Thinking about replacing your boiler with an air source heat pump? Here are some key considerations
Choosing between an air source heat pump (ASHP) or a new boiler depends on your unique circumstances and the characteristics of your property.
There’s also your long-term energy-saving aspirations to bear in mind and, of course, your budget.
At Baxi, we’re here to help you make the right decision for you and your household when looking at a new heating system.
Read on for more about:
Comparing boiler and heat pump efficiency
The costs associated with a heat pump versus a boiler
Whether a boiler or heat pump is better suited for your home
Installation and long-term planning for boilers and heat pumps
Using a boiler and heat pump together
Boiler or heat pump: which is more efficient?
Modern boilers, like the ones we install here at Baxi, are designed to be energy efficient. You can use a boiler’s Energy Performance Certificate rating (EPC) to get an idea of just how efficient it is on a scale from A (extremely efficient) to G (least efficient) and for heat pumps, the Seasonal Coefficient of Performance score is a good metric to understand how efficient it will be throughout the course of a given year.
A heat pump is generally around 2.5 to 3.5 times more efficient than a traditional gas boiler, in many cases operating between 300% - 400% efficiency. By comparison, boilers with an EPC rating of A typically operate at about 93-94% efficiency.
Because heat pumps use ambient heat that is already present in the air rather than fossil fuels, you can save on your energy usage while still having your home at a comfortable temperature.
Boiler or heat pump: what are the costs?
The overall cost of either a boiler or an ASHP will vary according to specific aspects, including but certainly not limited to:
Your average energy use
Your existing pipework
The make and model of the boiler or heat pump
How well-insulated your home is
For heat pumps, certain modifications to your heating system may be needed to make it suitable for the lower temperatures that a heat pump works at, which may lead to a higher installation cost. That said, ASHPs use less energy than a traditional boiler setup, meaning that the long-term running costs of the former are often less. You may also be eligible to receive funding from the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
