How Much Do Air Source Heat Pumps Cost In The UK? (2024)

Air source heat pump costs in the UK range from £7,000 - £20,000, including installation costs. An air source heat pump is a renewable heating system that generates energy from the outside air to provide heating, cooling, and hot water to your property. 

There are several benefits to installing a new air source heat pump. They are highly efficient and they are suitable for all types of buildings, no matter how old it is. Depending on the efficiency of your existing heating system, you could also save money up to  £1,110 in monthly heating costs.

One of the main barriers to heat pumps being adopted more widely across the UK is their high upfront costs. That's why the UK Government has initiated various grants and incentives to increase their uptake in UK homes. 

In this guide, we'll delve deeper into air source heat pump costs- how much they cost to install (with and without government support), how much they cost to run, and the many factors that affect their costs overall. 

But first, are you aware of where to find the best air source heat pump installation companies in your area? 

By comparing multiple installation quotes, you can be sure that you're receiving a good deal. However, the search for the best installer can leave many people spending hours of time and effort to narrow down their options. 

To make this process easier, use Household Quotes! Our service connects you directly with up to 4 of the most suitable installers in your local area. You can then compare their tailored quotes and make your choice without any of the hassle. 

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A new air source heat pump costs between £3,500 and £15,000, supply only. Total costs, including supply and installation, can go up to £20,000. 

Air source heat pumps are one of the most popular renewable heating systems available today because of their versatility and relatively low-costs compared to ground source heat pumps, which can go up to £45,000, including ground source heat pump borehole costs.

An important determining cost factor is the brand of heat pump that you choose. Different brands have different price points based on their reputation, special features, output range, and warranty cover. 

Below we've provided some general air source heat pump supply cost estimates, according to the heat pump brand. 

These costs are estimates. Get a local installer QUOTE now!

Air to air source heat pumps tend to cost between £1,500 - £3,500 for supply and installation. 

Air to water heat pumps, where heat is transferred to a central heating system through water pipes, can cost considerably more than an air to air heat pump, where heat is transferred to the air in your home through fan coil units, "blowers", which blast hot air into your home. 

They can also blow the warm air back outside your home, meaning it can be used as air conditioning. The reason why air to air units cost so much less is they cannot provide hot water through your central heating system. 

Discover the best heat pumps of 2024.

Including supply and installation, air source heat pumps tend to cost between £7,000 - £20,000. Altogether the total cost of your new heat pump will depend on the brand you choose, the size of the heat pump you need, and the ease of installation. 

These costs are estimates. Get a local installer QUOTE now!

Air source heat pump installation costs tend to cost £3,500 - £6,500 for 2-4 days work. The length of the installation project is often decided by how large your house is - with larger homes requiring some additional time, parts and labour. 

The estimates above also assume that your home is well insulated, with suitable hot water storage and central heating that the heat pump can operate alongside. If your home requires any of these, then the total installation costs will be higher, ranging up to nearly £40,000 if all these components were to be added. 

Take a look at the table for a more detailed breakdown of these potential additional installation costs. 

These costs are estimates. Get a local installer QUOTE now!

Considering all these potential extra installation costs, it's important that you find the best deal possible from a reputable installer. To do this, we recommend that you collect quotes from at least 3 installation companies, then compare them and choose the most competitive offer. 

Rather than spending countless hours searching online for the best options, let us at Household Quotes connect you with up to 4 of the best heat pump installers in your area. All you have to do is fill in our 30-second inquiry form, then we'll use your details to find the most suitable options near you.

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There are several important factors that will influence the total cost of air source heat pump installation, including heat pump size and efficiency. 

Let's take a look at these factors more closely, and how they impact new air source heat pump costs. 

Standard heating demands for UK homes range between 5 - 16 kilowatts (kW).  Larger homes will require a more powerful air source heat pump, which is comparatively more expensive than those needed in smaller homes. 

Homes with 3 bedrooms, will likely require a 5 kilowatt (kW) heat pump, with an associated costs of £7,000 - £10,000. The largest homes with 5-6 bedrooms will require significantly more power, around 16kW, which will typically be priced between £18,000 - £20,000, including installation costs. 

The table below outlines this in more detail. 

These costs are estimates. Get a local installer QUOTE now!

This table refers to the most suitable air source heat pump size for new builds in particular. Existing buildings may find that the quality of insulation and the age of the property impact the quality of heating their new heat pump is able to provide. 

Therefore, the new heat pump may need to provide more power to provide sufficient levels of heating and hot water, approximately 1.5kW more. As such, you may have to pay more for a more powerful model. 

You can also choose to retrofit your home with insulation measures that will allow your new heating system to operate at full capacity. 

Air source heat pumps typically come with a Coefficient of Performance (CoP) between 2.5 to 3.5. The higher the CoP, the more efficient the system is, and the more expensive it will be.

CoP measures the efficiency of a heat pump. It is decided by calculating the amount of power input needed (measured in British Thermal Units per hour) relative to the amount of power output (measured in Watts). 

An air source heat pump with a CoP of 3, for instance, can produce 3kWh of heat for every kW of electricity it uses. It's worth noting that, in practice, an air source heat pump's efficiency will depend on your home's outdoor climate. In especially cold climates, a heat pump will require more power to operate. 

The annual maintenance of a heat pump typically ranges from £100 to £200. Maintaining your home heat pump while in peak condition can prevent major malfunctions or breakages down the line and ensures consistent optimal performance. A heat pump cover is also worthwhile to maintain weather-resistance. 

When it comes to heat pump repairs, the average cost falls within the £500 to £600 range. Nevertheless, depending on the specific components, the expense can be as low as £150. On the other hand, extensive repairs may escalate to as much as £2,000.

Heat pump grants can significantly reduce the costs of your new air source heat pump. The following air source heat pump grants are currently available in the UK:

Boiler Upgrade Scheme

This £450 million government scheme offers a fixed grant of £7,500 off of both air source heat pumps and ground source heat pump costs to property owners in England and Wales. This is a great scheme aimed at supporting homeowners who want to replace a boiler with a heat pump.

Those eligible must:

Energy Company Obligation Scheme (ECO4)

This scheme offers cover for boiler repairs, insulation measures, and new low-carbon heating systems, like air source heat pumps. The amount of financial support you receive depends on your home's existing conditions. 

Those eligible must:

Warmer Homes Scotland

This initiative by the Scottish Government provides funding for new heat pump installations, as well as energy efficiency upgrades to homes in Scotland. In most cases, upgrades are paid in full up to £10,000. For those asked to contribute to the upfront costs, an interest-free loan can be provided. 

To qualify for this grant, you must:

Home Energy Scotland Scheme

Scottish property owners who install renewables through this scheme can qualify for an interest-free loan of up to £17,500. You may also receive a cashback of up to 75%, depending on the type of renewable heating you install. 

To qualify for this scheme, consider the following:

Nest Scheme, Wales

The Welsh Government provides a range of free home energy efficiency improvements, including air source heat pumps through the Nest Scheme. 

Those eligible must: 

If you find that you're not eligible for any of these heat pump grants, don't be put off! You can still save money by collecting heat pump quotes from various heat pump installers and choosing the most competitive offer. 

You can either spend countless hours of time on this, by researching the best installers in your area, or you can leave it to Household Quotes by using our free quotes service. It's simple: fill in our 30-second form then wait for responses from up to 4 of the most suitable options. 

All of the installers in our wide network have been pre-vetted by our team and we will only connect you with those based closest to you. This way you can be sure that you're comparing the most reputable options while taking advantage of the best local rates. 

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An air source heat pump with a CoP of 3 will consume 3,861kW of energy annually to provide enough energy for the average UK household, based on average heating demands of 12,000kW per year.

The current energy price cap level for electricity is 0.27p/kWh. Therefore, heating costs for the year with an air source heat pump will come to £1,042. 

Lastly, the daily standing charge for electricity is 0.53p per day. This brings the total running costs you can expect to pay to £1,235.45.

The average gas boiler has an efficiency of 82.5%. The amount of energy consumed by a combi boiler can be calculated as 12,000kW x 0.825 = 9,900kWh. 

With the price of gas currently sitting at 0.07p/kWh, the annual running costs come to £693. Including a daily standing charge of 0.30p, the total annual running costs becomes £802.50.  

Therefore, as things currently stand with the current price of energy, an air source heat pump will cost £432.95 more in annual running costs. 

Do bear in mind that these calculations are only meant to exemplify the potential difference in running costs between these heating systems and that the running costs you will have to pay could be affected by several other factors. 

The potential savings you can earn from switching to an air source heat pump depend on the type of heating system you are replacing, as well as its efficiency. 

The table below shows the potential annual savings that a 3-bedroom semi-detached home can make with a new air source heat pump, according to their previous heating system. 

_{Note: Savings apply to homes in England, Scotland and Wales (Oct 2023)}

_{Source: The Energy Savings Trust} 

Air source heat pumps are certainly worth the investment considering they're highly energy efficient, providing as much as 3-4 times the amount of energy for every kW a new system consumes. Because of this, heat pumps can save you money compared to the running costs of an outrated gas boiler. 

Since domestic heating and hot water are derived from the outside air, a renewable energy source, you can also drastically reduce your home's carbon footprint. This could be between 1,600 - 7,500kg per year, according to the Energy Savings Trust. 

While the initial upfront costs of an air source heat pump prevent a lot of homeowners from investing in one, with the help of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme you can save £7,500 on new air source heat pump installation costs. Some other grants in the UK also offer full cover to those who are eligible. 

The combination of an air source heat pump and solar panels could make your decision easier. Solar panels help in lowering the running costs of your air source heat pump and lower the break-even point a lot.

One of the best ways you can save money on installation, besides through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, is by comparing quotes from multiple heat pump installers. 

However, this can take several hours of research to make sure you're only comparing the most credible options. You could be waiting several days by the time you have quotes ready to compare. 

To help you along with this, let the team Household Quotes take care of finding installers for you. Here's how it works:

With Household Quotes, the process of installing a whole new heating system doesn't need to be stressful or taxing. The majority of installers in our network offer the option to pay by finance. Get the home upgrade that you want, while spreading the costs. 

Our service is free, fast, and you're under no obligation to accept any of the quotes you receive from us. 

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