What are the Pros and Cons of Air Source Heat Pumps?

Keeping your home cosy and warm, and at the same time saving money and helping the planet – it sounds like a win-win. This is where air source heat pumps come in: an efficient alternative to traditional heating, finding their place within the UK and gaining momentum.

The good news? If the cost is a concern for you, it is just possible that you may get Air Source Heat Pump grants under the ECO4 scheme. So, with it, you can get an affordable upgrade to heating or even for free.

What are Air Source Heat Pumps?

Air source heat pumps are, in many ways, a whole new class of heating – and, on occasion, cooling – your home. They work through the process of extracting heat from the air outside and transferring it into your home for heating, as well as heating the water. They function quite differently than your traditional boiler, which heats things up by burning gas or oil.

Think of it as the reverse operation of a fridge: instead of keeping things cool, it is designed to keep your home cosy during those chilly British winters. No surprise then that the UK government is incentivising these systems as part of its aim for 600,000 heat pumps annually by 2028. But are they worth investing in? Let’s weigh up this set of pros and cons.

Pros of Air Source Heat Pumps

The advantages of air source heat pumps are:

Heat Pumps are Super Efficient

Air source heat pumps are radically more efficient than conventional heating; they produce up to 4 units of heat for every unit of consumed electricity. They are up to 400% more efficient compared with straight electric or gas boilers.

By contrast, a gas boiler converts 98 percent of its applied energy into heat, while a heat pump achieves significantly more with significantly less. Even when temperatures are markedly below zero, heat pumps still extract residual warmth from the air outside.

Environmentally Friendly

They are greener, too. While gas or oil boilers use gas or oil, heat pumps run on electricity. And in the UK, their electricity is powered by renewables at a genuinely increasing rate. If you swap out for a gas boiler, you might cut your home’s carbon emissions by as much as 70%. If you’re swapping out for an oil boiler, it could be even greater – up to 80% less CO₂.

Low Maintenance

Heat pumps are easy to use and maintain once installed. Your installer will handle the installation, except perhaps for you to set your desired user temperature, and with annual servicing, the system can easily last you many years.

Dual Functionality: Can Provide Both Heating and Cooling

Some of the air source heat pumps are able to double as both a heater and an air conditioner – called, thereby, air-to-air heat pumps. In fact, for such systems, there is no need to have another one; therefore, space and other installation costs are saved.

Eligible for Grants and other Financial Support

Let’s be honest: air source heat pumps are not cheap. The average unit currently costs roughly £10,000 upfront, an amount many people would deem steep. But here’s the good news: there are grants available that will help make it more affordable.

For instance, there is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme in England and Wales, which will provide £7,500 off the price of a heat pump. Even better, if you qualify under the ECO4 scheme, you could get an air source heat pump completely free. That’s a zero-cost way to upgrade your heating system while lowering your bills and your carbon footprint!

Cons of Air Source Heat Pumps

Air-source heat pumps have a lot of perks going for them, but they are by no means perfect. Following are some of the possible downsides you should consider before investing:

Expensive Running Costs

Heat pumps run on electricity, which is three times more expensive in the UK than gas. All things considered, however, the far greater efficiency of air source heat pumps partly cuts this cost, as they use far less energy to heat your home compared to a gas boiler.

High Upfront Costs

Yet, the installation cost of an air source heat pump is not trivial: about £10,000 on average. A reasonably heavy price to swallow. Considering that for most people, the number one factor as far as heating systems are concerned is cost.

Luckily, help is at hand. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme knocks off £7,500 of the upfront cost for households in England and Wales. And if you qualify under the ECO4 scheme, you can have it free.

Performance Can Degrade in Freezing Temperatures

Air-source heat pumps are meant to work during cold weather; they only struggle in extremely cold situations. That is where the temperature has dropped way below zero because the pump requires more electricity to extract heat from the air, making it less efficient.

Relies on Electricity

While they’re much greener than traditional forms of heating, heat pumps still rely on electricity, and not all electricity is renewable.

Not Suitable for All Properties

Unfortunately, air source heat pumps are not suitable for every sector. It is estimated that 54% of all UK homes are not suitable for them.

For example, heat pumps can be awkwardly fitted into flats and smaller properties due to restrictions arising from space or limited accessibility to outdoor air.

You Can Save Money by Pairing Your Heat Pump with Solar Panels

Having your air source heat pump combined with solar panels is one of the best ways to have it be even more cost-effective. Here’s why that would make a lot of sense:

Solar panels produce free electricity from sunlight to activate the heat pump. Since heat pumps operate on electricity, this can dramatically reduce running costs.

And here is the good news: under ECO4, you might be able to get both an air source heat pump and solar panel installed for free, provided your case meets the overpass criteria.

The Bottom Line

Air source heat pumps represent one of the excellent ways of efficiently keeping your house warm in a sustainable manner. Though they have some upfront costs and considerations, their long-term savings and environmental benefits make them a good investment, especially when combined with solar panels.

Schemes like ECO4 make the switch easier and more affordable than ever before. You can get free air source heat pumps, plus solar panels for eligible households, which will let you experience your home becoming greener and more energy-efficient with zero upfront cost.

It’s a win for yo

ur wallet, your comfort, and the planet!