28/09/2023
Latest News
Prime minister Rishi Sunak has announced the grant for replacing gas boilers with heat pumps will increase to £7,500 in a major speech on green policies.
He said: "The Boiler upgrade scheme https://www.gov.uk/apply-boiler-upgrade-scheme which gives people cash grants to upgrade their boiler will be increased by 50% to £7,500.
"There are no strings attached. The money will never need to be repaid."
An expected ban on gas boilers in 2035 has also been postponed.
He added that the government will not force anyone to replace a gas boiler with a heat pump, and households will only be required to switch over when they are due to change their boiler anyway.
Most homes use boilers for their heating that mainly rely on gas.
One alternative is heat pumps, which provide a greener way to heat your home - and at a lower cost too.
But they have historically been expensive to purchase and install, costing between £5,000 and £10,000.
In total, the scheme is expected to pay for 90,000 installations and will run until the end of March 2025.
Heat pumps work like a fridge in reverse.
They take in heat from the air outside, even when it is cold, and use it to warm a liquid refrigerant to turn it into a gas.
This is then compressed and transferred to a central heating system to warm radiators.
They heat your home at a lower temperature than gas and oil boilers, which could reduce your energy bills at a time when they are reaching record highs.
What is a heat pump?
An air source heat pump, sometimes referred to as an air-to-water source heat pump, transfers heat from the outside air to water, which heats your rooms via radiators or underfloor heating. It can also heat water stored in a hot water cylinder for your hot taps, showers and baths.
Heat from the air is absorbed into a fluid. This fluid then passes through a heat exchanger into the heat pump, which raises the temperature and then transfers that heat to water.
For further information on how a heat pump works, including details on typical savings, system design and control, in depth guide to heat pumps.
Please use link below to the Energy savings trust for more details –
https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/advice/air-source-heat-pumps/ #:~:text=An%20air%20source%20heat%20pump%2C%20sometimes%20referred%20to%20as%20an,hot%20taps%2C%20showers%20and%20baths.
Is an air source heat pump right for me?
Air source heat pumps are suitable for many types of homes and are the most common type of domestic heat pump, with tens of thousands of installations across the UK. However, there are a few things you should consider before deciding whether a heat pump is right for you.
How much does an air source heat pump cost?
The cost of an air source heat pump varies depending on the size of heat pump, the size of the property, whether it’s a newbuild or an existing property, as well as whether you need to change the way you distribute heat around your property. Typical costs are around £14,000, and we recommend speaking to at least three installers to provide a quote for your heat pump system to give you the best idea of likely costs for your home.
Will a heat pump save me money on my energy bill?
Running costs will depend on how your heat pump is designed and how it is operated. Savings on your energy bill will also depend on the system you are replacing.
You can see potential annual savings of installing a standard air source heat pump, including any recommended radiator upgrades, in an average sized, four-bedroom detached home, below.
For more information, please see the in-depth guide to find out how to get the most out of your heat pump and maximise your savings.
How can you apply for a heat pump grant?
You will need to find an MCS-certified installer to claim the grant on your behalf.
MCS is the certification scheme for energy-efficiency product installers.
As an MCS-certified installer we will apply for the grant and you will then be contacted by Ofgem, the energy regulator, to confirm that the work is being done on your behalf.
You will need to pay the difference if the pump costs more than the grant.
The latest increase to the grant could mean that you need to cover less of the cost, or nothing at all if it covers the full amount.
The scheme is open to households in England and Wales until 2025.
Your property will need to have enough power to support an installation capacity of 45kWth or kilowatt thermal, which covers most homes.
Additionally, your home will also need a valid energy performance certificate with no outstanding recommendations for loft or cavity wall insulation, unless you are exempt.
There are two types of air-source heat pumps, air-to-water systems and air-to-air systems.
Unlike gas boilers, heat pumps work on electricity and need less energy to operate.
This means lower emissions and hopefully cheaper bills as you won't be using as much energy.
Typically for every one unit of heat in, you get three out, according to the ECIU.
Air source heat pumps extract heat from the air to heat your home and hot water. They can extract heat from temperatures as low as -15°C.
