Heat pumps vs boilers: which is best?
Considering a heat pump for your home? Great! We believe heat pumps are far superior to boilers, and here’s why…
3 reasons to choose a heat pump
With a heat pump you can:
1. Reduce your carbon footprint
2. Enjoy low running costs
3. Future-proof your home
Reducing carbon footprint
One of the main benefits of a heat pump is their environmental credentials. Heat pumps are a low carbon, renewable technology. Powered by electricity and incredibly efficient, they help to reduce the carbon footprint of your home.
Did you know
How does a heat pump work?
An air source heat pump collects energy from the air, even at low temperatures.
The energy is absorbed from the air to the refrigerant in the evaporator.
This process increases the temperature of the refrigerant, changing it from a liquid to a vapour.
The vapour is compressed by an electrically driven compressor, increasing its temperature.
The condenser releases this heat energy into the water used in your heating and hot water system.
The cooled refrigerant turns back into a liquid and the process starts again.
Reducing carbon footprint WINNER: Heat Pumps!
There’s no competition when it comes to carbon footprint – heat pumps win hands down. Powered by electricity and designed to make use of the free solar energy in the air or ground, a heat pump can significantly reduce the environmental impact of your home.
Heat pump and boiler installation and running costs
Costs are a key consideration when looking to upgrade your heating system. How much will a heat pump or boiler cost to purchase and install? Are there incentives or grants you can benefit from? And what can you expect the running costs to be? Let’s take a closer look.
Running costs
We’ve taken a look at how much a heat pump costs to run alongside the most common fossil fuel boilers, factoring in the cost of the fuel and their efficiency to compare the cost in pence per kWh.
Installation costs
For installation costs, we are comparing how much a heat pump costs to purchase and install, minus the potential Boiler Upgrade Scheme payment, against the most common fossil fuel boilers.
Running costs (kWh) vs Installation costs
Heat pump grants
Although heat pumps initially cost more to purchase and install, easily accessible government grants and tariffs can bring them in line with boiler systems.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) offers a one off payment which helps to reduce the up front cost of buying a heat pump.
Installation and running costs DRAW: Heat pumps and gas boiler
Whilst a heat pump costs more upfront than a fossil fuel boiler, financial incentives and low ongoing running costs have the potential to reduce this spend over time., representing great value for money.
5 must ask questions about heat pumps
Find out how to choose the right heat pump for your home.
Future-proofing
The climate crisis means that action has to be taken to future-proof the housing stock, ensuring both new and existing homes are more efficient. This focus means that the way we heat our homes is going to change significantly in the next 5-10 years.
Life expectancy
Heat pumps and boilers are both established and well-tested heat sources, but did you know that heat pumps have a longer lifespan?
Heat Pump
Gas Boiler
The future of heating
Predicted heat pump installs over the next 10 years
As the UK moves away from fossil fuels, the number of heat pumps being installed in homes is expected to dramatically increase in the next 10 years
Reducing carbon footprint WINNER: Heat Pumps!
There’s no denying that the future of heating is renewable, so heat pumps come out on top. Whether you’re building your own home or in the process of renovating, you can future-proof your home against rising fossil fuel prices by installing a heat pump.
Looking for a sustainable, low-carbon way to heat your home
Keen to future-proof your home from rising fossil fuel prices
Building a new home or renovating to building regulation standards
We love the difference that underfloor heating and a heat pump has made to our comfort & energy bills.
Frieda Garrett – Homeowner
Why Nu-Heat?
Award-winning service
Bespoke heating design
Lifetime technical support
MCS accredited supplier
Want help finding the right renewables solution?
We would love to speak with you to discuss your project. If you have a question about your existing Nu-Heat system, our technical support team are at hand.
Information taken from the following sources: European Heat Pump Association; Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy; Policy Connect; Heat Pump Association; Ofgem; Energy Saving Trust; Homeserve
