Discover heat pumps

Find out more about what a heat pump is, how it works and why you should consider getting one.

A white and black heat pump sitting on the side of a building.

What is a heat pump?

Heat pump illustration

Heat pumps are a greener replacement for the fossil fuel-powered heating systems that most people in the UK currently use to heat their homes.

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They run on electricity and are three to four times more efficient than other heating systems, including other electric heating systems such as storage heaters, electric radiators and electric boilers. This means heat pumps use three to four times less energy than other heating systems, to create the same level of comfort in your home. Whether you’ll make a saving on running costs when switching to a heat pump will depend on which system you are switching from and the electricity tariffs available.

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Heat pumps are already commonly used for home heating in many parts of Europe that are colder than the UK, such as Scandinavia, where a large proportion of all homes use a heat pump. 

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Heat pumps are also widely acknowledged as an important solution for addressing climate change. Driven by government emissions targets, they are  set to replace gas and oil boilers in millions of UK homes as the nation shifts to renewable energy for heating.

Cost and grants
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How does a heat pump work?

Heat pumps use electricity to extract heat energy from outside your home and use it to heat water for your radiators and taps. Most draw heat from the air although some take it from the ground or a nearby body of water.

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Although the temperature of the air, ground or water outside a property isn’t hot enough to heat the water flowing through your home’s system directly, heat pumps can increase this temperature using the same technology as air conditioning units. 

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Heat pumps use a refrigerant to absorb outside heat and compression technology to increase the temperature, which then heats the water flowing through your radiators and taps. This system allows heat pumps to work even on cold days, providing thermal comfort inside a property in temperatures as low as -20°C.

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If you currently have a gas or oil boiler, using a heat pump will feel familiar, because your radiators and thermostat will still work in the same way. That said, with many heat pumps the temperature of the water going around the radiators may be slightly cooler, meaning it will take a little longer to heat rooms instead.

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Some models, known as air-to-air heat pumps, function like air conditioners that also provide heating. These might be more suitable for smaller homes or homes without radiators.

Types of heat pumps
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Can I get a heat pump?

01.

Which heat pump is best for me?

There are different types of heat pumps available, each best suited for different contexts. Find out which heat pump is most suitable for your home by taking our personalised quiz.

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02.

Financial support available

Almost all homeowners in England, Wales and Scotland are eligible for a government grant of between £7,500 to £9,000, to help with the upfront cost of installation. This means that smaller homes might be able to get an air-source heat pump for as little as £500 after the grant.

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Every home is suitable, regardless of insulation levels

Heat pumps are suitable for any kind of home, regardless of how much insulation it has. While extra insulation may be beneficial, it is not essential for installing a heat pump, which can efficiently heat homes that are less well insulated. However, if you haven’t already, you might want to consider the cost of insulating your loft, as doing so will lower your energy consumption.

Home upgrades to consider

Why get a heat pump? 

01.

Cut your carbon footprint

Burning fossil fuels like gas or oil for home heating is a major source of household carbon emissions, contributing 17% of the UK’s total. A gas boiler emits more CO2 annually than seven transatlantic flights. By contrast, heat pumps, given they run on electricity, don’t directly produce carbon dioxide and can reduce carbon emissions by up to 70 per cent compared with a gas boiler.
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Heat pumps are also three to four times more efficient than other heating systems. Some of the UK's electricity production still relies on fossil fuels such as gas, but a growing share is from renewable energy. This means that the emissions produced by heat pumps are much lower than fossil fuel boilers. As the UK expands the generation of renewable energy, emissions from heat pumps will continue to decrease.

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Reduce your heating bills

As heat pumps use three to four times less energy, if you currently use an oil, LPG (liquid petroleum gas) or electric boiler, electric radiators or storage heaters, you will likely save on your heating bills. If you’re switching from currently using a gas boiler, your bills will likely stay similar under current tariff caps. This is because despite heat pumps using significantly less energy to run than a gas boiler, government policy currently makes the price of gas cheaper than electricity. 

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Using heat pump-friendly tariffs or installing solar panels and/or battery storage can help reduce running costs further. According to Which?, you could save more than £500 a year on your energy bills by switching to a heat pump from a gas boiler and using a special heat pump tariff.

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Improve health outcomes

Unlike traditional heating methods that involve combustion, heat pumps generate heat without creating indoor air pollution. Wood-burning stoves, open fires and gas boilers all create smoke or harmful gases such as nitrogen oxide. This means that replacing your fossil fuel-based system with a heat pump will help reduce both indoor and outdoor air pollution, and the associated health risks.

04.

Future-proof your home

The UK government has indicated it might phase out the installation of new gas boilers by 2035 (2025 for new builds), as part of its commitment to reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Given most existing homes will need to switch to lower-carbon heating within the next 11 years, installing a heat pump now means you will be well prepared for the future. 

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Heat pumps are a key technology that is being backed by the Government to decarbonise home heating. This means there are supporting grants available to help with the transition, making now the ideal time to upgrade your system. 

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Easy access to grants

Almost all homeowners in England, Wales and Scotland are eligible for a £7,500 grant to help with the cost of installing a heat pump as part of the UK government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme or Home Energy Scotland. If you live in a rural area in Scotland you may also be eligible for an extra £1,500. There are very few eligibility criteria to receive these grants, so if you are a homeowner or a domestic landlord there is a good chance that you can benefit. Taking advantage of this grant will significantly reduce the cost of installing a heat pump.

A man standing next to a heat pump.

Living with a heat pump

Understanding how your heat pump works, taking advantage of smart tariffs, and integrating other green technologies are important considerations if you want to maximise the benefits of your heat pump, improve its efficiency, and extend its lifespan. Read our tips for how to get the best from your heat pump.

Find out more about living with a heat pump