Air source heat pump v. Biomass boilers

[womaninatightspot]

I am thinking about going renewable before the RHI changes next year. I've looked at Biomass boilers but I'm drawn towards air source heat pumps combined with thermal hot water.

Has anyone done this and are you happy. Currently oil boiler. I wonder whether it'd be warm enough in the winter. I do have wood stoves though so currently what I'd do is have the boiler on low all day and light a wood stove in the evening.

Bumping, as I'm in exactly the same position and would be interested in any comments / advice too!

@womaninatightspot Nobody is interested in this apart from us!

I found this thread on the Money Saving Expert forum and found it iinformative: "I bought a Heat Pump" where Reed_Richards narrates his experience of moving to a Heat Pump.

I don't have an air source heat pump but know someone who does and have visited in winter ,Was warm enough ,need to keep doors shut to keep heat in and the rads were oversized .

The apparatus ( tank etc ) seemed to take up a lot of space - you need a largeish utility room .

I have an air source heat pump. We are housing association so I don't know if I'll be able to answer many of your questions on it, I don't know anything about Biomass boilers.

We used to have storage heaters and it was always freezing or boiling at the wrong times. We now have a warm home for less money, so nice having a thermostat! It does the hot water too. It can be quite noisy when the fan is going. Our radiators are normal sized.

You have to be pretty airtight for an air source heat pump to be effective. I looked into it for my flat and quickly realised it wasnt going to work. But if it was an option I'd definitely have it over biomass - you're locked into buying the pellets forever more and I'm reliably informed it's a maintenance faff.

Do you want solar or thermal water?

I’m getting an ASHP next month. I’ve never had central heating before.