Heat pumps are becoming the hot choice for homeowners looking to upgrade their home heating system.
They are a great alternative to gas boilers, which could be banned within the next decade or so.
The UK Government initially planned to ban the installation of gas boilers in new builds by 2025 and ban the sale of gas boilers to existing homes by 2030. The decision was then reversed in September 2023.
Instead, the government now aims to phase out 80% of the UK’s gas boilers by 2035. If your gas boiler is coming to the end of its life, then you should consider looking at an alternative heating system such as a heat pump.
Read on to find out more about why heat pumps are a popular choice to replace gas boilers.
What is a Heat Pump?
Heat pumps are one of the most effective and cost efficient heating sources to date. They are a great way to reduce not only your energy bills, but also your carbon footprint.
They work by taking heat from the ground or the air that surrounds a building and increasing its temperature to heat it. However, they can also be reversed to remove heat from the building to keep them cool instead.
They are a great low carbon alternative to heating your home. Unlike gas boilers, they run on electricity, so they can be powered by renewable energy from solar panels.
They aren’t new technology either with the first model of a working heat pump dating back to the 1800s.
What Types of Heat Pumps Are There?
There are two main types of heat pumps used in homes, air source and ground source heat pumps.
Air source heat pumps are the most common type of domestic heat pumps in the UK. They are suitable for most types of homes and are relatively small and cheap to install compared to other types.
Ground source pumps on the other hand are more pricey and difficult to install. They require more space as pipes need to be installed below the ground so may not be suitable for all homes. That being said, they are more efficient and may be a better option for those living in areas that experience extreme cold weather.
Why Are Heat Pumps a Popular Choice for Replacing Gas Boilers?
There are many reasons why heat pumps are a popular choice to replace gas boilers. Firstly, they are a highly efficient heating source.
Heat pumps are more efficient than other heating systems, producing around three times more energy than they take in. To put it in comparison, your typical modern gas boiler runs at around 90% efficiency. Heat pumps on the other hand run at around 300% efficiency.
They also have a wide range of other benefits over gas boilers. Heat pumps can last around 20 years. This is longer than a gas boiler which typically lasts around 10 to 15 years.
They are a low carbon way of heating your home as they rely on electricity rather than gas to run. So, if you are looking to reduce your carbon footprint this is a good option.
While heat pumps can be expensive, there are currently free government grants that you can take advantage of to help you with their installation.
Looking to Upgrade to a Heat Pump?
At Homeshield Scotland, we have been providing homeowners with ways to make their homes more energy efficient.
We have been successful in helping our customers through the process of applying for free government funding from Home Energy Scotland who are funded by the Scottish Government.
You could be eligible for up to £9,000 in free government funding to help towards the installation of a clean heating system such as a heat pump as well as other energy efficient measures.
Check your eligibility and read more about the funding here to start your journey to a warmer, cheaper and greener future today!
