Heat Pump Advantages And Disadvantages (UK Guide)

What are heat pumps' advantages and do they outweigh their disadvantages as a home heating system?

Allow iHeat to investigate…

What Is A Heat Pump And How Do They Work?

A heat pump transfers captured heat from the air outside to the inside of a property, this is then used to fuel the property’s central or underfloor heating (in some cases provide hot running water also).

Heat energy is present everywhere, including outside, heat flows naturally from a warmer place to a colder place, to heat a home however, heat energy would need to do the opposite, flow from a colder to a warmer place. Here’s how it happens - 

As the pressure of a gas increases, so does its temperature, and in turn the temperature decreases with a drop in pressure.

The gas used in the heat pump process is called a refrigerant, and is compressed by electricity to raise the pressure and temperature, as the refrigerant's heat is transferred to a property via the heat exchanger, it cools down a tad. 

The refrigerant then expands so it cools further, the resultant low temperature gas is now cold enough to absorb more heat from outside and begin the process again.

The heat that has been deposited in the heat exchanger in the process mentioned above would traditionally occur via a central heating system. 

Air Source Heat Pumps

An air source heat pump’s refrigerant comes from outside the unit (evaporator) and absorbs heat energy blown across a heat exchanger using fans.

Ground Source Heat Pumps

Ground Source heat pumps work by sourcing heat from water in underground pipes (either long or coiled in trenches), which is then pumped to a heat exchanger. 

The cool water is mixed with antifreeze and passes through the heat exchanger, transferring the heat to the refrigerant, which continues to flow around the compressor circuit.

Heat Pump Advantages

Potential Savings

The main reason why heat pumps of either type are so widely spoken about currently, is their propensity for potential savings, especially considering the current exponentially high energy bills causing the dismay of the UK public. 

Heat pumps are extremely efficient in the production of heat energy, meaning a reduction in heating bills, saving prospective buyers what could turn out to be a significant amount of money each year.

Low Maintenance

Anything that should be checked annually on a heat pump set up can be done by the owner, anything that requires professional attention from a Gas Safe engineer should be checked every 3-5 years.

Reduces Carbon Emissions

The efficiency of a heat pump’s conversion rate and the fact it does not burn a fuel to operate, lowers a household's carbon emissions. This not only helps the planet, but also increases the safety of the home’s occupants.

Long Life Span

On average the lifespan of a heat pump installation is around 15 years, some can however last up to 50 years, providing maximum efficiency and robust reliability.

Can Provide Cooling As Well As Heating

When it’s hot outside, many heat pumps are actually capable of reversing their operational process to act like an air conditioning unit.

Government Help initiatives 

The government introduced the boiler upgrade scheme, this £450 million initiative comes as part of the Heat and Buildings Strategy that offers a £6,000 reduction of the supply and installation of a ground source (£5000 for air source) heat pump for property owners in England and Wales.

Heat Pump Disadvantages

Initial Unit Cost

Heat pumps demand a very high initial purchase price with some units costing upwards of £45,000! This can negate the idea of savings offered by installing a heat pump for many people, as not too many homeowners have a spare forty grand lying around.

Difficulties With Installation

Lot’s of initial and potentially delaying assessment must be made on an installation site before work can begin, including as going as specific as local geology assessments.

Planning Permission

Some heat pump installations actually require planning permission in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, whereas in England it can be dependent on the size and location of the property.

Cold Weather Performance

Some heat pumps experience issues in functionality in cold locations, meaning their reported efficiency will be compromised.

Not Entirely Carbon Neutral

Despite being reliant upon electricity to function, heat pumps are not totally carbon neutral, this is because the process of generating electricity actually can be quite a carbon intensive task.

Not Every Property Is Suited For Heat Pumps

Some properties don’t have sufficient insulation to be an ideal heat pump location. Without considerable insulation, the heat generated from a pump would be lost. Loft and cavity wall insulation can bump up the cost of a heat pump installation considerably.

Require Expensive Running Fuel

Heat pumps run on electricity, and while this is efficient and releases less emissions, electricity is the most expensive type of fuel on the market and can cost up to three times the price of gas (one of the most affordable fuel types).

Verdict

While there is no doubt, in the right environment, heat pumps can be a fantastic addition to any home, it is the potential negatives of utilising such systems that may be the deciding factor for many homeowners. 

Primary concern would be directed at the very costly unit price of most heat pumps, even with the idea of energy saving, the unit price would be enough to put many would be buyers off.

Getting A New Boiler With iHeat

At iHeat we stock a massive range of sleek new combi and system boilers, designed to save space and perform at the highest level. With sizes to fit any property, now might be the perfect time to replace an old boiler and upgrade to an efficient combi or powerful system.

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