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Air Source Heat Pump Costs in the UK: 2024 Guide
- Air source heat pumps cost anywhere between £2,400 – £14,050 to install.
- The annual running costs of an air source heat pump range from £685 to £1,550 and depend on the size of your home and your household’s energy needs.
- By installing an air source heat pump to replace a gas boiler, you can expect to save up to £260 on your annual energy bills and the average break even is 14 years.
Air source heat pumps are an energy-efficient, sustainable way to meet your household’s heating and cooling demands. For heat pumps, UK prices can range from £2,400 to £14,050. Despite how much air source heat pumps cost in the UK, they can be worth it, providing up to £260 in annual savings for many years to come.
As of 23 October 2023, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme heat pump grant increased to £7,500 for air source heat pumps and ground source heat pumps, up from £5,000 and £6,000, respectively. This puts many heat pumps in roughly the same cost range as a good gas boiler.
This was confirmed in an announcement by the UK Government in September 2023.
In what follows, we’ll walk you through how much it costs to replace a boiler with a heat pump. However, if you want to find out the exact heat pump installation cost in the UK, you will need to consult a heat pump installer.
Instead of wasting hours or even days researching installation companies and trying to compare prices, simply fill in our form in just 30 seconds. Click below to secure the best deals and receive up to 4 free, non-binding quotes from thoroughly vetted installers!
- Quotes from local engineers
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The cost of an air source heat pump
So, how much are heat pumps in the UK? The supply cost of an air source heat pump ranges from £2,400 to £12,350. Air-to-air heat pumps are on the lower end of this price range, as they can only provide heating and cooling. Air-to-water heat pumps, on the other hand, can also be connected to your central heating system to supply your home with hot water.
Compared to other heat pump options, air source heat pump prices in the UK are quite low, as ground source heat pumps cost between £16,200 and £49,000 including installation. Hybrid systems or high temperature air source heat pumps also tend to cost considerably more.
The exact cost of an air source heat pump installation will vary depending on your situation. Below you can find the estimated cost of installing an air-to-air or air-to-water heat pump in an average household:
| How much is an air source heat pump? | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Household size | Technology type | Heat pump size | Average cost |
| 1 bedroom | Air to Air Heat Pump | 3kW | £2,400 – £6,200 |
| 1 bedroom | Air to Water Heat Pump | 8kW | £8,400 – £11,150 |
| 2-3 bedrooms | Air to Air Heat Pump | 4-5kW | £6,200 – £8,400 |
| 2-3 bedrooms | Air to Water Heat Pump | 13kW | £10,000 – £12,000 |
| 4-5 bedrooms | Air to Air Heat Pump | 10kW | £8,000+ |
| 4-5 bedrooms | Air to Water Heat Pump | 16kW | £12,000+ |
These costs are estimates. Get a local installer QUOTE now!
As you can see, the cost of heat pumps in the UK is relatively high compared to other systems. To lessen the financial burden of installing this renewable energy source for your home, you can apply for grants such as the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. This way, you can receive a grant of up to £7,500 that will be deducted from the total costs you pay to your installer.
The running costs of an air source heat pump
Compared to traditional heating systems, air source heat pumps generally have low running costs. As a result, you’ll be able to avoid overspending on your energy bills in the long run.
To give you an indication of the cost of running a heat pump, we calculated the yearly running costs of an air source heat pump. Some of the factors we considered to determine the running costs of domestic heat pumps are the Coefficient of Performance (COP), the heating requirements of average households, and current energy costs in the UK. If you’re wondering “how much does air source heating cost?”, the table below can help answer that for different home sizes:
| Cost of running a heat pump | ||
|---|---|---|
| Household Size | Estimated Annual Energy Demand | Estimated Annual Running Costs |
| 1 bedroom | 8,000 kWh | £816 |
| 2-3 bedrooms | 12,000 kWh | £1,132 |
| 4+ bedrooms | 17,000 kWh | £1,793 |
These costs are averages. Get a local installer to QUOTE now!
It is important to note that the exact running costs you will have to pay depend on several factors such as:
- The level of insulation of your home.
- Whether the air source heat pump is paired with underfloor heating systems or low-temperature flow radiators. Heat pump underfloor heating requires an air to water connection making it more elaborate for installers.
- If a separate heat source is used for domestic hot water heating, such as solar thermal panels. Alternatively, combining a heat pump and solar panels can greatly reduce electricity costs and carbon emissions.
Note: The video contains some outdated savings figures which may not reflect current energy trends. Prices shown on the rest of this page are reflective of the energy price cap instituted in April 2024.
While you can notice savings when it comes to your yearly heating bills after some time, the installation costs of an air source heat pump can be quite off-putting. To avoid overspending on a new air source heat pump, you will want to compare the installation prices of several different installers. Yet, doing this on your own can take hours or even days of your precious time, with no guarantee that you will end up finding what you’re looking for.
To skip the hassle and avoid any disappointment, why not use our free, non-binding quotes service? Fill in our 30-second form and up to 4 trusted local installers will reach out to you with quotes for an air source heat pump installation. Simply click below to get started now!
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Air source heat pump installation costs
Currently, an air source heat pump installation costs anywhere from £3,500 to £6,000, excluding materials and the heating system. Exactly how much you will spend depends on the kind of air source heat pump you will be installing, the complexity of the installation, the size of your home, and the labour costs of the installer you work with.
| Air source heat pump installation costs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Type of property | Duration | Installation cost (average) |
| 2 bedroom semi-detached | 2-3 days | £3,500 – £4,500 |
| 3 bedroom semi-detached Installation | 3 days | £4200 – £6,500 |
| 5 bedroom detached | 3-5 days | £6,000 or higher |
Typically, an air source heat pump installation takes between 2 to 5 days to complete. Sometimes this can be shorter but often extra time is needed to finish the wiring and system commissioning. Ductwork can cost roughly £10 to £30 per foot (per 0.35 metres).
The more complex the installation, the more time the installer will have to spend working on your home, resulting in you having to spend more on labour costs. Factors that complicate air source heat pump installation include the size of the property, how old the infrastructure is, accessibility, and whether it needs more complex pipework, underfloor heating, an air to water unit, or other add-ons.
Savings with an air source heat pump
While the cost of air source heat pump installations can be high, in time, your investment will pay off. Below you can find an overview of the savings you can expect after having installed an air source heat pump for your home:
| Air source heat pump savings | |
|---|---|
| Energy System Being Replaced | Estimated Savings |
| Gas boiler (A-rated) | £550 |
| Gas boiler (G-rated) | £1,400 |
| Old oil boiler | £140 |
| Old LPG boiler | £1,200 |
| Old electric storage heaters | £2,500 |
| New electric storage heaters | £1,500 |
These costs are estimates. Get a local installer QUOTE now!
As you can see, savings with an air source heat pump will vary significantly depending on the energy system you’re replacing. Considering that gas boilers are the most popular heating source in the UK today, the average break-even point for replacing a gas boiler with an air-to-air heat pump is about 17 years.
The exact duration of your return on investment period for installing an air source heat pump can fluctuate significantly, as it depends on current energy prices, the quality of your home’s insulation, as well as the size of the heat pump you are having installed.
To make the most of your savings, you will want to avoid overspending on your new air source heat pump. The surest way to keep your air source heat pump cost as low as possible is to compare the prices listed by different suppliers and installers. However, doing this on your own can take hours of tedious research and by the end of it you might still not have found what you were looking for.
The surest way to keep your air source heat pump cost as low as possible is to compare multiple prices listed by different suppliers and installers. However, doing this on your own can take days of research if done alone.
Fortunately, you can skip the hassle by simply filling in our 30-second form and requesting quotes from air source heat pump installers operating in your area. Then, just sit back while up to 4 reputable installers reach out to you with quotes for a new air source heat pump installation. Get started today by clicking below to request free, non-binding quotes!
- Quotes from local engineers
- Payment by finance available
- Save £7,500 with BUS grant
What determines air source heat pump costs?
Several factors influence how much heat pumps in the UK cost. These include:
- The type of heat pump: An air to air heat pump will cost less than an air to water heat pump, with the former costing £2,400 to £8,800 and the latter priced between £8,750 to £14,050. At the same time, the type of heat pump you choose will affect the installation cost, as the complexity of the installation may vary, requiring the installer to spend more time fitting your air source heat pump.
- The Coefficient of Performance (COP): The COP measures the efficiency of a heat pump and indicates the amount of power input compared to the amount of power output produced by the heat pump. Typically, the COP value of an air source heat pump is between 2.5 and 3.5.
- The size of the heat pump: Measured in British thermal units (BTUs), heat pump size refers to its service capacity or its power. A heat pump will have around 12,000 BTUs per ton of size. However, the higher the power capacity of an air source heat pump, the higher the cost. So, make sure to calculate how much power you’d need for your appliance to generate for your home.
- Available incentives and grants: If you are eligible for heat pump grants, then you will be able to lessen the financial burden of investing in this energy system for your home. For instance, with the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, you can receive up to £7,500 to install an air source heat pump for your home. These are a great way to mitigate heat pump costs in the UK if you are eligible.
- Service or maintenance costs: The total cost of installing a heat pump will also include the labour costs your installer will charge. At the same time, on average, annual heat pump maintenance can cost around £100 – £200. While this may seem like a heavy expense, regular maintenance will spare you any big repairs and ensure that your heat pump continues to run optimally, which will save you money in the long run.
Keeping these factors in mind when trying to determine how much an air source heat pump will cost you can help you avoid any surprises when it comes to your total expenses. So, when making your calculations, be sure to account for all these aspects of installing an air source heat pump for your home.
Is an air source heat pump the right choice for my home?
If you are looking to lower your yearly electricity bills and your carbon footprint, then an air source heat pump can be a great addition to your home. Because they generate energy using the air outside and transferring heat into your home, they require less fuel to operate than traditional heating systems. This has a positive impact on your bank account, as well as on the environment.
However, while it comes with these impressive advantages, you should carefully consider whether an air source heat pump is an investment you are ready to make. The cost to install a heat pump is quite high and the return on investment period is quite long. That said, if you are planning on making a long-term change to your energy system, an air source heat pump will pay off over time.
When determining how much are heat pumps going to benefit your home, you should consider whether the efficiency trumps the level of gas prices you pay with a boiler. This can be impacted by the quality of insulation and extreme temperatures. These factors need to be compared to the final air source heat pump price which can be between £2,400 to £8,800 for an air to air model and £8,750 to £14,050 for an air to water model. Another factor to consider is whether you can obtain a grant in your region.
To be able to reap the financial benefits of installing an air source heat pump, you will need to ensure that you are not overpaying for your new installation. It can be overwhelming to look through all the companies in an attempt to find the lowest air source heat pump price but it’s best to obtain multiple quotes from reputable sources before you decide to install one.
Thankfully, Greenmatch is here to help. We work with a broad network of specialists and, with a simple 30-second form, you can request quotes from up to 4 heat pump installers. Compare the quotes you receive and choose the installer you want to work with. Simply click below and save on the cost of heat pump installation in the UK.
- Quotes from local engineers
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Frequently asked questions
Rawal Ahmed is a writer at GreenMatch with an interest in sustainability and a background in background in tech journalism and digital marketing.
We strive to connect our customers with the right product and supplier. Would you like to be part of GreenMatch? - How Much Does an Air Source Heat Pump Cost in the UK? (2024)
- The cost of an air source heat pump
- The running costs of an air source heat pump
- Air source heat pump installation costs
- Savings with an air source heat pump
- What determines air source heat pump costs?
- Is an air source heat pump the right choice for my home?
- Frequently asked questions