Top 5 Reasons to Replace your Old Gas Boiler with a New Heat Pump!

For a smoother transition to decarbonisation and to meet the UK’s 2050 Net Zero targets, Heat pumps are rising in popularity with the government even implementing schemes to incentivise homes and businesses to replace their gas boilers.

What is a Heat Pump?

A Heat pump is similar to a standalone air conditioning split unit, that is used to provide both heating and cooling to businesses and homes through refrigeration technology. 

It works in the opposite way to a kitchen fridge, it takes energy from the air outside and pulls it in thereby boiling the refrigerant which is further heated by passing it through a compressor. This heat typically varying around 60 Deg C can be used to heat the radiators, water or the underfloor heating system. In simple terms, a heat pump moves heat from one location to another providing a heating solution during winter and cooling solution during summer.Heat Pumps offer incredibly efficient heating and cooling solutions without needing any ductwork. Since it offers both heating and cooling, there is no need for two different appliances.

The top 5 advantages of heat pumps are as follows

1.Very low running costs and maintenance

Very little intervention and maintenance is required to keep the heat pump running. A simple, periodic cleaning of the filter will ensure the heat pump operates at its optimum performance.

2.Reduces Carbon Emissions

A heat pump uses electricity which is a more environmentally friendly form of energy compared to the gas used for a gas boiler. In the UK, about 40% of energy generated is through renewable sources. By combining heat pumps with solar panels, you can make your business or home self-sufficient and eco-friendly.

3.Provides Cooling

As the name implies, one can get an impression that a heat pump only provides heat. However, heat pumps operate in such a way that the mechanism when reversed will provide a cooling solution as well, meaning you won’t have to drag the dusty fan out of the loft every summer!

4.Long lifespan

​​A heat pump system will last about 15 years. The lifespan of a heat pump largely depends on how well the heat pump system is maintained, climate, and location. A well-maintained heat pump can last 20-25 years, making it worth it in the long run with an attractive ROI.

5.Government Incentives

The UK Government has set up multiple schemes to accelerate the replacement of gas boilers with heat pumps for businesses and homes.

These schemes include

• Heat Network Investment Project (HNIP) – HNIP has been set up by the Department of BEIS, offering affordable and reliable heat by providing funding for commercially viable heat network schemes that will deliver cost-effective and low carbon energy. This fund will be open until at least April 2022, when its further continuation will be reviewed by the government.
• Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF) – The phase 2 of this government funding scheme offers manufacturing sites upto 50% off from the cost of installing renewable devices. Funding is allocated through a competitive process aimed at supporting the highest quality and most transformational bids. The fund is open to a broad range of industrial sectors and will support applicants based in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, both within and outside of industrial clusters. If your site is based in Scotland, you can apply for the Scottish Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (SIETF)
• Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) – RHI is a domestic funding scheme that covers certain heat pumps, solar water heating systems and biomass boilers. This means, any renewable heat energy that is produced through a heat pump will be paid for through this RHI  scheme. 

If any of the above is in your interest and you’d like to know more about Heat Pumps, we are more than happy to help. Please drop an email to info@qenergy.ai, and one of our experts will get in touch with you.