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What Homes Are Not Suitable for Heat Pumps?

What-homes-are-not-suitable-for-heat-pumps
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Most households in the UK are going for heat pumps as an environmentally friendly way of heating home space. Heat pumps draw warmth from outside air or from the ground – a very environmentally friendly alternative to conventional gas boilers. However, heat pumps are ‘not suitable’ for half of UK homes. Some homes simply aren’t built to accommodate how heat pumps work.

However, for those homes where the heat pumps will work, it is extremely costly to install. Under the ECO4 scheme, eligible households can get a grant covering the full cost of switching to a heat pump.  

But despite these advantages, heat pumps aren’t suitable for every home. Some older properties, such as Victorian terraces or flats, don’t have enough outdoor space to accommodate a heat pump’s proper installation. So, let’s delve into the details regarding homes unsuitable for heat pumps in the UK.

Millions of UK Homes Are Not Suitable for Heat Pumps

While heat pumps play a big role in the future of heating, they will not work appropriately for everybody. The Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA) estimates that as many as 8 to 13 million homes in the UK are unsuitable for heat pumps. The key issue? For the heat pump to effectively work, your house needs to be well-insulated and have enough indoor and outdoor space for the system.

The fact is that many houses, especially older ones, are simply not suited to these demands. Think of Victorian terraces or city-centre flats where the space is limited and walls do not retain heat well. This would imply that for them to shift to a heat pump now, major changes would be required such as adding external insulation or upgrading radiators. That is not only expensive but also disruptive to everyday life.

What Homes Are Not Suitable for Heat Pumps in the UK?

Heat pumps can be a very good choice for eco-conscious homeowners, but they are not suitable for each and every type of home. Let’s look at homes that are not suitable for a heat pump:

1. Poorly Insulated Homes

Heat pumps don’t generate heat themselves; instead, they transfer it from one point to another. Thus, they run most efficiently in well-insulated homes. A poorly insulated home, one that loses its heat quickly, starts making the pump work harder and longer to get up to a comfortable temperature, reducing efficiency immediately.

Any home with very thin walls, old windows, and/or insufficient insulation in the loft or floor will find it very difficult to retain warmth from the heat pump. In these cases, one should invest in insulation upgrades, which can sometimes be provided under ECO4 insulation grants, prior to installing a heat pump.

Poor Insulation Signs:

  • Drafts coming through windows or doors.
  • Inequality of temperature in different rooms.
  • High energy bills while using minimal heating.

If these signs occur in your house, then the heat pump will not be able to work well without first enhancing insulation.

2. Properties Lacking Sufficient Outdoor Space

With heat pumps, both indoor and outdoor spaces are a must. Air source heat pumps require adequate outdoor space for the fan unit, while ground source heat pumps require large trenches or boreholes that should be dug out – something quite inappropriate for properties without outdoor lands.

Another important factor is the size of the heat pump. If a pump happens to be small, it will not heat the home as well as it should be, whereas a pump that is larger may drive costs up needlessly. The right size of the heat pump would depend upon certain factors such as heating needs, insulation, and several others linked with the layout of a home.

3. Homes with Inadequate Heating Systems

Most UK homes—especially older ones—are heated by a system based on the principle that high-intensity heat is provided for short lengths of time through boilers, either gas or oil. Heat pumps generate less intensive heat but for a longer duration.

Consequently, houses with small radiators or those that are of older design cannot distribute the heat properly. This will lead to homeowners, in many instances, replacing radiators with larger ones or installing underfloor heating, adding upfront cost and disruption to switch to a heat pump.

4. Houses with a Low EPC Rating

Generally speaking, low-rated EPC houses are not energy efficient and, thus, poor candidates for heat pumps. Typically, houses graded E, F, and G have very old properties that have poor insulation, single glazing, and inefficient heating systems. To get such homes ready for a heat pump, major work would be involved which should improve the energy efficiency of the property.

For example, upgrading the rating of a house from E to C EPC band can cost thousands of pounds. This is even before one considers installing a heat pump.

5. Listed Buildings and Homes in Conservation Areas

Buildings in listed categories or mostly in conservation areas are very difficult to install heat pumps due to the restrictions present. Most of the installations, especially for air source heat pumps, will require heavy modifications on the exterior of your house. This may include attaching an external unit to the wall or roof.

You may need to check with local authorities or planning bodies for any alteration in listed properties. For properties in conservation areas, there are normally strict rules over visible changes to the outward appearance of your home. This could limit your ability to install the external unit of a heat pump.

6. Houses in Very Cold Regions

While air source heat pumps can work quite well in a wide range of climates, their efficiencies do tend to drop off for regions that experience extremely cold temperatures. This is because these units work by extracting heat from the air, and the colder that air is, the less heat available for transfer into your home.

In areas where temperatures are continually below freezing for long periods, air-source heat pumps would hardly provide enough heat without depending greatly on supplementary heating sources such as electric heaters.

Check your Eligibility Now

If you are receiving benefits from the UK Government you can apply for free air source heat pump grants.

Majority of Rural Homes Are Not Suitable for Heat Pumps

One recent survey of oil heating technicians estimated that nearly 90% of rural homes currently are unsuitable for heat pumps. Following are some of the key challenges:

  • Poor insulation: The majority of rural households, that is over 70%, are not well insulated and hence cannot retain the subtle heat the heat pumps generate.
  • Old and worn-out properties: Almost 70% of the rural houses are too old or in bad condition to even consider installing heat pumps without expensive renovations.
  • Less-than-sufficient Radiators: 30% of homes would be in need of newer, larger radiators to distribute the heat properly. The current sizes of radiators cannot support heat pumps.
  • Low EPC ratings: More than 65% of oil-heated homes are in the lowest EPC bands. Improving a home with an EPC rating from E to C or above could cost upwards of £13,000 – perhaps impossible for these households to handle.

Although the initial installation price of a heat pump is high, many households in the UK could be eligible for the ECO4 scheme. This is a grant covering low-income families to make their homes more energy-efficient. It configures a free installation of air source heat pumps with solar panels.

Can Heat Pumps Be Installed in Older Properties?

While installation of heat pumps in older properties is possible, it requires careful planning and consideration. Most old homes lack proper insulation, which is one of the prime essentials for the efficiency of a heat pump. Insulation in lofts, walls, or floors will usually need to be upgraded to prevent heat loss.

Another factor is that heat pumps work at lower temperatures, which means either installing larger radiators to supplement the existing ones or adding underfloor heating.

Despite these challenges, retrofitting heat pumps into older homes is increasingly feasible. Several studies estimate that a majority of the heat pump installations by 2025 will be in existing buildings.

Up to 4 Million Homes Could Be Made Suitable for Heat Pump Retrofit

While heat pumps are not suitable for every home, up to 4 million properties that are currently unsuitable could become suitable with the appropriate energy efficiency measures, such as cavity wall insulation.

However, such an upgrading of some homes may be expensive and disruptive. Besides upgrading the insulation in homes, the electricity grid would also have to be upgraded to meet increased demands due to heat pumps, most especially at peak demand periods.

Therefore, the ECO4 scheme likewise extends free solar panel installation along with heat pumps to help reduce your electricity bills.

Things to Consider Before Installing a Heat Pump

The following questions will help you determine whether your home is right for a heat pump.

  • Is your house well insulated?

Proper insulation can save energy and avoid heat loss.

  • Is your outdoor space adequate?

Outdoor units should be installed with enough room for airflow. At least 1 metre from walls and windows.

  • Do you own an outdoor space?

If land is shared, neighbours’ permission may be required.

  • Is there enough free indoor space?

Room for indoor units, a hot water tank, and airflow around each unit are crucial for peak performance.

  • What type of heating does one currently use?

Heat pumps work best with underfloor heating systems or low-temperature radiators.

  • Are you ready to make upgrades if needed?

Similarly, some houses may need upgrades in radiators and insulation to enhance efficiency.

Get a Free Air Source Heat Pump Under the ECO4 Scheme

ECO4 is a government scheme that might allow air source heat pump installation at little or no cost to the household, subject to eligibility. You could receive a heat pump installation, provided you qualify. This can radically lower your carbon footprint along with energy bills.

The second is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, or BUS, which offers up to £7,500 off of the cost of installing a heat pump. It would be fair to say that the BUS is helpful in the transition from gas boilers to more energy-efficient heat pumps, considering how high up-front the cost is for those looking to go green.

Frequently Asked Question

Draughty or poorly insulated homes may not retain the heat of a pump. Also, your electrical service may need upgrading if it is below par. For extremely cold weather, the heating pumps come recommended with a backup heating system.

While heat pumps can suit most homes, some properties have operational difficulties because of either outer spacing or poor insulation.

Heat pumps can struggle in very cold weather, requiring a backup system. They require good insulation to function effectively.

Heat pumps do require ample outdoor space with decent airflow for the outdoor unit.  The components, such as the hot water tank, need indoor space.

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