5 Benefits of Upgrading to a Heat Pump for Home Owners

Heat pumps are steadily heating more and more UK homes, with an ambitious government aim to have 600,000 installed per year by 2028. But what benefits can a heat pump bring to homeowners? If you’re considering a heat pump for your home, our experts can help you decide. We've compiled a list of heat pump advantages you can enjoy when making the switch. 

Looking for more info on heat pumps? Our expert heat pump guide covers everything you need to know.

Reduce Your Carbon Emissions

One of the biggest benefits is that heat pumps operate using electricity and produce no emissions, making them much more environmentally friendly than traditional heating systems. In fact, according to the Energy Saving Trust, they can cut emissions by up to 70.5% per year. 

You can even combine certain heat pumps with solar panels for an even greater reduction in carbon emissions.

Superior Efficiency

The efficiency of a heat source compares the amount of energy used to the amount of heat energy produced. A typical gas boiler is less than 100% efficient, meaning the gas energy used is more than the heat energy emitted. 

On the other hand, heat pumps are typically 300% efficient, producing heat energy that is 3x of the electrical energy used. They can even be more efficient than this, with our Logic Air heat pump performing at 525% efficiency in lab-tested conditions. This is lower in actual practice but is still impressively high.

This efficiency means that your home’s carbon emissions are reduced even further due to the low amount of electricity that your heat pump requires. 

Another factor to consider in heat pump efficiency is SCOP, which stands for seasonal coefficient of performance. Efficiency can drop somewhat in particularly cold weather but remains higher than a boiler's. The SCOP gives you the average efficiency over the full year.

Our guide to heat pumps and cold weather will help you learn more about how your heat pump will perform in winter. 

Low Maintenance

Another advantage of air-source heat pumps is their low maintenance. Simply ensure they aren’t obstructed, clean them occasionally, and have them serviced by a professional engineer annually. 

You can see our blog on what to expect from a heat pump servicing to understand more about what this entails.

Heat pumps also have a lifespan of 15 years, meaning you’re not likely to have to worry about replacing yours for a while. 

Grant Eligibility

Another appealing aspect of heat pumps is that they are eligible for grants and schemes that lower the installation cost significantly. 

The government’s boiler upgrade scheme can shave £7,500 off the cost of your heat pump, among other efficient home upgrades. This scheme is only in place until 2028 and is available to a maximum of 90,000 homes, so act fast.

The boiler upgrade scheme isn’t the only financial support available for buying a heat pump though, with multiple banks offering special green home mortgages and the ECO Energy Efficient Scheme in place to tackle fuel poverty. 

See our blog on heat pump grants and financial aid available to learn more. 

Beat the Crowds

Heat pumps are projected to grow in popularity over the next decade, with the government aiming to see 600,00 installed per year by 2028 and 1.9 million installed by 2035. As heat pumps become more commonplace, they may become a key selling point when selling a home, as potential buyers will be keen not to have to install one themselves, particularly if buying a home after the boiler upgrade scheme has ended. 

If heat pumps seem the right choice for you, explore Ideal Heating’s heat pump range today or contact us with any questions.