Heat pumps have a pivotal role in the UK’s journey towards net zero carbon emissions by 2050. They’re being heralded as the future of clean, renewable energy that will eventually become standard in our homes.
The government wants to see 600,000 heat pumps installed every year by 2028. Record numbers were installed in 2023. From 2025, low-carbon heating systems will be mandatory in new-build homes in England.
But heat pumps are proving to be less popular in the UK than in other countries. Many homeowners are put off by the price, while others believe claims about heat pump energy efficiency and low running costs are too good to be true.
There is a growing belief among some that installing a heat pump isn’t worth the cost. Is this true? Are all the benefits we hear about heat pumps just hot air?
We’ve examined the disadvantages of heat pumps to find out whether they really are the future of decarbonising home heating in the UK.
Why Some Don’t Rate Heat Pump Technology
Many other countries in Europe have embraced heat pump technology. Heat pumps are particularly prevalent in the cold-climate Nordic nations of Sweden, Norway and Finland. They’re also popular in the United States, Canada, China and Japan.
Meanwhile, the UK continues to rely on gas heating. Gas boilers account for 85% of heating systems, and 1.5 million of them are installed each year. Heat pumps, on the other hand, currently provide only 1% of home heating.
This is perhaps because of perceived heat pump disadvantages such as high installation costs and high running costs. Many households also question whether a heat pump can provide sufficient heating, especially in winter.
Others think heat pumps are only suitable for newer homes. Further concerns revolve around heat pump noise and hot water supply problems.
We’ll look at each of these potential drawbacks next and see if they hold up to scrutiny.
Heat Pumps Are Too Expensive: True or False?
It’s true that heat pumps don’t come cheap. Supply and installation prices will usually be much more expensive than a standard gas boiler. But many homeowners who believe the cost is too high may be unaware of heat pump grants.
Why Do Heat Pumps Cost So Much?
Heat pumps are expensive because their impressive level of energy efficiency comes at a price. First, heat pumps are complex machines that rely on specialised components such as high-standard compressors and heat exchangers, and these have to be precision-engineered. Then your heat pump needs to be installed by heating engineers with a high level of technical expertise.
Finally, the UK heat pump market is still very much in its infancy. Fewer suppliers result in higher prices owing to lack of proper competition.
Air-to-Water Heat Pump Costs
The most common type of heat pump in the UK is the air-to-water heat pump. These air source heat pumps cost more than air-to-air heat pumps. But, unlike air-to-water heat pumps, air-to-air heat pumps don’t supply hot water to kitchens and bathrooms.
Heat pump costs depend on the size of your home and its heating requirements. Air-to-water heat pumps range in price from around £8,000 to £14,000 – considerably less than ground source heat pumps.
Government clean-energy experts predict heat pump costs will come down significantly over the next 10 years as the technology continues to improve. Meanwhile, government grants and other funding means many households can get heavily discounted heat pumps and some may even get a heat pump installed for free.
Free Heat Pump Funding
Thousands of homeowners with an inefficient heating system, like an old gas boiler, can get substantial financial support to switch to a heat pump. In fact, with the new boiler upgrade grant and changes to funding eligibility criteria, heat pumps have never been cheaper.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) increased heat pump grants from £5,000 to £7,500 in October 2023. That makes many heat pumps cheaper than a boiler once the amount of the grant has been taken into consideration.
Since May 2024, homes will no longer have to meet insulation requirements to get a grant. This means you don’t have the additional cost of cavity wall or loft insulation before you can install a heat pump.
If you want to get the most from your heat pump, you can install insulation later to increase your home’s overall energy efficiency. Boiler Upgrade Scheme grants are available in England and Wales.
ECO4
ECO4 – the fourth and final phase of the Energy Company Obligation – can cover the entire cost of heat pump installation or a large part of it. The scheme is aimed at relieving fuel poverty in households on means-tested state benefits who’re living in homes with a low Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating (D to G). ECO4 funding is available in England, Scotland and Wales.
ECO4 Flex
If you’re not getting benefits but on a low income, you can apply for heat pump funding from ECO4 Flex – also called Local Authority Flexible Eligibility (LA Flex). This widens the scope of the Energy Company Obligation, with local councils setting their own eligibility conditions for families and individuals living in fuel poverty.
0% VAT
VAT on heat pumps is zero-rated until March 31, 2027, provided they’re supplied and installed by the same company. It will then go back to the original reduced rate of 5%.
Heat Pumps Cost a Lot to Run: True or False?
It’s true that some types of heat pumps cost slightly more to run than a brand-new gas boiler. This is because they require electricity to run, which is more expensive than gas. At the time of writing, electricity is around four times the price of gas – 24p per kilowatt hour (kWh) unit, compared with gas at 6p per kWh.
However, the high efficiency of heat pumps means they’re cheaper to run than an old gas boiler and most other heating systems. For example, replacing old electric storage heaters with a heat pump can potentially cut energy bills by £940 a year.
The government is considering measures to bring electricity prices more in line with gas prices. This would make heat pumps even cheaper to run.
Heat Pump Efficiency
While running costs are important, they aren’t the only consideration when it comes to the heat pump versus boiler conversation. Many households are looking for ways to make their home more energy efficient, and heat pumps have outstanding efficiency credentials that can reduce your carbon footprint by over 40%.
Heat pumps are far more efficient than gas boilers because they don’t use much energy from the grid. Instead of burning fuel, heat pumps run on a small amount of electricity that transfers free thermal energy into your home from the surrounding environment.
This makes them 300-400% energy efficient – outputting three to four kilowatts (kW) of heat from one kilowatt of electricity.
To put this into context, modern gas boilers achieve only around 90-94% efficiency. Efficiency of older boilers can be as low as 60%, wasting 40% of the energy you pay for.
Heat Pumps Don’t Work in Cold Weather: True or False?
Some people doubt the ability of heat pumps to keep homes warm when the weather turns chilly. The truth is that heat pumps work perfectly well even in subzero winter temperatures.
They are able to do this because they extract ambient heat from the environment. This is always present in the air or below the ground, even in deep mid-winter.
However, some heat pumps have to work harder and use more electricity in cold weather, and this reduces energy efficiency slightly. However, heat pumps are still far more efficient than an older boiler no matter how cold the weather is.
Only Modern Homes Are Suitable for a Heat Pump: True or False?
According to research commissioned by the government, homes of all ages, types and sizes can benefit from a heat pump.
An Electrification of Heat (EoH) demonstration project fitted heat pumps in hundreds of homes to test the technical and practical feasibility of a large-scale rollout. They proved to be an effective heating solution in a wide range of homes, from 1960s blocks of flats and Victorian mid-terraces to pre-Second World War semi-detached and detached properties.
The project embraced a representative sample of homes across the UK, with heat pump installations in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, the South East of England and South East of Scotland.
A total of 742 heat pumps were installed in a broad spectrum of housing types occupied by households with varying socioeconomic status. These heat pumps included:
- High-temperature and low-temperature air-source heat pumps.
- Ground source heat pumps.
- Hybrid heat pumps combined with a gas boiler.
Heat batteries, which store thermal energy, were incorporated in some installations.
Project organisers concluded that:
- Heat pumps are an effective alternative for homes of all types and ages.
- Heat pumps will be key in providing home heating in a net zero future.
- Heat pumps will become the obvious, affordable choice.
Heat Pumps Are Noisy: True or False?
A common misconception about heat pumps is that they’re loud, not just for households but also causing neighbours to complain about noise pollution. In fact, heat pumps make little noise, with sound levels classed as low to moderate.
Air source heat pumps, for example, produce a constant hum of 45 to 58 decibels (dB). For comparison, a quiet conversation is around 40 decibels.
Heat pumps are quieter or no louder than most household appliances, including boilers, washing machines, dishwashers, fridges and freezers.
Regulations stipulate that heat pumps cannot exceed 42dBs within one metre of a neighbour’s window.
The noise generated by a heat pump is classified as white noise. This means a constant, consistent sound that’s unlikely to be obtrusive. As heat pump technology advances, they are increasingly becoming quieter, so we can confidently say that in future heat pump disadvantages won’t include noise problems in most cases.
Heat Pumps Don’t Provide Hot Water: True or False?
It’s true that an air-to-air heat pump can’t provide hot water, but most other heat pumps do. An air-to-water heat pump, for instance, can supply more than enough heat to run a domestic hot water system while keeping your home warm. You just need a hot water cylinder designed to work with a heat pump.
A heat pump in cooling mode can also keep your kitchen and bathroom supplied with hot water while maintaining your home at a comfortable temperature in hot weather.
Where Can I Get Heat Pump Advice?
Many people have the wrong idea about heat pumps. This is hardly surprising when the heat pump debate has seen many myths emerge. These misunderstandings and mistaken notions gain traction when homeowners find it difficult to get the proper advice on heat pumps
In 2024, nearly half of Brits are planning to remodel their home and for many of them, sustainable options are a priority. However, more than half of UK builders admit they don’t have the expertise to offer advice on heat pumps.
Additionally, 44% say they don’t recommend heat pumps because they’re unaware of the benefits their customers would get.This is despite the rise of green renovations and increasing demand for sustainable home solutions.
Help is on hand, though, from renewable energy experts like Eco Grants. As our name suggests, we can help you decide whether the disadvantages of heat pumps outweigh their benefits.
If you go ahead with installing a heat pump, we can check on your behalf whether you qualify for a grant. We can also find you a top deal on heat pump installation.