s environmental commitment can also be recognized in its bid to eliminate harmful energy emissions by 2035. The UK plans to phase out boilers by the end of that year, saying no new boilers will be sold after 2025. This means there is no other option but to convert home energy sources to heat pumps—a healthier alternative to heating residences. Aside from energy bill savings due to increasing gas consumption, there are other advantages why you should make the switch today.

Additional benefits of switching to heat pump

Offers household cooling

With heating features familiar to most residents already, a heat pump can also be used for cooling during warm days by reversing the heating system. It uses its reversing valve to control refrigerant to either heat outside (or bring the heat inside in winter) by pumping. It removes heat inside your home and can replace the role of an air conditioner during summer. This way, you will be able to maximise this multifunctional benefit of having a heat pump system installed in your household.

Cut in energy consumption

A heat pump may use electricity but in a smaller, more efficient proportion than a full-blown electric heating system cutting your annual power bill threefold. Even if the installation of a heat pump system costs high initially, the operating cost to run it instead of having an LPG or oil boiler still helps you save as much as £1,200 per year. According to the Office of Energy and Efficiency, a newly-installed air-source heat pump will give you nearly £2,300 energy cost savings over the heat pump’s 15-year life expectancy.  

Only after the heat pump is installed appropriately and following your house's compatibility can you see the savings in energy usage. Other factors will include the insulation present, property size, floor heating, and whether the radiator and water cylinder fit together with your heat pump system. Otherwise, your home energy expenses will only get higher instead of lower.

Help mother earth

Switching to better heating alternatives - with heat pumps on top of the list - is one of the British government's efforts to reduce its carbon emissions. Paired with a sustainable source of energy like air-source or ground-source, heat pumps may reduce overall greenhouse gases making it easier to hit the UK target of zero-carbon emissions by 2050.

UK’s Centre for Sustainable Energy recommends using a heat pump for long periods of time because they are made that way. Switching it on and off frequently can lead to higher energy tariffs, more expensive consumption, and take days to bring back the desired household temperature.

Ease of use

Switching to heat pumps also means saving time and effort on complicated ways to of heating your home and purchasing other equipment for cooling like an air conditioning unit. Heat pumps are also relatively safer to operate than furnaces and boilers that involve burning fuel. Refuelling can also expose you to combustion, which puts your health at risk.

Heat pumps also do not require much work to keep them in good condition. After installation, a professional can examine the unit every 3 years, and you can even do the yearly routine check yourself.

Heat pumps have a long life with an average span of 14-15 years, making every penny spent worth it.

According to a March Nesta Report, each household could save £60-110 per year for the heat pump’s 15 year-span, compared to having a boiler in your home.

But wait, there are also government benefits when you convert to heat pumps today

Following the Spring Statement on tax cuts to alleviate expenses on the cost of living, families are given 5 years VAT-free for energy-saving equipment like heat pumps. Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced these tax cuts will provide immediate help to the British population and help support them in the long run like home-energy efficiency.

Installing a heat pump system will also make you eligible for the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (DRHI) scheme. It is where the UK Government offers £5,000 for England, Scotland, and Wales residents who convert their home energy to a renewable heating system. To encourage the switch to heat pumps, financial support is given quarterly and directly transferred to your bank account.

A boiler upgrade scheme is another way to reduce the cost of switching from a boiler to a more eco-friendly heating system like a heat pump. Government offers incentives of £5,000 to install an air-source heat pump and £6,000 to install a ground-source heat pump. The scheme will run for 3 years until 31 March 2025.

For more information on UK Government’s heat pump grants, click here.

Conclusion

With the different benefits heat pumps offer like energy efficiency, long-term affordability, and helping environmentally. There is no doubt that the best time to make the switch is now. Considering these advantages and weighing them versus the disadvantages like costly installation and upfront auxiliary costs, it is still worth it to convert your home energy source and make a responsible, sustainable choice.

The government hopes to reduce overall energy consumption and lower emissions in the UK by targeting as many as 600,000 heat pump systems to be installed each year until 2028 as it moves to cleaner energy with net zero emissions by 2035. The availability of various government grants gives homeowners a more compelling reason to shift to the best eco-friendly solution: switching to heat pumps.