When it comes to energy efficiency, heat pumps have much to offer. But preconceptions abound. As thousands mull switching from gas and oil, we cosy up with the facts
August 5, 2024
When it comes to energy efficiency, heat pumps have much to offer. But preconceptions abound. As thousands mull switching from gas and oil, we cosy up with the facts
Not only can Max Waddingham tell you a lot about heat pumps – but his children can too. “I’ve bored them to tears. I love talking about it,” he laughs. Dispelling myths about the tech is one of his favourite topics: “I just love to put those to rest.”
Waddingham is well placed to do so. As operations director at energy company Good Energy, he oversees teams that look after heat pump surveys, designs and installations. He’s also the proud owner of a heat pump himself, installed 18 months ago.
So, we challenged him to answer 10 of the most common questions about the tech.
1. Are heat pumps more expensive to run than oil or gas?
“My running costs are cheaper than my boiler,” says Waddingham. The problem, he says, is people conflating the cost of the pump with other home upgrades such as pipework and insulation. “If I needed a new pump now, I wouldn’t have to do all of that again,” he explains. And, once running with an efficient set-up, they can even cut your bills. “You can absolutely save money against gas,” he says.
2. Do I need to insulate my house before installing one?
“We always recommend insulation but I would recommend everyone gets insulation if they have a boiler or are heating their house with an electric heater,” answers Waddingham.
“The more you spend on insulation, the less you’re spending on heating. That said, if you could heat a house with a boiler, you can heat it with a heat pump.”
3. Are they less energy efficient than other heating methods?
The first thing to get your head around is that heat pumps are more than 100% efficient. “We often get asked how that’s possible,” says Waddingham.
It’s helpful to think of modern gas boilers: 92% of the fuel burned goes to providing heat, but 8% is lost – meaning they’re 92% efficient. Heat pumps do need electricity to run, but this unlocks heat that already exists.
“You get that energy back as heat, but you also get all the free energy from the air,” he explains. “A heat pump is far and away the most efficient heating method.” A typical air source heat pump is about 400% efficient: you get back four times what you put in.
Max Waddingham, Good Energy’s head of operations and self-confessed heat pump geek
4. Are heat pumps noisy?
“I had a friend who’d never actually seen a heat pump and he asked that question, while we were stood outside, right next to the heat pump,” laughs Waddingham. “I said: ‘Well you tell me, because it’s running’.”
The air source heat pumps installed by Good Energy create a maximum output of 45 decibels, similar to that of a typical fridge.
While the idea of using heat pumps in our homes might feel new, they were actually invented before the gas boiler
5. This technology is new and untested, isn’t it?
“I love this one,” says Waddingham. “I guarantee that anyone who asks this question already has a heat pump in their house: a fridge. It’s exactly the same. The only difference is that it’s pumping the heat from your sausage rolls to the pins at the back, which get warm. Basically, that’s a sausage roll source heat pump.”
While the idea of using heat pumps in our homes might feel new, they were actually invented before the gas boiler.
6. Are heat pumps powerful enough to heat my house in winter?
Heat pumps work using specialist liquids called refrigerants. While it might feel cold to us outside, they produce heat at temperatures well below freezing. They’re even used in homes as far north as the Arctic Circle.
Certified installers will also carry out a heat-loss calculation, taking into account the average outdoor temperatures and how you expect to heat your home. “It’s much more in- depth than anyone would ever do with a boiler,” Waddingham notes.
7. Do they require planning permission?
In many cases, there’s no need to apply for planning permission to install a heat pump, and certified installers will be able to advise you on the process.
Typically, you’ll only need permission if the unit is bigger than 0.6 cubic metres, if you already have a heat pump, or if it’s proposed to be within a metre of the property boundary.
An outside spot equivalent to the space a bike leaning against a wall would occupy is usually sufficient for a heat pump, says Waddingham
8. Will a heat pump work with my current central heating system?
While some owners might want to use the opportunity to upgrade the efficiency of their heating, Waddingham stresses that it isn’t always necessary. He adds: “If you’ve got the standard heating system, generally speaking, you’ll find you have to do very little in the way of pipe upgrades to your house.”
9. Can I get government funding towards installing one?
Currently, the UK government offers grants of £7,500 to properties upgrading to an air source or ground source heat pump. You’re also able to claim the grant if you’re self-building your own property.
10. Do heat pumps take up more space than a gas boiler?
When it comes to finding space for a heat pump, Waddingham says you’ll generally want an outside spot that’s equivalent to the space a bike leaning against a wall would occupy.
He adds: “The key thing with a heat pump is that it goes outside. So, it might take up space, but it’s not in your actual house. Generally speaking, you get a cupboard back, or wherever your boiler is.”
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