Air source heat pumps….opinions

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I keep getting loads of adverts for air source heat pumps. Curiosity got the better of me with EDF as they had a calculator and even with a 7.5k grant they predicted an extra cost of 8k on top. If you went with a local company it might be cheaper etc.

Just wondering on peoples opinions. Anyone switched from a gas boiler?

or are they a gimmick not really thought through?

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Updated by MNHQ
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It cost me about 7k to replace mine, the only things that didn't get replaced were the tanks, radiators and pipes. Looked after properly it will last just as long as a gas boiler.

People don't service gas boilers or budget for their replacement either.

Can you imagine the noise if everyone has one? Poorly maintained units rattling away all over the place.

That target is primarily for new builds, no reason why well insulated new properties shouldn't have one, though communal heating is a far better idea, the grant funding for HPs is just for 90,000 existing homes.

The leaflets are from installation companies, that want your money.

Yep in a few years time, when those fan bearing wear out, the noise will drive people mad.

We've had several quotes, the average being £16,000. It's really not worth it as we'd never recoup that cost! Plus the last guy who came out actually talked us out of it by suggesting in our old, big house we'd never get the right amount of heat. I suspect they're more suited to much newer homes than ours.

we love ours but it will take over a decade to repay itself (I'm includign the solar and battry in that calculation). Much less attracctivve IMO if you are intending to move on in a few years though there is a chance that in a few years a house with one ready installed will be seen as a selling point.

I fully admit our motivation was more for carbon footprint reduction (the whole system also powers the electric car) more than for financial gain and we were lucky enough to be able to afford it. Though bills in summer are substantially lower. Winter about the same. We specifially chose this house as modern and well insulated (compared with others in the area).

I really hope in time they wil become more accessible to all.

We have a heat pump (in Finland, where they are common) but its not our only heat source (have oil boiler and direct electric radiators too) and it is cheaper to run than the direct electric at least, don't know about the comparison to gas though.
But we only really use ours for cooling in the summer, as its old and very noisy. It does cool the downstairs very nicely though, a life saver during heatwaves.

People talk about Scandinavia a lot but the technology used there is typically air-to-air rather than the air-to-water systems in the UK.

I’m in Northern New England and we also have air-to-air heat pumps, and they are excellent - when it was -30C they heated my house effectively, and now it’s hot they cool it effectively. I’m spending less on electricity than I was on gas previously.

I’m much less convinced about air-to-water heat pumps.