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Air Source Heat Pumps in Scotland: Costs, Grants & Savings
- Air source heat pumps are a worthwhile investment in Scotland, as they can help you reduce your carbon footprint and save up to £290 on your yearly heating bills.
- Installing an air source heat pump costs anywhere between £2,400 and £14,050, depending on whether you opt for an air to air or air to water heat pump.
- Once installed, you can save up to £1,200 on your annual energy expenses, depending on the kind of energy system you’re replacing with an air source heat pump.
- In Scotland, you can apply for air source heat pump grants such as the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan or Warmer Homes Scotland to reduce the financial burden of investing in renewable energy.
Are you looking to join the thousands of homeowners who are reaping the financial and environmental benefits of installing an air source heat pump in Scotland? Then you’ll want to know all about how heat pumps work, how much they cost, and what you can expect in terms of savings.
In this guide, we’ll answer all your questions about heat pumps in Scotland to help you decide whether transitioning to renewable energy is the right choice for you. If you conclude that you’re ready to make this investment, the next step is to contact reliable heat pump installers to get the job done right.
Fortunately, you don’t have to waste hours of your precious free time googling local professionals. With our free quotes service, you can easily get in touch with up to 4 heat pump installers in no time. Simply click below to get started now - it only takes 30 seconds!
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Do heat pumps work in Scotland?
Yes, air source heat pumps work well in Scotland, as they are up to 350% efficient. This means that for each unit of electricity they consume, they produce 3.5 units of energy. In comparison, gas boilers are about 95% efficient, which means that some fuel is wasted in the process of generating energy.
So, with an air source heat pump, you’ll be able to spend less on fuelling your heating system than you would with a boiler. This is good to bear in mind if you’re looking to replace a boiler with a heat pump.
That said, air source heat pump efficiency can be affected by weather conditions. Once temperatures get below freezing, you may notice a decrease in your heat pump’s power output, as efficiency levels can drop down to 100%. This issue is specific to air source heat pumps in the UK, as ground source heat pumps are far less affected by weather conditions.
However, your system should only be affected significantly in temperatures close to -25°C, which hardly ever occurs in Scotland. So, compared to other parts of the world in which these temperatures occur more frequently during the winter months, air source heat pumps in Scotland can typically maintain their 350% efficiency levels year-round.
Air source heat pump cost in Scotland
How much an air source heat pump costs depends per heat pump type. Air to air heat pumps are cheaper, with costs ranging from £2,400 - £8,800, whereas air to water heat pumps are around £8,400 - £12,350. However, the latter have lower annual running costs.
For an overview of the financial implications of investing in an air source heat pump, check out the table below:
| Air Source Heat Pump Type | Household Size | Estimated Supply Costs | Estimated Installation Costs | Estimated Annual Running Costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air to air | 1 bedroom | £2,400 - £6,200 | £350 - £1,700 | £1,050 |
| Air to water | 1 bedroom | £8,400 - £11,150 | £350 - £1,700 | £750 |
| Air to air | 2 - 3 bedrooms | £6,200 - £8,400 | £350 - £1,700 | £1,500 |
| Air to water | 2 - 3 bedrooms | £10,000 - £12,000 | £350 - £1,700 | £1,050 |
| Air to air | 4 - 5 bedrooms | £8,000+ | £350 - £1,700 | £2,000 |
| Air to water | 4 - 5 bedrooms | £12,000+ | £350 - £1,700 | £1,450 |
As you can see, heat pumps are a significant investment, especially if you’re choosing from amongst the best air source heat pumps in the UK. To avoid overspending on your new heat pump, you’ll want to compare prices across multiple manufacturers and find the installer with the best service costs.
Looking for installers and prices on your own can drag on for hours on end. Why not let us help you get started in just 30 seconds instead? By filling in our simple form, we can send you quotes from up to 4 local air source heat pump installers for free. Just click below to secure the best deal for your home!
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Air source heat pump grants in Scotland
Currently, there are multiple heat pump grants in Scotland that you can apply for to make the investment in an air source heat pump more manageable. These are:
- Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan: Eligible homeowners can apply for a grant of up to £7,500 or an interest-free loan adding up to £15,000.
- Warmer Homes Scotland: By applying, homeowners can receive an interest-free loan of up to £10,000 to install an air source heat pump in Scotland.
- Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) Scheme: This scheme is open to applicants based in England, Scotland, and Wales, and offers funding between £7,000 and £20,000 for a heat pump installation. The exact amount you can receive depends on your specific situation.
- 0% VAT: The VAT reduction is applicable across the UK and can help you save up to £2,450 on heat pump installation costs, depending on your situation.
As of August 2024, the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan no longer offers funding for heat pump installations if you’re in the process of building a new home. However, if you live in an existing building, you can still benefit from this grant.
Air source heat pump savings in Scotland
Exactly how much you can save on your annual heating bills after your air source heat pump installation depends on the old heating system you’re replacing. For instance, an average 3-bedroom household can save up to £290 per year by replacing an old gas boiler with an air source heat pump.
Here are some other estimated air source heat pump savings for an average-sized home in Scotland:
| Old Energy System | Estimated Annual Savings |
|---|---|
| New (A-rated) gas boiler | -£3 |
| Old (G-rated) gas boiler | £290 |
| Old electric storage heaters | £1,200 |
| New electric storage heaters | £700 |
| Old (G-rated) oil boiler | £280 |
| New (A-rated) oil boiler | -£55 |
| Old (G-rated) LPG boiler | £650 |
Heat pumps in Scotland: Advantages & disadvantages
Before moving forward with the installation process, it’s important to carefully consider the pros and cons of installing an air source heat pump in Scotland. Let’s start with the advantages:
- Increased energy efficiency: Since air source heat pumps operate by transferring heat rather than generating it themselves (like boilers do), they are significantly more efficient than traditional heating systems, reaching efficiency levels of up to 350%.
- Reduced carbon footprint: Because they produce 3.5 units of energy for each unit of electricity they consume, an air source heat pump can help you reduce your reliance on fossil fuels to warm up your home. Compared to an old gas boiler, you can reduce your CO2 emissions by up to 1900kg yearly.
- Lower energy bills: Since an air source heat pump produces more energy than it consumes, you’ll spend less money on fuelling your heating system. As a result, you can expect to save up to £290 per year compared to an old gas boiler.
- Availability of government grants: While air source heat pumps are quite expensive to install, there are multiple government grants, such as the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan and Warmer Homes Scotland, that you can apply for to minimise your investment’s impact on your bank account.
- Compatibility with other energy systems: Air source heat pumps can be paired with other energy systems, such as solar panels, to make your heating system even more environmentally friendly. They can also be connected to a boiler if you’re looking to install a hybrid heat pump in Scotland.
- Easy installation: Air source heat pumps are fairly easy to install, which means that the process shouldn’t be too disruptive to the comfort of your home, even though it can take between 2 - 5 days to complete.
- Increased versatility: Since an air source heat pump can be used for both heating and cooling purposes, investing in one means that you can eliminate the need for separate appliances such as a boiler and an air conditioner.
While the advantages of installing a heat pump in Scotland are impressive, there are also some downsides that you should be aware of. These include:
- Potential reduced efficiency: Air source heat pumps lose their efficiency once temperatures are closer to -25°C in winter. However, in Scotland, such low temperatures have rarely occurred in recent years, meaning that you shouldn’t notice a huge impact on your system during the colder months.
- High initial cost: Air source heat pumps are far from cheap, with supply costs ranging from £2,400 to £12,350 and installation costs being anywhere between £350 - £1,700. That said, you can apply for one of Scotland’s heat pump grants to avoid breaking the bank.
- Space requirements: While air source heat pump units aren’t that large (with average dimensions being about 150 x 100cm), you do need to consider that you will need to have enough space inside and outside of your home to install your system.
- Possible noise disruptions: Most modern air source heat pumps are designed to operate quietly, but you may notice some noise disruptions depending on the make and model of the heat pump you choose.
Is a heat pump in Scotland worth it?
Yes, an air source heat pump is worth it in Scotland if you’re looking to reduce your carbon footprint and lower your annual energy bills. Once installed, you can save around £290 per year on your energy bills.
As for your CO2 savings, these can reach up to 1900kg per year for an average household. For an even more environmentally-friendly solution, you can pair your air source heat pump with solar panels, so that it can run on green electricity and help you further reduce your carbon emissions.
Ready to reap the environmental and financial benefits of installing an air source heat pump in Scotland? Then your next step is to consult a reliable professional who can advise you on the best heat pump size, make, and model for your home and provide a safe and high-quality installation.
Instead of wasting hours of your precious time looking up installers on your own, let us connect you with up to 4 professionals from our network. This way, you can find the right installer for you in no time. Simply click below to start now - it’s quick, easy, and completely free!
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