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Air to Water Heat Pump Cost
Air to water heat pumps are a type of air source heat pump that provides an innovative and cost-efficient solution to address the energy efficiency challenge faced by property owners with traditional systems for decades. The air to water heat pump cost has often been a barrier for many UK homeowners. But with UK grants, such as the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, heat pumps have never been more accessible.
UK households benefit from the cutting-edge technology of heat pumps that not only increases their energy efficiency from 94% (average gas boiler) to up to 300% (air to water heat pump), but they also provide cost-efficient and stable energy.
See how an air to water heat pump is able to work so efficiently in the interactive diagram below.
1 2 3 4 5 6 The use of an air to water heat pump is quite convenient given the UK’s relatively mild winters– with an average temperature for the coldest month of the year at around 0 degrees Celsius. Hence, you can expect to save on heating bills right from the first day of running the heat pump through reduced running costs and carbon emission savings, especially compared to traditional, more carbon-polluting fuels.
Ready to find the best deal for your air to water heat pump installation? Don’t leave it to chance or settle for the first offer that comes your way. By getting multiple quotes, you can ensure you’re making a well-informed decision and securing the most competitive prices.
Fill out our quick form and let us do the hard work for you. We’ll connect you with trusted installers who will provide up to 3 bespoke quotes tailored to your preferences. This way, you’ll have the freedom to compare, negotiate, and choose the option that best fits your needs.
Say goodbye to the hassle of searching for installers and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing you’re getting the best value. Act now and take the first step towards installing an energy-efficient and cost-effective air to water heat pump.
- Quotes from local engineers
- Payment by finance available
- Save up to £1100 per year
Installation costs of an air to water heat pump
Given the estimations put forward by The Energy Saving Trust (EST), you can expect that the costs of buying and installing a new air to water heat pump would vary in the range of £7,000 and £13,000.
Installation costs usually include everything from the installer inspecting the property and the actual installation of the pipework and unit, to the final testing of the whole system. It can be a complicated process as there needs to be an access point in the wall for your indoor unit. The unit needs to be connected via pipes and electrical connections to the distribution system and the rest of your home.
While the installation costs can be high, if you decide to hire a cheap installer it poses several risks that can end up costing you more on repair and maintenance in the long run. Some of these risks include:
- Electrical failures
- Loud operating noise
- Poor performance and inefficiency
- Damage to the unit
An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is required before contacting a heat pump installer in the UK, especially if you plan to apply for a grant. EPCs tell you the energy efficiency of your property by rating it from A (very efficient) to G (inefficient) and can also indicate the expected heating costs and emissions of your property.
After arranging for an EPC assessment with an accredited assessor, you can use GreenMatch to get fair quotes for a new efficient heating system. If you’ve recently purchased a property, you may still have a valid EPC, which can also be confirmed through the government portal.
Running costs of air to water heat pumps
Just as with all running costs of heat pumps, the efficiency of operating an air to water heat pump depends on your home’s conditions and your heat pump’s energy efficiency. In our experience, we’ve found that homeowners actually save on their monthly energy bill when switching from a gas boiler.
To help you see the savings of using a heat pump, we’ll walk you through a cost example. According to British Gas, a medium-sized home in the UK with 3 bedrooms and 2-3 residents consumes approximately 12,000kWh on heating every year.
A properly installed air to water heat pump that provides space heating is expected to have a COP of 3 if the outside temperature is above 7 degrees Celsius. Given that the UK’s average temperatures between November and March range from 4 – 7 degrees Celsius, the heat pump will consume approximately 4,000kWh of electricity at a total running cost of £1,521 annually (based on fuel prices from the UK Government’s Energy Price Guarantee, April 2023) to provide 12,000kWh of heating. This is 5.6% cheaper than the annual costs of using your gas boiler!
Money is just one way to talk about running costs. You should also consider how much carbon dioxide emissions you’re saving by switching to an air to water heat pump. You could be saving upwards of 4000kg per year of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere. That’s equivalent to the CO2 emitted from driving 16,400 kilometres (over 10190 miles) in a petrol car! So if you’re looking to save money and the environment, then an air to water heat pump definitely makes sense, especially in the long run.
To seal the deal and maximise your savings, you’ll want to make sure you’re getting the best price on the heat pump and installation. The smartest strategy to go about this is comparing quotes provided by professional heat pump installers and choosing the best offer. Getting the best deal means your heat pump’s payback period will be shorter.
GreenMatch can help you find up to 3 certified heat pump installers in your area for free. This means you don’t have to spend countless hours of your time looking for and vetting them yourself. Each installer will offer you their most competitive quote and you don’t have to worry about being overcharged. All you have to do to start getting quotes is click the button below and answer a few short questions about your home’s heating.
- Quotes from local engineers
- Payment by finance available
- Save up to £1100 per year
Factors affecting costs
When it comes to the cost of an air to water heat pump, the main factor to consider first that will be the bulk of your cost is the installation. No installation will be the same and the complexity varies per house. That means you’re likely paying a different price than your next-door neighbour who recently installed a heat pump system.
Beyond installation complexity, there are many other important factors to consider before purchasing an air to water heat pump. We’ve listed them in the image below.
Even though the Coefficient of Performance (COP) is expected to be around 3, the UK’s Energy Saving Trust states that the actual COP for a one year period for air source heat pumps in the UK varies between 1.2 to 3.3—which is lower than expected. This is due to:
- Inadequate installation—the heat pumps are wrongly installed.
- Inadequate usage—a lot of property owners use traditional radiators as means for heat distribution, which considerably lowers the pump’s COP. It is recommended to use an underfloor heating system or large radiators if one wishes to use the pump at its highest potential.
- Customer behaviour—although most air source heat pumps are easy to operate, the failure to properly understand and follow the instructions on how to use the pump makes it less efficient.
If you happen to live in an area that’s commonly below zero degrees Celsius, you should consider that your heat pump won’t run as efficiently and with a lower COP value. While there isn’t much you can do about the outside weather conditions, you can install a hybrid heat pump that runs on a boiler during the cold winter months and uses the energy efficient heat pump in the warmer months.
Save money with an air to water heat pump
Getting a heat pump might prove somewhat expensive in the beginning, but there are government heat pump grants in the UK that can help. For instance, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which replaced the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) can provide up to £5,000 for an air source heat pump or £6,000 for a ground source heat pump.
The price of air to water heat pump equipment can vary from £7,000 to £13,000 (depending on the property size). You also have to consider the costs of air source heat pump installation and renovation works required for upgrading the heat distribution system (pipes, radiators, underfloor heating).
Nevertheless, for a common three bedroom semi-detached home you’ll be paying circa £1,521 per year for the heat pump’s electric power consumption, which is less than the cost of heating with oil, coal, and even gas (depending on gas price trends). Thus, considering that you can get up to £5,000 through government grant schemes, you can expect the payback in around 5 years.
Thus, by replacing a conventional (electric or oil) heating system with an air to water heat pump you’ll not only reduce the fuel bills but will also:
- Lower carbon emissions (depending on the fuel type you are replacing).
- Ensure a minimal maintenance requirement.
- Remove worry about traditional fuel (oil, coal) deliveries.
- Benefit from hot water supply/heating as well (depending on the model).
Fuel savings
Below we present the savings you might expect to get by replacing an old heating system with a new air to water heat pump system in an average four-bedroom detached house. The price of air to water heat pumps will differ depending on the type of heating system you are switching from.
| Existing system | Fuel bill savings (£/year) | Carbon dioxide savings (kg CO2/year) |
|---|---|---|
| Older gas boiler (non-condensing) | £590 | 2,800 kg |
| Newer gas boiler (condensing) | £115 | 1,800 kg |
| Electric storage heater | £870 – £1,500 | 1,400 – 2,000 kg |
| Older oil boilers (non-condensing) | £295 | 4,300 kg |
| LPG boiler | £230 – £780 | 2,100 – 3,200 kg |
| Coal | £490 | 7,000 kg |
| Existing system | Fuel bill savings (£/year) | Carbon dioxide savings (kg CO2/year) |
|---|---|---|
| Older gas boiler (non-condensing) | £1,500 | 2,600 kg |
| Newer gas boiler (condensing) | £940 | 1,600 kg |
| Electric storage heater | £325 – £590 | 1,700 – 2,500 kg |
| Older oil boilers (non-condensing) | £1,000 | 4,100 kg |
| LPG boiler | £880 – £1,400 | 1,900 – 3,000 kg |
| Coal | £820 | 7,000 kg |
Get quotes on air to water heat pumps!
Do you know just how important getting the right quotes plays in the successful installation of an air to water heat pump? It’s not just about finding the best price; it’s about ensuring that you’re working with reputable installers who can deliver the quality and reliability you deserve. We understand the importance of your investment, which is why we’ve simplified the process for you.
Instead of spending hours researching and contacting installers on your own, simply fill out the form on this page, in less than a minute, and we’ll do the difficult research of finding up to 3 certified heat pump installers for your heat pump needs. By receiving multiple quotes, you’ll have the power to compare, ensuring that you get the most competitive prices and the highest quality service.
With less than a minute of your time, you can be on the road to saving money and your carbon footprint with a cutting edge heat pump. Don’t miss out on this free opportunity to simplify your search and get high quality quotes. Get started by clicking the button below.
- Quotes from local engineers
- Payment by finance available
- Save up to £1100 per year
Frequently Asked Questions
As a writer with a deep understanding of low-carbon energy systems, Hannah aims to breakdown knowledge barriers and share insights to empower individuals in their pursuit of creating more environmentally conscious homes.
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