What‌ ‌Does‌ ‌an‌ ‌Air‌ ‌Source‌ ‌Heat‌ ‌Pump‌ ‌Cost?

Why is it difficult to obtain an accurate idea of how much an Air Source Heat Pump Costs? Well, we will dive into the reasons as to why, and give you an idea of what to expect.

So firstly, what is an Air Source Heat Pump?

An Air Source Heat Pump is a renewable heat source that provides full central heating and hot water to both domestic and commercial properties. Also known as Air to Water, an Air Source Heat Pump can be up to 5 times more efficient that a conventional heating system – This is measured and known as a COP efficiency (coefficient of Performance). An Air Source Heat Pump works just like a standard heating system in the way that it will heat your radiators and provide hot water while being all thermostatically controlled and timed to your preference.

Will my home be suitable for an Air Source Heat Pump?
Like all things, we must make sure it is right for us but more importantly when it comes to energy saving, is it right for the property!

The consensus is that the better insulated and the more energy efficient your home is, the better the Air Source Heat Pump will perform. While although this is true, its not as simple as that, and so I will explain why older properties are just as suitable.

When comparing properties, the current fuel system is also relevant and should be taken into consideration. Whether you have an oil boiler or an Air Source Heat Pump, they will both be heating an inefficient home. So yes, the running costs of an Air Source will be higher for the older inefficient property in comparison to the newer more efficient property, however the running costs of the already present heating system will also be more expensive.

So, what does this mean?

It means that although the initial cost can be larger for an older property in comparison to a newer property, the % of savings on your bills remain the same. So, although you may have a higher purchase price you will also have higher savings.

Here is an Example.

As you can see, the running cost increased from £350 per year on the Newer property to £700 per year on the older property because of the lower insulation qualities which in turn required a larger unit to deliver the same heat as the newer property did with a smaller unit.

So how can I find out the cost for my house?

Because every house is different it is extremely hard to obtain a figure over an email or a phone call. As you have seen from the examples above, things like insulation, house construction, windows, fuel source, property size, internal room sizes and age of home – to mention a few, have a big impact on the size of heat pump required.

Once you have managed to calculate the size required, then it becomes about building the system design internally. Are the existing radiators big enough for the room to achieve the desired room temperature? How is the hot water being delivered? Combi boiler or hot water tank? Is that compatible? Where can the unit go outside? Does it require pipe runs? And so on.

So, it is always advised to get to get a survey carried out because there is no way to estimate without the knowledge of the property. As you can see from the example above, same house with only the wall insulation that is different, can have a difference of 3KW in the unit size alone and thousands of pounds of a difference in the installation’s costs too.

Most surveys are free of charge and will give you a full breakdown of costs, savings, and any government incentives.