Baxi heat pump delivers reliable quiet comfort and major cost savings for West Cork family home
When the oil boiler failed at Fabian’s detached home in West Cork, Ireland, replacing it with a like-for-like boiler might have seemed the obvious choice. Instead, he opted for a Baxi air source heat pump (ASHP), transforming an unexpected breakdown into a future-ready upgrade. The installation has resulted in substantial running cost savings and an improved home energy rating, all the while delivering consistent comfort and exceptionally quiet operation.
From boiler breakdown to informed decision
When the existing oil boiler broke down and was deemed beyond repair, Fabian was prompted to reconsider how his home was heated, weighing up a like-for-like replacement against alternative technologies.
The 263 m² property in Skibbereen, West Cork, built in 2007 and home to five people, already had strong fundamentals for electrification. A pre-works Building Energy Rating (BER) assessment confirmed a rating of B3 - equivalent to a high Band C or low Band B UK Energy Performance Rating (EPC) - and a heat loss indicator of 2.12. This indicated that the property was well suited to a heat pump without major fabric upgrades. The house already had solar thermal for hot water and solar PV installed, further strengthening the case for moving from oil to an efficient electric heating system.
Rising oil costs and the availability of strong grant support were further incentives to move away from oil and invest in a heat pump system designed to deliver long term efficiency and comfort.
Fabian said: “When we looked at the options, installing a heat pump seemed like the better long-term choice from a running cost point of view. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) grant of €12,500 (around £10, 800) was a huge incentive and made the decision much easier.”
A tailored Baxi solution for real world retrofit
Working with Kevin Crowley from Greenlight Solutions, Baxi provided full system design support on the project, specifying a Baxi HP60 ASHP tailored for the property.
The system was designed to retain the home’s existing steel radiators, reducing disruption and avoiding unnecessary replacement costs. The system integrates with the existing solar thermal system via a third-party cylinder, ensuring a practical, efficient retrofit solution without unnecessary complexity.
As with many existing homes, finding a suitable location for the outdoor heat pump unit was an important consideration. One of the key advantages of the Baxi HP60 unit is its compact landscape design which allowed greater siting flexibility at Fabian’s property, enabling installation beneath the window.
Cost savings and improved comfort
Since installation, Fabian has experienced an immediate improvement in how the home feels.
“The house feels more consistently warm throughout the day now and, overall, the comfort levels have been very good,” Fabian continued. “The outdoor unit is also very quiet. We don’t really notice it running.”
Early performance data has reinforced the positive experience. Over two winter months, the home required approximately 4,850 kWh of heat for around €330 (£285) in electricity costs1, compared to €849 (£733) using oil at current prices2, or approximately €478 (£413) when prices were lower.
This means the heat pump is around three times cheaper to run than oil at today’s prices and still around 40% cheaper even when oil prices were lower3.
The presence of solar PV has further strengthened performance, as Fabian noted:
“We also have solar PV at the property, so having a heating system that runs on electricity works very well for us and is an added bonus,” he said. “Based on what we can see so far, it should be cheaper to run than our previous oil heating.”
The upgrade had been expected to improve the home’s BER rating from B3 to a projected A3 (UK EPC Band A/B), reducing carbon emissions by 6.7 tonnes per year4. However, with the inclusion of the PV array, the official BER certification has raised the rating to an impressive A1 (high-end UK EPC Band A).
Installer confidence built into the process
From an installer’s perspective, the project highlighted the practical value of Baxi’s approach to system design and support.
Kevin Crowley, Greenlight Solutions, said: “What really stood out from the beginning was the level of support from Baxi on the design side. Having Baxi take care of the heat loss calculations, system sizing and radiator selection is huge. That kind of heavy lifting is pure gold when you’re installing a heat pump and want confidence that everything is right from the start.”
That early design support helped ensure a practical, streamlined installation.
“The wiring layout and internal space are excellent, making setup simple but still flexible depending on how complex you want the system to be,” Kevin added.
The flexibility and usability of the controller also stood out.
Kevin said: “You can run a very simple system or build in zoning and more complex setups without needing extra accessories, which saves time and cost on install. From a user point of view, it also gives clear visibility of performance like COP.”
Assisted commissioning support from Baxi provided reassurance on the first installation while still allowing installer ownership.
“Having that backup on the first install gives you confidence,” Kevin added, “while still allowing you to take ownership of commissioning going forward.”
The unit’s physical design proved particularly valuable in a retrofit scenario, as Kevin noted:
“Being able to fit a high-output heat pump under a window sill opens up far more options for retrofit homes, which is a big advantage.”
Kevin has since ordered another Baxi HP60 unit, reflecting confidence built through design support, installation experience and system performance.
A future focused outcome
For Fabian and his family, what started as a failed oil boiler has resulted in a long-term upgrade in comfort and efficiency with the Baxi HP60 ASHP delivering clear and measurable results. Quiet operation, consistent comfort, significantly lower running costs and a major improvement in home energy performance have turned a necessary replacement into a future focused upgrade.
Fabian concluded: “We are delighted with the heat pump and very happy with the decision to make the switch.”
Baxi Air Source Heat Pump
Baxi HP60 High Temperature Monobloc Air Source Heat Pump
1 Electricity pricing based on homeowner tariff (Electric Ireland – SmartSaver Standard)
2 Oil pricing based on average costs from oilprices.ie (Feb–April 2026)
3 Annual savings projected from two months of measured data (Feb–March 2026)
4 Emissions savings based on pre- and post-works BER
Homeowner benefits:
• Consistent, all-day comfort throughout the home
• Near-silent operation outdoors
• No major disruption during installation
• Up to 65% lower heating costs versus oil
• A-rated home with significantly lower emissions
Installer benefits
• Full design support – heat loss, sizing and system design handled
• Flexible installation – compact unit fits easily in retrofit settings
• Fast, straightforward setup – intuitive wiring and layout
• Assisted commissioning – support on first install builds confidence
• Strong real-world performance – consistent output and high efficiency