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Replace a Boiler With a Heat Pump: Costs & Pros + Cons (2024)
- You can replace your boiler with a heat pump if you are looking for a more environmentally-friendly and cost-effective energy source for heating and cooling purposes.
- Replacing a gas boiler with an air source heat pump can cost anywhere from £2,400 to £12,350, excluding installation.
- If you want to replace a gas boiler with a ground source heat pump, you can expect to pay anywhere between £13,200 and £19,000, not including installation costs.
Gas boilers have been the go-to heating system for millions of homes in the UK for decades, but it is steadily becoming more common to replace a boiler with a heat pump. With the UK government’s most recent update of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, the grant level for air source heat pumps and ground source heat pumps jumped from £5,000 and £6,000 to £7,500. This means that it’s now more affordable than ever to replace a boiler with a heat pump.
This article will shed some light on the benefits of heat pumps as a gas boiler alternative, factors to consider when choosing a heat pump, as well as government incentives available to help with the cost of installation. Explore the advantages of using heat pumps in houses, buildings and heat pumps in flats in UK as a sustainable alternative to traditional boilers.
If you are ready to start the process of replacing a boiler with a heat pump, then the first thing you need to do is find an installer you can trust. However, this can be a daunting chore. Searching for the best engineers and the best prices on your own can stretch for hours or even days. We understand that you’re not keen on spending your whole weekend searching for installers.
Thankfully, we’re here to help you avoid any unnecessary stress. Simply fill out our 30-second form and we’ll connect you with up to 4 heating engineers near you. They will offer you free, non-binding heat pump quotes for their services which you can then easily compare to find the right installer for the job and secure the best deal for your home. Just click below to get started today!
- Quotes from local engineers
- Payment by finance available
- Save £7,500 with BUS grant
- Can I replace my boiler with a heat pump?
- Key differences between heat pumps vs gas boilers
- Advantages of heat pumps instead of gas boilers
- Considerations when replacing a gas boiler for a heat pump
- How much does it cost to replace a gas boiler with a heat pump?
- Government incentives to reduce heat pump costs
- Savings when replacing a gas boiler with an air source heat pump
- Should you replace a gas boiler with a heat pump?
- FAQ
Can I replace my boiler with a heat pump?
Yes, you can replace your boiler with a heat pump. Such a swap is great if you’re looking to reduce your carbon footprint, as well as the annual running costs of your energy source.
That said, the cost to replace a gas boiler with a heat pump is quite high, so make sure you consider your budget before going through with the project. You will also want to determine whether a heat pump can adequately attend to your home’s energy needs.
Once you’ve considered these crucial aspects, make sure to consult a heating engineer who can offer you advice tailored to your situation. This way, you can properly answer the question: “Can I replace my boiler with a heat pump?” and make sure that such a swap is the best option for your home.
Key differences between heat pumps vs gas boilers
Heat pumps and gas boilers are two popular ways to heat homes. However, unlike heat pumps, boilers don’t have cooling capabilities which presents a key difference between the two systems. This is also one of the main reasons why homeowners are interested in replacing gas boilers with heat pumps.
Let’s compare other crucial differences between heat pumps and gas boilers.
| Feature | Heat pump | Gas boiler |
|---|---|---|
| Efficiency | More efficient | Less efficient |
| Fuel | Uses electricity to transfer the outside heat to the inside | Burns natural gas to produce heat |
| Space | Requires space for an outdoor unit | Might require extra indoor space for hot water cylinders and tanks (for system and conventional boilers) |
| Environmental impact | More environmentally friendly | Produces carbon emissions |
| Versatility | Can heat and cool your home | Can only heat your home |
| Longevity | Up to 25 years | Up to 15 years |
Speaking of efficiency, heat pumps have a coefficient of performance (CoP) between 3 and 5, meaning that they generate between 3 and 5 units of heat for every electricity unit they use. Gas boilers, on the other hand, achieve a CoP of around 0.9 (i.e. 90% efficiency rating), making heat pumps a more efficient heating solution.
In terms of costs, heat pumps require a bigger upfront investment. At the same time, ground-source heat pumps, apart from the heat pump itself, also need underground loops or boreholes which contribute significantly to the total installation costs.
Yet, even though the cost to replace a gas boiler with a heat pump seems like a major disadvantage, you can enjoy several advantages if you replace a gas boiler with a heat pump.
Advantages of heat pumps instead of gas boilers
In general, heat pumps are a more efficient, environmentally-friendly, and versatile way to heat and cool your home than gas boilers. Additionally, they increase the comfort of your home through their heating and cooling processes and overall quiet operation (although air source heat pump noise levels can be more noticeable in some models). If you are considering replacing your old boiler, it is worth considering installing a heat pump.
Heat pumps have a number of advantages over gas boilers, including:
- Efficiency: Heat pumps are more efficient than gas boilers, meaning that they can produce more heat using less energy. This can lead to significant savings on your energy bills.
- Environmental impact: Heat pumps are a more environmentally-friendly way to heat your home than gas boilers. They produce little to no carbon emissions, which helps to reduce your carbon footprint, especially when you combine a heat pump with solar panels or other renewable energy sources.
- Versatility: Heat pumps can be used to both heat and cool your home, making them a one-stop solution for all your climate control needs.
- Longevity: Heat pumps have a longer lifespan than gas boilers, typically lasting up to 25 years, while gas boilers last up to 15 years.
- Enhanced comfort: Air source heat pumps provide more consistent and evenly distributed heat than gas boilers. This can significantly improve the overall comfort of your home.
In addition to the advantages listed above, there are multiple heat pump grants you can apply for to reduce the upfront cost of replacing gas boilers with heat pumps.
Considerations when replacing a gas boiler for a heat pump
There are a number of things to keep in mind if you want to replace a gas boiler with a heat pump, including:
- Cost: Heat pumps are typically more expensive to install than gas boilers. However, the upfront cost can be offset by government incentives, such as the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, and long-term savings on energy bills.
- Climate: Heat pumps are less effective at heating homes in extremely cold weather. If you live in a cold climate, you may need to supplement your heat pump with another heating system, such as a wood stove or an electric heater.
- Space: Since heat pumps require space for an outdoor unit, you may not be able to install a heat pump in case of limited outdoor space.
- Home compatibility: Heat pumps work best in well-insulated homes. If your home isn’t well-insulated, heating your home with a heat pump could end up costing you more than heating it up with a traditional gas boiler.
- Type of heat pump: There are two main types of heat pumps - air source heat pumps (ASHP) and ground source heat pumps (GSHP). Air source heat pumps are more common and less expensive to install, but they are also less efficient than ground source heat pumps.
- Size of the heat pump: The size of the heat pump you need will depend on the size of your home and the climate you live in. It is important to have a qualified installer who’ll assess your energy needs and recommend the right size heat pump for your home.
- Features of the heat pump: Heat pumps come with a variety of features, such as smart thermostats and zoning capabilities. Consider which features are important to you and choose a heat pump that has them.
If you are considering replacing your gas boiler with a heat pump, you’ll need to find an installer you can trust. However, this search can drag on for hours or even days if done alone. Fortunately, we’re here to help.
Just answer a few basic questions about your home in our 30-second form and we’ll connect you with up to 4 heat pump installers near you. Then, compare their free, non-binding quotes to find the best deal for your home. Click below to get started now!
- Quotes from local engineers
- Payment by finance available
- Save £7,500 with BUS grant
How much does it cost to replace a gas boiler with a heat pump?
The cost to replace a gas boiler with a heat pump ranges between £2,750-£14,050 for an air source heat pump and £16,200-£49,000 for a ground source heat pump installation.
Let’s compare current average prices installed for gas boilers, GSHP and ASHP solutions.
| Type of heating system | Upfront cost range | Installation cost range | Costs granted by the Boiler Upgrade Scheme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gas boiler | £500–£4,000 | £650 - £2,500 | - |
| Air source heat pump | £2,400 – £12,350 | £350 – £1,700 | £7,500 |
| Ground source heat pump | £13,200 - £19,000 | £3,000 – £30,000 | £7,500 |
As you see, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme can significantly reduce the cost of a heat pump installation. So, don’t neglect getting information on existing grants and government incentives to lessen the financial burden of your home improvement project.
Government incentives to reduce heat pump costs
As of 2024, the UK government offers several incentives to reduce the cost of replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump. Here are some key schemes for you to consider:
- Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS): In England and Wales, eligible homeowners can receive grants to assist with the cost of adopting low-carbon heating systems such as heat pumps. As of October 23, 2023, the grants for air source and ground source heat pumps have increased to £7,500.
- Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) scheme: This scheme encompasses a range of initiatives across Great Britain, including boiler repairs, insulation, and the replacement of inefficient heating systems with low-carbon solutions such as air source heat pumps and biomass boilers. Eligible homeowners can apply for this grant until March 31, 2026.
- Home Energy Scotland: This scheme provides interest-free loans of up to £17,500 to help Scottish homeowners install renewable heating systems such as heat pumps.
- Nest Scheme Wales: This scheme covers costs to replace a boiler with a heat pump for all eligible households in Wales.
A local heat pump installer could walk you through the application process and provide you with tailored calculations to show how these grants can help you with the initial investment.
Savings when replacing a gas boiler with an air source heat pump
| System | Yearly running cost |
|---|---|
| Gas boiler (A-rated) | £875 |
| Air conditioning unit | £400 |
| Air source heat pump (COP 3.5) | £1,135 | Air conditioning unit | £400 |
| Ground source heat pump (COP 4) | £930 |
As mentioned above, air source heat pump installation requires a way higher initial investment than what’s needed for a gas boiler.
That said, gas boilers can only provide heating. So, if you get an air conditioning unit to cool down your home in summer, you will also need to account for those costs. With an air source heat pump, you can enjoy both heating and cooling with just one appliance, so you’d spend less on air source heat pump costs than on two separate appliances.
A typical 3-bedroom household can expect the following yearly costs to run a gas boiler, an air-source heat pump, and a conditioning system. For a better idea of how much you would save annually with an air source heat pump, you can consult the overview below:
Should you replace a gas boiler with a heat pump?
If you are asking yourself: “Should I replace my gas boiler with a heat pump?” then the answer might be yes. Compared to gas boilers, heat pumps are generally more energy-efficient and cost-effective in the long run. They are also more environmentally friendly.
However, this does not automatically mean that a heat pump is the right choice for you. The best way to ensure that you’re making the right decision to replace your boiler with a heat pump is to consult a heating engineer. They can offer you tailored advice and help you weigh the pros and cons of installing a heat pump for your home.
Whether you're looking for an air, ground, heat pump water heater or hybrid heat pump system, finding a reliable professional on your own can be challenging. After hours of googling, reading reviews, and comparing prices, you might still not have found what you’re looking for. Instead of wasting your precious time and energy, let us help you get started in just 30 seconds.
All you have to do is fill in our short form and we will have up to 4 heating engineers from our broad network of specialists reach out to you with quotes for their services. Then, just compare prices to decide which installer you want to work with and secure the best deal for your new air source heat pump. Simply click below and request free, non-binding quotes today!
- Quotes from local engineers
- Payment by finance available
- Save £7,500 with BUS grant
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