First Things First …
Heat pumps have become an increasingly popular choice to homeowners due to being extremely energy-efficient and because they are significantly better on the environment than traditional heating systems that rely on the burning of fossil fuels. We do need to know that installing an air source heat pump does generally cost more than a traditional heating system but this is actually offset by the governments grant available at £7.500.00, with very low maintenance costs and their long life spans.
There are two types of air source heat pumps – air-to-water and air-to-air. Air-to-water heat pumps continue to grow in popularity in the UK, partly due to the government grant, but ultimately due to their efficiency rating of between 200 – 400% and the fact they can deliver a home’s heating and hot water on-demand. Air-to-water is the primary focus of this article.
When it comes to the price, you’ll read on various sites on the internet that the supply and installation of an air source heat pump will cost somewhere in the region of £2,000-£20,000 – not particularly helpful hey? At Emerald Green, we have put together this article to give you a better idea of the pricing and process installing a heat pump.
Can I get a quick quote for our property?
If you are looking for an accurate quote then the simple and short answer to this is no – BUT – by providing a few details about your property you can get a very good idea of the budget you’ll be looking at. There are many things that need to be considered when choosing the right heat pump for your home because unlike traditional boilers, a heat pump runs at a lower temperature. Therefore, prior to installation, a personalised room-by-room heat loss survey at your property is imperative to ensure the heat pump system is installed for optimum efficiency. This service is usually free of charge, takes 1-2 hours and then a detailed and accurate quote can be produced following the survey.
What exactly is a heat loss survey?
Heat losses occur due to heat being transferred from inside a property to the outside of a property through walls and windows etc. The average property requirement is around 6 to 8 kW, but that really depends on the size of the property, existing insulation and other factors. An accurate heat loss calculation can only come from an in-depth survey, where every window, wall and door is measured, where materials and insulation are considered and the sizes and types of every radiator are recorded. If an engineer hasn’t taken or considered these details, then it is important to mention that the heat loss calculation may not be sufficient and the heat pump size suggested from the survey may not be the right fit for the property. The heat loss survey alone should take 1 to 2 hours on site to obtain all the required details for the calculations, and to discuss the location of the heat pump and hot water cylinder with the homeowner.
Will I have to replace all of my radiators?
The Heat Loss Report will determine if the existing radiators are adequate to meet each rooms heat demand with the heat pump. If the radiators are aged or on the smaller side then it is likely they’ll need upgrading. A detailed radiator schedule will be created with the report and show the required upgrades and this will all be factored in to the price. Most homeowners usually find that having to replace a few radiators isn’t too invasive, the engineers will connect the new radiators to the existing pipe work.
To give you an idea…
The labour costs will vary with pipe and wiring requirements and this depends on the existing system and the distance from the heat pump to the hot water cylinder – so you can start to see how the price varies from one property to another.
As an example, if you have a three bedroom property that is well insulated and has double-glazed windows, you should expect to receive a quote in the region of £12,000 – £15,000. That price includes the works of the plumber and the electrician and don’t forget that the BUS grant available will cover £7,500* and then effectively you would have future-proofed your home and significantly reduced your homes impact on the environment and your bills!
And not forgetting the wonderful Air-to-Air Heat Pump…
Without causing major brain overload, these pumps differ in how they deliver the heat to your home. Air-to-air does not work with equipment such as radiators and underfloor heating and is essentially an air conditioning system that produces hot OR cold air (in reversible configuration) but does not produce hot water. These type of heat pumps have lower upfront costs and do not require heat loss calculations and might be a better option if you live in a smaller property.
It is worth mentioning that the BUS grant of £7,500.00 does not apply to air-to-air heat pumps but they you wouldn’t be paying any VAT.
The cost of transitioning to renewables…
There isn’t much difference between the upfront costs of installing a heat pump versus a gas boiler when taking advantage of the BUS grant of £7,500.00 that is available to homeowners. Then there’s the added benefits that comes from the significant reduction in the properties carbon emissions, low running costs, very low maintenance requirements and the long life span of a heat pump – usually 20 years!
With a gas boiler ban on the horizon and the government BUS grants available until 2028*, it may be a viable option for you now!
For more information on the funding currently available for heat pump installations check out our Boiler Upgrade Scheme article.
