Deciding if a heat pump is right for you

This advice is for you if you’re thinking about replacing your home’s heating system with a heat pump.

A heat pump can work in most homes. You might need to make changes to your home to make sure the heat pump works well and is cost effective. 

Heat pumps can be expensive to install but you can usually get some financial help. 

If you're renting, your landlord is responsible for your home’s heating system. You can ask your landlord to install a heat pump but they don’t have to. 

Check our advice for making improvements to your home if you rent privately or live in social housing.

Replacing your boiler with a heat pump

The government wants people to replace boilers with renewable heating like heat pumps. But you don’t have to. 

You can still repair your boiler or replace it with a new one if it breaks. 

If your boiler is broken, check our advice about repairing or replacing your boiler.

How a heat pump works

A heat pump uses electricity to move warmth from outside your home to inside your home. There’s enough warmth outside to heat your home even when it’s very cold. 

It’s better for the environment because it doesn’t use fossil fuels like gas or oil.

It’s also more efficient because it uses less fuel to produce the same amount of heat.

A heat pump usually works best when it heats your home to a consistent temperature all day. Having lots of insulation in your home will help keep the heat in for longer. 

The heat pump unit is usually quiet - about the same noise level as a fridge.

Check if you need permission to install a heat pump 

You might not need planning permission or building regulations approval but you should always check. 

For some homes, you might need other types of permission. 

Check if you need planning permission 

You don’t usually need planning permission for a heat pump.

But there are rules about things like the size of the heat pump and where it can be installed. If your installer can’t follow these rules, you might need planning permission. Speak to your installer about this. 

If you do need planning permission, ask your installer if they can apply for it for you.

Check what to do if you need planning permission.

Check if you need building regulations approval

You don’t need building regulations approval if you use an installer registered with a ‘competent person scheme’.

You should look for an installer certified by MCS. This is a quality scheme recognised by the government. All members of MCS are registered with a competent person scheme.

If your installer isn’t part of a competent person scheme, you’ll need building regulations approval. 

If you do need building regulations approval, ask your installer if they can apply for it for you. 

Check what to do if you need building regulations approval.

Check if you need another type of permission

In some situations, you might need other types of permission.

Check which heat pump suits you and your home

There are different types of heat pumps. The most suitable one for you and your home depends on lots of things. 

You should think about:

• how well insulated your home is 

• if you can afford to make other changes to your home like installing new radiators

• how much outside space you have 

• if you use a lot of heating or hot water - for example, if you keep your home warmer because of a health condition

Before installing a heat pump, you might want to visit a local home that has one to see how it works. You could organise a visit through the Visit a Heat Pump website. 

If you know someone with a heat pump, you can ask them to show you how it works.

Air source heat pump

This is the most common type of heat pump in the UK. It's cheaper and takes up less space than other heat pumps. 

There are 2 different types of air source heat pumps. 

The most common type provides central heating and hot water. This normally replaces a boiler.

The other type works with an air conditioning system to provide warm and cool air, but not hot water. This is sometimes called an air to air heat pump. 

Ground source heat pump

This is more expensive to install than an air source heat pump but usually more efficient. The unit is usually installed inside your home.

It needs more outside space than other types because your installer will usually dig trenches for the pipes. 

If you don’t have much outdoor space, your installer will probably need to drill a borehole instead of digging trenches. Boreholes are more expensive than trenches.

Hybrid heat pump

This uses a heat pump alongside a boiler. You can either use the heat pump with your existing boiler or you can install a heat pump that includes a boiler. 

A hybrid heat pump isn’t as good for the environment as other heat pumps. This is because you’ll still have a fossil fuel boiler. 

You might want to choose a hybrid heat pump if:

• you’re not able to insulate your home or replace your pipes and radiators

• you have a large home or use a lot of hot water

• you want to keep your boiler

If you choose this type of heat pump, you won’t be able to apply for funding from the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS). 

Making changes to your home

You might need to make changes to your home before or when you install a heat pump, like: 

• insulating or draught proofing your home

• replacing pipes and radiators 

• installing a hot water cylinder

You also might have to upgrade your home’s electricity supply. Your installer will tell you if you need to do this.

Insulating or draught proofing your home

If your home doesn't have enough insulation or is draughty, your heat pump will use more electricity to keep your home warm. 

Check your home’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). This will tell you what improvements your home might need. Find your home's EPC on GOV.UK.

If your home needs cavity wall insulation, loft insulation or draught proofing, it’s a good idea to do this work before installing a heat pump. 

If you’re planning to do other types of insulation, like external or internal wall insulation, it’s usually better to do this before installing a heat pump. 

You might be able to get help with the cost of insulating or draught proofing your home. Check how to get help paying for energy efficiency home improvements.

If you need to find your own installer, get at least 3 quotes to make sure you’re getting a fair price. Check how to find an installer to insulate or draught proof your home.

Replacing pipes and radiators

If your home doesn’t have central heating, you might need to install new pipes and radiators. Your installer might recommend getting underfloor heating instead - this can help make the heat pump more efficient.

If you already have central heating, your installer might recommend either:

• replacing some of the pipes or radiators - bigger ones help the heat pump work more efficiently and use less electricity

• installing a high temperature heat pump - this is usually cheaper to install than replacing the pipes and radiators, but it uses more electricity

Installing a hot water cylinder

If you have a combi boiler, you’ll need to install a hot water cylinder to heat and store your hot water. This means you’ll need to heat your water a few hours before you need it. You’ll also need to find space in your home for the cylinder. 

If you already have a hot water cylinder, you might need to replace it if it’s not designed to work with a heat pump. This will help the heat pump work more efficiently and use less electricity.

Check how a heat pump will affect your energy bills

Heat pumps use electricity which is more expensive than other fuels, like gas or oil. This means your energy bills might be higher if you install a heat pump.

Whether your energy bills will be higher or lower after getting a heat pump depends on things like:

• how well insulated your home is 

• the type of heating system you’re replacing and how efficient it was

• the type of heat pump you install - more efficient heat pumps use less electricity

• if you have solar panels that generate electricity

• your electricity tariff

• if you still use gas for other appliances

Think about changing your electricity tariff

Look for tariffs for heat pumps or electric vehicles - these are designed for homes that use more electricity. If you don’t change tariff, your bills will probably be higher after installing a heat pump. You might need to switch supplier to find a suitable tariff. 

You’ll also need a smart meter to get one of these tariffs. If you don’t already have a smart meter, check how to get a smart meter.

If you want to keep using gas appliances

You need to keep your gas supply and continue paying the gas standing charge - this might cost more than the amount of gas you use.

It might be better to replace any gas appliances with electrical appliances before installing a heat pump. This means you can ask your supplier to remove your gas meter. Check if they’ll charge to do this.

Get help with the cost of installing a heat pump

Heat pumps can be expensive to install. For example, in 2024 the average cost of an air source heat pump was around £13,000 and a ground source heat pump was around £31,000.

The cost will depend on:

• the type, make and model of the heat pump

• how much heat your home needs - bigger or less well-insulated homes usually need a more powerful heat pump

• how much other work is needed - like new radiators or pipes

• how complicated the work is 

Depending on the type of heat pump, you might be able to get help to pay some of the costs. 

If you have a low income

If your home has an EPC rating of D, E, F or G, you might be able to apply to the:

• Nest scheme

• Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme

Check how to apply to the Nest or ECO schemes.

Check if you can apply to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS)

You could get up to £7,500 to help pay for an air or ground source heat pump. This probably won’t cover the full cost of the heat pump. 

You can’t currently apply to the BUS if you want a hybrid or air to air heat pump. 

Check how to apply to the BUS. You can find the advice under the heading ‘Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS). 

If you can’t get financial help

You’ll need to find a suitable installer.

Check our advice about finding an installer.

If a heat pump isn’t right for you 

If you want to stop using fossil fuels, you might want to install a biomass boiler or electric heating instead. They’re better for the environment but might be more expensive to run. 

You can:

• read about biomass heating on the Energy Saving Trust website

• read about electric heating on the Energy Saving Trust website

You don’t have to change your heating system to save money on your energy bills. 

Check how you can make your home more energy efficient.