Retrofit | Heat pumps

What is a Heat Pump?

Heat pumps are part of a wider transition towards electrification of much of our end-use of energy (see The Future Is Electric).

A Heat Pump is based on the principle of heat transfer. Heat transfer uses a small amount of energy to transfer the free and renewable low-grade heat from the air or ground to high-grade heat suitable for space or water heating in homes.

Heat pumps are extremely efficient and are a proven technology. For every unit of electricity to run a heat pump, they deliver at least three units of heat (i.e. at least 300% efficient).

And when replacing an old gas boiler, running costs do not need to rise when installing an air-source heat pump, as we explored in How to heat your home with the minimum amount of energy, and save the planet. Installing a heat pump is the single biggest thing a householder can do to reduce the carbon footprint of heating.

For more insight, please go to our piece on Demystifying Heat Pumps.

Eight common myths about heat pumps

See also 8 heat pump myths.

Top 10 tips for heat pumps

1. Replacing your old fossil fuel boiler with a heat pump will reduce your carbon footprint more than anything else you do.

2. Because heat pumps are so efficient, bills can be cut by 40% against oil/LPG, 25% against mains gas, and 75% against direct electric (‘resistance’) heating.

3. Seek advice from specialised heat pump firms (MCS* registered).

4. Get the supplier to explain what they do, and any steps you need to take.

5. Ask for a reference client with a similar property to share their experience.

6. Take cost effective insulation and draughts improvement measures.

7. Design is key. Ensure heat load/ emitter (e.g. radiator) assessments are performed,

8. Understand the differences between heat pumps vs traditional boilers.

9. Air Source Heat Pumps are almost as efficient as Ground Source Heat pumps.

10. Let the heat pump do its thing!

    *MCS - Microgeneration Certification Scheme

Boiler Upgrade Scheme

There is a current ‘Boiler Upgrade Scheme’ with a grant of up to £7,500 and you need to check if you are eligible https://www.gov.uk/apply-boiler-upgrade-scheme/what-you-can-get . This gets paid to the supplier and should then reduce the cost of the installation.

Air source heat pumps

Above: George Clarke with an Mitsubihi Ecodan R32

Above: 300l cylinder plus header for underfloor heating coils

Water source heat pumps

A Great Introductory Talk on Heat Pumps for householders

To learn more about heat pumps, and dispelling common myths about them, please see the engaging talk by Chris Wilde (Managing Director of Yorkshire Energy Systems), that we hosted What if we could all heat our buildings with renewable technologies?

Explore another retrofit measure: