What is a Heat Pump 

A heat pump uses technology similar to that found in a refrigerator or an air conditioner. It extracts heat from a source, such as the surrounding air. The heat pump itself consists of a compressor, which moves a refrigerant through a refrigeration cycle, and a heat exchanger, which extracts heat from the source. The heat is then passed on to a heat sink through another heat exchanger. Heat pumps do not supply hot water, an electric boiler or electric unvented cylinder will be required.

​

Types of Heat Pump

Air Source Hydronic 

This Air to Water Heat Pump is supported by the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) grant. Average Installation price is around £14000.00

It requires underfloor floor heating or upgraded radiators and pipework.

 

Air to Air Mini Split Ductless HVAC

Supplies heating and cooling by air through a wall mounted duct. You can have 1 duct for each . Installation cost is from £1500 to around £4000. No government grant available. 

 

Hybrid i.e Air to Air or Air Source Hydronic and Boiler

The use of a gas boiler (existing or new) for hot water, combined with either a mini split ductless or hydronic heat pump that supply the heating. Cost depends on the size of property and how many ducts are required. No government grant available.

​

Do They Work?

Advertised Heat Pump Efficiency

Heat pump efficiency is called COP (coefficient of performance). Advertising and direct sales has promoted heat pumps as being cheaper than gas boilers.  This is very misleading. If a heat pump achieves an advertised COP of 4, it suggests its 4 times more efficient than gas. However electric is 4 times more expensive than gas. Meaning if the advertised COP of 4 is achieved, costs will be similar. 

​

Actual Heat Pump Efficiency

While the external heat pump may achieve a COP of 4, the design of the installation of the internal system can dramatically effect performance. 

​

A poor design and installation can reduce the COP to under 3, making it considerably more expensive than a gas boiler. 

​

We are currently in training with a supplier thats achieving results of COP 5.8,  This level of efficiency will be cheaper than a gas boiler.

​

Solar panels would improve the cost performance on all systems.

​

Heat pump services start in September 2024

​

​