Find out more about Heat Pumps

The West Midlands has an ambition to be Net Zero by 2041, 9 years ahead of the UK governments target of 2050. Achieving Net Zero means creating a balance between the carbon we emit into the atmosphere, and the carbon removed from it. Carbon emissions are one of the main contributors to climate change.

One of the ways we can achieve net zero is to change how we heat our homes from gas to electricity, as this is a greener solution. Electricity has lower carbon emissions, as renewable energy sources can be used to generate the electricity we use.

Watch the video below on Chris and Harriets home retrofit and the benefits this has bought to their family home in Bournville, Birmingham. 

Heat pumps are the most efficient way to generate heat from electricity.

• Check if a heat pump is suitable for your home.

There are two main types of heat pumps; air source and ground source, which are described below.

Air Source Heat Pumps

Air source heat pumps take warmth from the air outside (even during winter) and use it to heat your home and water. As a heat pump captures heat that is already present in the environment, they do not burn any fuel and emit no carbon dioxide. There are two types;

Air-to-water – are the most obvious replacement for a gas boiler, as they can circulate heat through a wet central heating system, including radiators and/or underfloor heating, and produce hot water too.

Air-to-air – deliver heat through a fan or warm air circulation system, but these do not produce hot water, so you will need a separate system for water heating.

Is an air source heat pump right for me?

Air source heat pumps are suitable for many types of homes, with tens of thousands of installations across the UK. However, there are a few things you should consider to see if they are right for you;

How much do they cost to install?
The Energy Saving Trust estimates typical costs are around £7,000 to £13,000.

The costs depend on the size of the heat pump you need, the size of the property, as well a whether you need to change the way you distribute heat around your property.

You’ll also need to allow for the cost of any extra work you may need to have, such as upgrading your radiators, or installing a hot water tank. You might also need extra insulation to ensure the heat pump is working efficiently.

You should source three quotes from installers before deciding. We have created a guidance document of questions you can ask the installers to ensure you are making the right decision for your property.

The government currently have grants of up to £5,000 to help towards the cost of an air source heat pump. The grants are available from April 2022-25 and you can find out more about these grants and how to apply.

Will they save me money on my energy bill?

Heat pumps run on electricity, but exactly how much energy they use depends on;

• size of your home
• how well insulated your home is
• how warm you want your home to be

The Energy Saving Trusts estimated in April 2022, that for an average-sized, four-bedroom detached home, replacing an old (G-rated) gas boiler could save £910 annually, and a saving of £1,900 if replacing old electric storage heaters.

However, if you were to replace a newer (A-rated) gas boiler, an air-source heat pump could be more expensive for you to run and you may see an annual bill increase of £115.

How do they work?

They are designed to heat to low temperatures over a long period of time, rather than quickly providing heat when turned on. This can get some getting used to, as they operate differently from other forms of heating.

Act on Energy have a handy leaflet to help you make the most of your air source heat pump, by explaining how to use them, through to what to do when you’re away on holiday.

Sources: An introduction to heat pumps – Which?, Air source heat pumps – Energy Saving Trust.

Ground Source Heat Pumps

Ground source heat pumps gather heat energy from water circulating in underground pipes, which is pumped to a heat exchanger inside the house, which extracts the heat and transfers it to your home heating system, similar to an air-to-water heat pump.

They extract this heat from the ground using buried collectors, known as ground arrays. The ground array may be either a network of coiled pipes, also called ‘slinkies’, laid out in shallow trenches, or a vertical U-shaped pipe inserted into a very deep borehole.

Both require a reasonably large garden or other outdoor space for installation. A larger area is needed for slinky pipes in trenches, but boreholes are generally a more expensive option and you will need access for a specialist drilling rig to dig up to 200m down.

Is a ground source heat pump right for me?

Most UK homes use radiators or underfloor heating to circulate hot water, which is known as a ‘wet system’. Ground source heat pumps need a wet system but tend to be better suited to new-build homes, as they can be planned as part of the build process.

There are a few things to consider before deciding on if a ground source heat pump is right for your home.

How much do they cost to install?

The Energy Saving Trust estimates typical costs are around £14,000 - £19,000.

However, the cost of installing a ground source heat pump varies depending on whether you choose trenches or a borehole, the size of the property, the model and size of the heat pump chosen, whether it’s a newbuild or an existing property and whether you are making any other home improvement, such as to your radiators to improve the efficiency of a heat pump.

You should source three quotes from installers before deciding. We have created a guidance document of questions you can ask the installers to ensure you are making the right decision for your property.

The government currently has grants of up to £6,000 to help towards the cost of a ground source heat pump. The grants are available from April 2022-25 and you can find out more about these grants and how to apply.

Will they save me money on my energy bill?

Running costs will depend on how your heat pump is designed and how it is operated. Savings on your energy bill will also depend on the type of system you are replacing.

The Energy Saving Trusts estimated in April 2022, that for an average-sized, four-bedroom detached home, replacing an old (G-rated) gas boiler could save £1,000 annually, and a saving of £3,600 if replacing old electric storage heaters.

However, if you were to replace a newer (A-rated) gas boiler, an air-source heat pump would see minimal savings of £14 per year.

How do they work?

Ground source heat pumps use electricity and work by pumping water and anti-freeze around the ground loops (a network of water pipes buried underground) which absorb heat from the ground.

The heat pump at ground level compresses the fluid and raises its temperature to send to your radiators or underfloor heating, with the remainder stored in a hot water cylinder. This stored water can be used for showers, baths and taps.

The heat pump can increase the temperature from the ground to around 50OC, however the hotter you heat your water, the more electricity you’ll use.

Sources: Ground source heat pumps explained – Which?, Ground source heat pumps - Energy Saving Trust, How much does a ground source heat pump cost – Checkatrade.