Insulation & Energy Efficiency
Good insulation helps a home hold on to heat.
Learn more about Insulation & Energy Efficiency
Air-source heat pumps
Air-source heat pumps for your home
An air-source heat pump is a low-carbon way to heat your home and hot water. We’ll help you explore whether one could suit your property and what funding routes may be worth looking at.
Free, no-obligation enquiry. Funding and eligibility depend on scheme rules and your circumstances.
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What is an air-source heat pump?
An air-source heat pump takes heat from the outside air, even when it is cold, and uses it to heat your home and hot water. It works a little like a fridge in reverse and runs on electricity rather than burning gas or oil.
A typical system has an outdoor unit, a hot water cylinder and connections to your radiators or underfloor heating. Because heat pumps usually run at lower flow temperatures than a traditional boiler, the rest of the heating system and the building itself matter a great deal.
When assessing a property, installers will normally look at its insulation, the size and type of your radiators, and your hot water setup, as these all affect how well a heat pump can perform.
Warm Homes Marketplace is a marketplace, not an installer. We connect suitable enquiries with experienced installation partners.
Potential benefits
Potential benefits
Every home and household is different, so the benefits you see will depend on your circumstances.
Lower-carbon heating
Heat pumps run on electricity and may help reduce the carbon emissions from heating your home, particularly as the grid gets greener.
Efficient use of energy
A heat pump can deliver more units of heat than the electricity it uses, which could help keep running costs in check.
Steady, comfortable warmth
Heat pumps typically provide a consistent level of heat and can also heat your hot water.
Pairs well with solar
If you have or are considering solar PV, some of the electricity for your heat pump may come from your own panels.
Is a heat pump suitable for my home?
Every home is different. These are the kinds of things normally considered when assessing a property for a heat pump:
- How well insulated the property is
- The size and type of your existing radiators
- Your hot water setup and whether a cylinder can be fitted
- Space outside for the heat pump unit
- Your current heating system and how it is used
- Your electrical supply and consumer unit
Not sure? You don’t need to know the answers. Tell us about your property and we’ll help you understand your options.
Funding
Funding towards a heat pump may be available in some circumstances, depending on the rules of the relevant scheme and your household. Our funding page explains the kinds of things that are usually taken into account.
Please note: Funding and eligibility depend on the rules of the relevant scheme and your individual circumstances. Submitting an enquiry does not guarantee funding, eligibility or installation.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Air-source heat pumps are designed to work in UK winter temperatures, although how well a system performs depends on the property and how the system is designed and installed.
Not always. Some homes can keep their existing radiators, while others may need larger ones or improvements to insulation. This would be assessed as part of a survey.
Most heat pump systems use a hot water cylinder. If you currently have a combi boiler, space for a cylinder is one of the things an installer would look at.
Good insulation helps a heat pump work efficiently, so improvements to insulation are sometimes recommended first. Read more about insulation.
Related services
You may also be interested in
Heating Upgrades
Boiler replacements, electric heating upgrades and better heating controls can all help make a home more comfortable and efficient.
Learn more about Heating UpgradesFind out what’s possible for your home
Tell us a little about your property and we’ll help you explore the options and potential funding routes. It’s free and there’s no obligation.
Check Your Options