By now you will no doubt have heard about air source heat pumps. And the recent uptake of thousands of homeowners in the Uk making the swap to a heat pump. This is because they are a more environmentally friendly heating solution, compared to traditional gas-powered central heating.
Heat pumps are becoming increasingly popular as a low-carbon heating solution. There are many benefits with running a heat pump for your home energy but there are also many myths associated with them, which may be holding you back from taking up a heat pump for your next home heating solution.
What is a heat pump?
Many people are still unsure of what heat pumps are or how they work. Very simply, an air source heat pump absorbs heat form the environment (even when outside temperatures are very low). The heat is then transferred to the inside of your home.
1. Air source heat pumps are noisy – FALSE
Heat pumps are designed to be as quiet as possible and modern pumps emit a noise level similar to a fridge. Plus as your heat pump will be installed outside your home you should rarely hear it, if anything at all.
If someone tells you of a noisy heat pump, it is likely it has been installed incorrectly or has a fault.
2. Heat pumps are very expensive – FALSE
It is true that heat pumps can be expensive to install in the first place. HOWEVER, with the help of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) available to residents in England and Wales, it can provide up to £7,500 towards the cost of your heat pump installation and so could bring the installation cost down to as little as £3,500. This is in the same price price bracket as a new boiler, yet a heat pump could save you money on your energy bills.
This is because, once installed a heat pump with be more energy efficient than traditional heating systems and may also save you money on your energy bills.
3. Heat pumps don’t work in winter – FALSE
This is one of the most common myths about heat pumps. It is true that a heat pump will be less efficient in extremely cold temperatures, but they are capable of working in temperatures as low as -25°C!
The fact that heat pumps are so popular in Norway, Finland and Sweden, some of the coldest countries in the world, demonstrates how well they can work in the coldest of conditions.
Still worried about how well they work in winter, read our dedicated post which answers this in more detail: eclipseenergy.co.uk/do-heat-pumps-work-in-winter/
4. You can only install air source heat pumps in new builds – FALSE
Heat pumps offer a great solution for home of any age as long as your home is well insulated. So if you are considering a heat pump, please do ensure your home is well insulated first. Our Eclipse Energy accredited installers can offer this service to you as a whole package if you are wanting to go ahead with an air source heat pump.
The only issue you may face when installing a heat pump, is if you live in a listed building. You may need to apply for planning permission to have one installed outside your home.
5. Heat pumps don’t work with older radiators, they only work with underfloor heating – FALSE
Heat pumps will work well with your existing radiators. Although because heat pumps won’t heat your radiators to as high a temperature as a traditional heating system. Therefore, you may need to replace them for larger radiators or add additional radiators to keep the same room temperatures you are used to.
It is because heat pumps require this larger area that makes them ideal for underfloor heating systems.
If you don’t want to change your radiators, you could install a high temperature heat pump. They use higher water temperatures and so are suited to older systems or smaller radiators.
How do I apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme £7,500 grant?
So, how can you get started with an Air Source Heat Pump system through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme? The first step is to check your eligibility by giving us a call on 01422 414850.
It’s the quickest way to check your eligibility. However, you can also fill out a form on our website if you prefer.
Our experienced team will guide you through the process of claiming your free funding, right through to completion of the work.
Act now and take advantage of the free grant available through Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
More information about heat pumps
If you enjoyed this article and are interested in learning more about heat pumps, please read one of the articles below: