Is it possible to replace a boiler with a heat pump? In many circumstances it is absolutely possible to replace gas boilers with heat pumps. For many households and businesses, replacing your old boiler with a more energy efficient heat pump is an effective way of reducing your carbon emissions and also impacting on energy bills.
So, what exactly is a heat pump and what are the available options? There are two types of heat pumps available, an air source heat pump and a ground source heat pump. Both offer sustainable and economical heating for your building, but your Fixx engineer will be able to discuss the most suitable option for you and your building.
Air source heat pumps
As the name would suggest, these heat pumps operate by extracting the air from outside via a fan (looking similar in appearance to an air conditioning unit) and sending this directly to an evaporator. From here the air is drawn into a closed unit containing a refrigerant that can transform into gas at low temperatures. Next, once that gas has reached a certain temperature via a compressor, it is transferred to a condenser within your building’s heating system, supplying you and your family with heat through your radiators or underfloor heating.
One of the greatest benefits of the air source heat pump is that your heating system can easily be regulated using an inverter driven heat pump compressor. In simple terms, this means your air source heat pump will only absorb the energy required and as such is highly cost effective and fuel-efficient. During the summer months, this heating system can be reversed to provide you with the benefits of cool air as and when needed.
Ground source heat pumps
This innovative heat pump takes energy stored in the ground and turns it into heat for your building. Certain factors, such as your building itself (old or new build), its energy efficiency, your heating requirements, the surface the building stands on and the current method of heating will all affect the type of ground source heat pump that is available to you. Our experienced Fixx engineers will be able to assess this and suggest the best option available to you.
So, how do these heat pumps work? Underground temperatures remain at a fairly consistent temperature and this heat energy can be accessed and turned into heat for your property. A ground source heat pump distributes a solution of water and environmentally friendly antifreeze around a coiled pipe system, called a ground loop. This ground loop is placed underground near your property to allow heat from the ground to be absorbed into the fluid and then passes through a heat exchanger into the heat pump.
Ground source heat pumps do require a decent area of land to install the ground loops so they won’t be a suitable option for every household. While they are a more energy efficient option, they also come at a higher cost.
How much could you save by replacing a boiler with a heat pump?
Installing an air source heat pump system in place of an old boiler can bring substantial energy bill savings. The savings will depend on the type of boiler that is being replaced and its energy efficiency rating. As a guide, the Energy Saving Trust estimates that a 3-bedroom semi-detached property replacing a G-rated old gas boiler would save £340 annually on fuel bills.
If replacing an oil boiler or an old LPG boiler (both G-rated) the estimated savings would be even higher at £510 each year. In the instance of replacing old electric storage heaters with an air source heat pump the savings could be as much as £1,100 per year(savings based on fuel prices as of January 2024).
These annual savings when replacing a gas or oil boiler with a new heat pump can add up over time so that eventually the cheaper day to day running costs of heating your building and generating hot water means that your investment in a heat pump effectively pays for itself long-term. While installing heat pumps can appear far more expensive than a traditional gas boiler, there are some options out there to make the installation costs much more affordable.
Incentives to replace a gas boiler with heat pump
With financial government incentives available, and energy prices at alarming levels, there’s never been a better time to make a heat pump your family’s choice of heating. Initiatives such as the Boiler Upgrade Scheme which encourage households to to replace heating that uses fossil fuels, such as gas boilers and oil boilers, with low carbon heating systems, mean that the cost of replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump unit is much more affordable.
Heat pump grants of up to £7,500 are available to those who qualify which could be used for the installation of an air source heat pump or a ground source heat pump. Additionally, to help households further, heat pumps and other energy-saving measures are subject to 0% VAT. This reduced VAT period (down from the previous 5%) runs until 2027.
If you are planning on using the heat pump to heat your water, you may need to upgrade to a new hot water cylinder that is heat pump compatible.
What if a heat pump is not a suitable option for my building?
Heat pumps are not always a viable option for every building. When space is limited or the property too close in proximity to neighbours, this can make it unsuitable for a heat pump. For the heat pump to work efficiently, the property needs to be well insulated, which isn’t always possible without significant outlay. In these sorts of situations a new gas boiler or upgrade of your central heating system (and insulation) may be the more appropriate choice.
Call the Fixx team today to arrange your appointment with one of our friendly and experienced engineers. We’ll advise you on the best options for replacing your old boiler.