What are the costs and savings of air source heat pumps?

There are two main types of heat pumps: ground source heat pumps and air source heat pumps. Both of these involve the extraction of thermal energy from the outside of a property (air or underground) and use this to heat the inside.

How does an air source heat pump work?

An air-to-water heat pump works in the following way:

– Thermal energy is drawn from the ambient air outside.

– This warm air is used to heat up a refrigerant liquid which then turns to gas.

– The gas is passed through a compressor which increases its temperature.

– This warms the water supply which then feeds into radiators and/or underfloor heating.

An air-to-air heat pump is very similar, but instead of using the thermal energy to heat the water for the central heating system, it blows the warm air around the property to increase the air temperature inside.

What are the costs and savings?

While the exact costs will vary based on the heat pump you choose, as a general rule, an air source heat pump will cost around £10,000. However, under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, you may be eligible for a government grant of up to £7,500 if you decide to opt for one as a replacement for your existing boiler. You may, however, also need to upgrade your insulation or radiators.

When compared to a gas boiler, it is estimated that you can save around £4,500 over the lifetime of a heat pump. This means that financially (if you receive a grant of £5,500 or more) you will be better off in the long term. The savings are mainly due to a heat pump’s efficiency of 200-400%. For comparison, a standard gas boiler has an efficiency of around 95%.

There are a number of firms specialising in air source heat pumps. Many have useful online resources such as this example: https://gsmlimited.com/services/air-source-heat-pumps/.

Other Benefits

As well as monetary savings in the long term, you can cut your carbon footprint, reduce your energy bills and future proof your home.