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Installing an air source heat pump in an older property can cost up to £20,000, with some homeowners quoting £30,000.They may also be less efficient in cold weather and also make more noise.
Heating experts are pouring cold water on Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s plans to replace 25 million gas-fired boilers across the country as part of his “net zero” climate change plan.
Our households are responsible for 40% of the UK’s carbon emissions, and switching to electric air source heat pumps could help move away from fossil fuels like natural gas, green campaigners are arguing.
Andrew Pinder, founder of Pinder Cooling and Heating, says air source heat pumps will reduce carbon emissions but are being pushed on us at a time when every penny counts.
“They’re very expensive to install in older properties, and that’s a cost that no one needs at the moment,” he said.
Pinder also warns that heat pumps are less efficient in very cold weather and take time to heat a home to the desired temperature.
The pump is far from attractive, he said, and the noise can be endless.”Condensing units on the side of people’s houses and fans that are constantly running and making a lot of noise are not really an experience to enjoy.”
“These systems are designed to run continuously, so to reach and maintain the desired temperature, you can expect to hear these fans throughout the day,” Pinder added.
The technology works better in new buildings, but most of us don’t live in them.”Those who might benefit from installing an air source heat pump are few and far between. They’re just not suitable for retrofitting existing properties,” he said.
The government has offered a £5,000 grant to encourage conversions under a £450m boiler upgrade scheme, but Pinder warns it won’t be enough.”Without further grants or financial support, people will not be able to carry out the necessary installations.”
Glow Group heating engineer director Jack McGovern said the government should focus heat pump efforts on new build properties.”The cost for an existing homeowner could be anywhere from £10,000 to £14,000. If you pay less, I would be concerned about the quality of the installation, possible running costs and the longevity of the equipment.”
Heat pumps are available for some homes, McGovern said, but warned against a race to install them in millions of older homes.”We need a bespoke approach. There is no one size fits all.”
Mike Foster, chief executive of the Energy and Utilities Alliance, is also skeptical.”Some of the options presented for net-zero housing involve a dizzying amount of money that, frankly, people don’t have.”
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Faisal Hussain, managing director of QA Scheme Support Services and chief executive of HIES Consumer Code, said installation costs were high as radiators often needed to be replaced.”Heat pumps operate at lower temperatures, so larger radiators are required.”
“Microporous” pipes may also need to be replaced because they are too narrow, adding to the cost, he said.”Finally, the hot water tank also needs to be replaced, as heat pumps require a specific type of hot water tank.”
He said heat pumps had been tried and tested in Europe for years, including in many commercial buildings in the UK.
They can work from the right home, but there are too many exceptions.”Some can’t work because the house is too old or doesn’t have enough insulation, or because the people who live there need it to be super warm.”
Plans to cut gas-fired boilers have drawn outrage, but there is no easy solution in the fight to reduce household greenhouse gas emissions.
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