Would a heat pump work for your home?

Home heating makes up 13-14% of the UK's carbon emissions. Heat pumps are a cleaner alternative to gas boilers, and likely to form an integral part of a low-carbon future. But would one work for your home? 

As we gradually transition away from using gas for heating homes, many more of us should, and will, be using heat pumps in future. And many are making the switch already. 

But whether or not a heat pump would heat your home effectively will depend on how your property is set up. It might be that you'd need to make other home improvements first, before a heat pump would be worthwhile. 

Read on to find out what type of home is best suited to a heat pump, what home adaptations you might need to make, and what financial help is available. 

And, if you're not in a position to switch a heat pump right away, read on to find out what you can do to prepare your home in the meantime. 

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Is a heat pump right for my home?

Heat pumps absorb heat from the air outside your home and use it to increase the temperature inside your home. By installing a heat pump, you'll be reducing your carbon footprint and switching to a more efficient way of heating your home. 

Heat pumps can work in all types of homes, subject to space requirements both inside and outside. Whether or not a heat pump would work for your specific home right now depends on a few factors. 

• Insulation: Heat pumps work most effectively in homes that are well-insulated. The better-insulated your home, the more efficient the heat pump will be. This is because heat pumps are designed to keep rooms at a steady temperature, rather than to deliver short bursts of heat, like a gas boiler. If your home is draughty, you should address your insulation issues first. 
• Radiators: Heat pumps work best with large radiators. Before having a heat pump installed, you should get an assessment to see if if your radiators need to be updated.
• Outside space: You'll need space in your garden for an external condenser unit (roughly 1m x 1m x 2m, plus a meter fringe around for air flow). Inside, it takes up about the same space as a fridge freezer. The closer you can place this to the outside, the better. Plans to make heat pumps more compact are also underway.
• Planning rules: In most cases, you won't need planning permission. But there are certain circumstances in which you might need to seek planning permission from your Local Planning Authority (LPA). This applies if your intended heat pump location is within 1 metre of your property boundary; your heat pump doesn't pass a noise assessment; other fan units, such as another heat pump, already exist at the property; your property is located within a World Heritage Site or conservation area or is a Listed Building. 

Individual heat pump providers may stipulate additional requirements. For example, Octopus Energy says that for the moment it is focusing on homes with a floor plan smaller than 200sqm, built after the 1930s. Solutions for more challenging properties such as flats or very large properties with high heat loss are being developed. 

Depending on the age of your property, you may also need an asbestos check before the heat pump installer can begin. 

And, if you're worried about the aesthetics, you can buy covers for air source heat pumps to make it look much more attractive. 

Heat pump myths

There are a few common misconceptions about heat pumps. Firstly, don't be put off by their noise levels. The reality is that there are strict rules about how noisy heat pumps can be, which is no louder than a typical fridge freezer or gas boiler. So they shouldn't be a problem for you or your neighbours. 

You also don't need to be swayed by the myth that heat pumps don't work during very cold weather. The Energy Saving Trust explains that, although 'the efficiency of an air source heat pump will gradually reduce as the outside air temperature falls [...] they are still capable of extracting heat from the air when temperatures are as low as -15°C'. 

Some of the countries with the most successful heat pump roll outs so far are in Scandinavia and other parts of Northern Europe with bitterly cold winter weather.

The government has developed an online tool which you can use to check if a heat pump is a suitable choice for your home. 

Already know you want a heat pump? Find a Trusted Trader heat pump installer. 

What can you do to prepare your home for a heat pump in future?

If you're not in a position to get a heat pump yet, there are things you can do to prepare yourself and your home. 

1. Find out how much a heat pump costs

A heat pump might be a lot cheaper than you think. The government is currently offering  grants (one per property) of £7,500 towards an air-source heat pump (the most common type in the UK) or a ground source heat pump.

As the grant increased in October, the government advises that: 'If you applied before 23 October, and your installer has not fitted your new heat pump yet, talk to them about cancelling your grant and reapplying to get the increased amount'.

Find out more: about the boiler upgrade scheme (BUS) and how installing and running a heat pump could be a lot cheaper than you think.

2. Improve your home's insulation

UK homes are the least efficient in Europe, according to the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). Millions of our homes are leaking both energy and money. Heat pumps aside, better insulation will make your home more comfortable and help you save on energy bills. 

Changes to consider include:

• Installing loft or cavity wall insulation. We explain how to insulate your loft, with advice from Which? Trusted Traders.
• Installing double glazing
• Draught-proofing windows and doors to stop heat escaping
• Adding rugs, carpets and curtains to prevent draughts

If you're unsure how well-insulated your home is, you can get an insulation survey from a trained assessor. 

Find out more about how to draught-proof your home

If you're not ready for a heat pump and need a new boiler, make sure you buy a reliable one. Discover the best gas and oil boiler brands.