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If you’re considering upgrading your fossil fuel boiler to a heat pump, it’s worth making sure you fully understand what’s involved. In this guide to heat pump installation, we’ll take a look at everything you need to know before deciding to replace your boiler with a heat pump.
In this guide to heat pump installation, we’ll take a look at everything you need to know before deciding to replace your boiler with a heat pump.
A heat pump is a type of heating system that uses existing thermal energy to provide a more environmentally friendly heat source. The system draws existing thermal energy from an environmental source, such as the ground, air or water, and then converts into steam to heat your home.
You can learn more about the process behind this in our guide to how heat pumps work.
There are three types of heat pump, which each draw thermal energy from a different source:
Heat pumps are suited to a wide range of properties but there may be some factors to consider before having one installed. Therefore, it’s important to research each one individually to determine which one, if any, is right for you.
The cost of installing a heat pump varies greatly depending on the requirements of your property, as well as the type of heat pump to be installed.
To give you an idea of what to expect, Energy Saving Trust estimates that air source heat pump installation costs £7,000–£13,000, while ground source heat pumps may cost £14,000–£19,000.
In addition, if you’re replacing your fossil fuel-powered boiler with a heat pump, you may be eligible for the government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS), which could give you a grant of up to £7,500 towards installation costs. The scheme will run until 2028 as part of the government's Net Zero strategy.
It's important to note that switching to a heat pump may result in some additional costs as you will need a hot water cylinder and potentially upgrading your existing radiators.
Each system is different and has its own set of requirements, so no two installations are the same. Air source heat pumps are the quickest and easiest to install, as they don’t require any groundwork.
A basic installation will take a couple of days whereas more complex systems may require longer to complete. When assessing your home for suitability and providing a quote, your installer will be able to advise you on the expected installation time.
Replacing your fossil-fuelled boiler or direct electric heating system with a heat pump is a considered purchase and shouldn’t be rushed.
Before going ahead, there are some key things to think about:
The first step is to find out whether a heat pump is suitable for your home, and what specifications the system will need in order to provide adequate heating.
When providing a quote, your heat pump installer will visit your property to carry out a heat loss calculation to assess how much heat is needed to keep your home warm. This will form the basis of their recommendations for your heat pump system. You can also contact an independent energy assessor, who will be able to provide you with an energy performance certificate (EPC).
Once the assessment has been completed, your installer will detail the specifics of the recommended heat pump system, including the size and power of the heat pump, and where the initial heat source will be drawn from.
They will also discuss where each component should be installed to get the most out of the system without disrupting your home.
Before going ahead with the installation, it’s important that you action any recommendations highlighted by the initial assessment to improve the efficiency of your heat pump or facilitate installation.
This might include improving your home’s insulation, replacing existing radiators with larger ones, or obtaining planning permission (although this is not required for all types of heat pump).
The inside unit will usually be positioned on an external wall and will be mounted on a bracket. The installer will drill a hole through the wall and feed the necessary cables and pipes to the outside, where they can be connected to the external unit.
This step varies depending on what type of heat pump is being installed. For air source heat pumps, the outside unit can be quickly and easily secured to the ground using the anti vibration feet or wall mounted on the outside of the building. The installation of ground or water source heat pumps will require extensive digging and laying of pipes.
Once both parts of the heat pump are in position, your installer will connect them to each other, as well as to the rest of your heating system. They will then perform a number of checks to make sure everything is working properly and is safe to use.
Installing a heat pump offers lots of benefits, but also has some points to consider:
