Heat pumps: Why you should consider them and when not to
A heat pump extracts warmth from the outside air or ground and uses it to heat your home, even in cold weather. Done properly, it is more efficient than a gas boiler, produces far less carbon, and delivers a steady comfortable heat.
Why consider a heat pump?
Heating accounts for the largest share of most homes' energy use and carbon emissions. Switching from a gas or oil boiler to a heat pump is one of the most significant changes a homeowner can make.
Beyond lower bills and reduced carbon, many homeowners find heat pumps are simply more comfortable to live with. Unlike a boiler, which cycles on and off, a heat pump delivers a steady, consistent temperature throughout the day. Many people find this warmth preferable once they have experienced it.
A well-designed heat pump can work in most homes. The better insulated your home is, the more efficiently it will run and the more you will save on bills. Improving insulation first often means a smaller, cheaper system and lower running costs.
Types of heat pump
There are three main options, each suited to different homes and situations.
Air-to-water vs air-to-air: what is the difference?
Air-to-water heat pumps are the most common choice in the UK, particularly where an existing radiator system is already in place. They replace your boiler and connect to your existing radiators or underfloor heating, and they heat your hot water too.
Air-to-air heat pumps work differently. Rather than heating water and pushing it through radiators, they heat rooms directly through indoor wall units, similar in principle to an air conditioning system but designed primarily to heat. They are widely used across Europe and are well suited to flats, homes on storage heaters, or properties without existing pipework. Installation is typically simpler and cheaper, as there is no need for radiator upgrades, pipework changes, or a hot water cylinder. They also provide cooling in summer.
The main trade-off is that air-to-air systems will not heat your water, so you will need a separate solution for that, such as an immersion heater or a dedicated hot water heat pump.
What to be aware of
A heat pump is not a like-for-like boiler replacement. It works differently, and some homes benefit from other improvements first.
Because heat pumps run at lower flow temperatures than boilers, they need more surface area to emit heat effectively. This may mean larger radiators or underfloor heating. The better your home retains heat, the less the system has to work and the lower your running costs will be.
Your electricity tariff matters too. Heat pumps use more electricity than a boiler uses gas, so your electricity bills will rise even as your gas bill disappears. The overall running cost depends on your tariff, your insulation levels, and how well the system has been designed.
How Furbnow approaches heat pumps
We do not start with the heat pump. We start with your home. Our whole-house survey assesses whether your home is ready for a heat pump and which other improvements would support it. If a heat pump is the right fit, we design the full system, including any insulation or radiator upgrades, so everything works together from the start.
Start with your home, not the heat pump
A Furbnow Home Energy Plan tells you whether a heat pump is right for your home, what size system you need, and what other changes would help it run at its best.
Frequently asked questions
Is my home suitable for a heat pump?
Will a heat pump keep my home as warm as a boiler?
How much does a heat pump cost?
Are heat pumps noisy?
Do I need to insulate before installing a heat pump?
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