Is now a good time to get a heat pump?

Are you interested in the idea of ​​installing a heat pump at home?

Our energy experts believe there has never been a better time to invest in this proven, low-carbon heating system.

We asked them to answer these top five questions to help explain why now is the right time to purchase a heat pump.

1. Can a heat pump save you money on your energy bills?

• If you are replacing an older G-rated gas boiler with a well-designed heat pump, you could save around £295 a year on your energy bills at current energy prices (A).
• Filling the insulation in the walls, floor and attic of your home before installing a heat pump will help reduce your running costs.
• If you already have solar panels, you can save more by using the free energy they generate to power your heat pump.
• A solar battery can further increase your savings by storing the sun's energy to power your heat pump later in the day.
• The UK government is currently considering “rebalancing” electricity and gas prices, with the specific aim of making heat pumps cheaper to run than gas boilers in the future.
• Remember that not everyone who installs a heat pump will see savings right away. Electricity is more expensive than gas at the moment, so if you're replacing a much newer, more efficient gas boiler with a heat pump, your energy bills probably won't reduce in this scenario yet.

2. Can I get money for a heat pump?

• There is more financial support than ever for heat pumps. Right now, if you live in England and Wales, you can get a grant of £7,500 to install a heat pump with the Boiler upgrade plan. If you live in Scotland, grants of between £7,500 and £9,000 are also available.
• Energy companies have also begun to make more efforts to make heat pumps more affordable. For example, some providers also offer specific electricity rates designed to minimize the running costs of heat pumps.
• We recommend investigating all of these offers if you are considering installing a heat pump.

3. Is there evidence that heat pumps work well in cold climates?

• It's a myth that heat pumps don't work well in cold climates, and they've been around long enough to prove it.
• Our European neighbors have gotten the message. In fact, the countries with the highest number of heat pump installations per 1,000 homes in 2022 are Finland, Norway and Sweden. They all have colder winters than the UK.
• According to the International Energy Agency60% of buildings in Norway are equipped with a heat pump, closely followed by Sweden with 43% and Finland with 41%.
• A geothermal heat pump can be used year-round, even during the coldest winter months.
• Air source heat pumps continue to operate efficiently at temperatures as low as -15°C.

4. Will a heat pump really reduce my carbon footprint?

• According to the Committee on Climate Change's most recent report, buildings account for around 17% of the UK's emissions, with the majority coming from the use of fossil fuel heating systems in our homes.
• The majority of UK residential buildings (23 million) are currently connected to the gas network using a traditional boiler.
• The good news is that heat pumps can change that. In all cases, replacing an existing fossil fuel heating system with a heat pump will save carbon emissions. How much you save will depend on the size of your home and the type of heating system you are replacing.
• For example, a semi-detached house with an old G-rated gas boiler would save around 2,900kg of carbon dioxide emissions per year by switching to an air source heat pump – the same as flying from Cardiff to Vancouver and back again. .

5. How do I know which heat pump is right for me?

• We have plenty of information from independent heat pump experts to help you make the switch to low carbon heating.
• Read our heat pumps Tips to find out which heat pump is right for you, how much they cost and how much money or carbon you could save.
• And find out what it's like to have a heat pump by reading stories of owners who have already moved.

A. Savings correct as of October 2023 based on a typical three-bedroom semi-detached house in England, Wales or Scotland. Energy costs based on gas and electricity prices set by Ofgem's price cap from 1 October to the end of December 2023 (an electricity price of 27.4p/kWh and a gas price of of 6.9 pence/kWh).