With many households looking to reduce energy bills — and considering renewable energy solutions such as heat pumps — it is likely that they would want to do some research first to make sure they find the best possible solution for them. While there are many advantages of installing air source heat pumps, in both homes and commercial premises, they are not without some disadvantages too.
As a great alternative to gas boilers, heat pumps are capable of providing both heating and hot water and offer a range of benefits, including reduced energy bills and lower carbon footprints. However, there are a few air source heat pump disadvantages to be aware of so you can make an informed choice.
Air Source Heat Pump Disadvantages & Counterpoints…
| Disadvantage | Counterpoint |
| 1. Lower heat supply | Larger radiators |
| 2. Additional costs | Long-term savings |
| 3. New insulation | Better thermal efficiency |
| 4. Performance dips in the cold | Seasonal Coefficient Of Performance |
| 5. Noise nuisance | Think about position & not as noisy as once were |
| 6. High upfront cost | Energy bill savings |
| 7. Electricity powered | Electricity can come from renewable sources |
| 8. Maintenance required | Healthier system for longer |
1. Lower Heat Supply
Air source heat pumps can only generate a lower heat supply when compared with oil or gas boilers (which burn fossil fuel to produce heat). If you think about it, that makes sense as air source heat pumps extract the heat from the ambient air around the system outside the home.
If the ambient temperatures outdoors are low, the heat pump will need to work harder and therefore require more electricity to extract enough heat to meet heat demand. Compressing that air will, of course, extract more heat from it, but it can never rival the heat produced almost instantaneously by burning fossil fuels in traditional oil or gas fuelled boilers. Air source heat pumps typically reach a maximum water temperature of around 45°C compared to around 75-80°C from boilers.
Counter: Larger Radiators
Although not ideal, there is actually a solution to the lower heat supply issue mentioned above. With larger or ‘oversized’ radiators, your air source heat pump can still heat your home as well as a boiler can.
Of course, you then have to deal with housing those larger radiators in your home, which isn’t always practical for homeowners with smaller properties. Here, using an underfloor heating system connected to your heat pump might be a better option instead, but again, this comes with certain disadvantages, too…
2. Additional Costs
If you opt for underfloor heating as part of your air source heat pump installation, then you’ll certainly get a more efficient heating system capable of keeping your whole home warm and comfortable throughout the year.
However, if you need to install underfloor heating, then you’ll have to pay extra for the installation and that isn’t ideal if your budget is somewhat limited. It’s also worth noting that installing underfloor heating isn’t a simple job, it requires a fairly large amount of disruption to your living space while the installer does the work.
Counter: Long-term cost savings
Whilst installing underfloor heating brings additional costs and can be a slight logistical headache for you, it’s certainly worth doing if you have the budget for it. It’s the best way to ensure your home’s new heating is working most efficiently and keeping your running costs to a minimum.
3. New Insulation
Another factor you need to consider before installing air source heat pumps (or even a ground source heat pump for that matter) is just how well your insulation is performing right now? If it’s old or underperforming, then you’ll need to seriously consider purchasing new insulation as your air source heat pump won’t be able to perform well without it.
In fact, if you currently have an oil or gas powered boiler, then you might want to have professionals in to check your insulation quality. You might not realise that it’s failing or not performing as it should, because oil/gas powered boilers are able to mask a lot of that heat loss due to their higher heat supply.
If you do need new insulation to make your home more thermally efficient for your new air source heat pump, then it will clearly come at an extra cost to you, which can be a significant drawback when considering a heat pump installation.
Counter: Better Thermal Efficiency
Although it comes at an extra cost, having new insulation alongside a new heat pump system is no bad thing. You’ll save significantly on heating bills because of your house’s ability to retain the warmth your new heat pump is producing.
Lower energy bills means bigger savings, which in turn means a quicker turnaround time before your annual savings eventually cover the cost of your new insulation and heat pump installation. Better thermal efficiency also means a more comfortable home for you. Various insulation grants to improve energy efficiency can also make insulation improvements much more affordable.
4. Performance Dips In The Cold
When the temperature outside drops below 0℃, the performance of your air source heat pump will start to drop off too. That’s not to say they won’t work – they will, however, not perform at their best and will require more electricity to generate the required heat.
Since an air source heat pump relies on the air outside for the system to work, it makes sense that when temperatures drop below freezing, your air source heat pump will have to work a little harder to extract the heat, and therefore might not be able to produce as much heat as it otherwise would.
Whilst performance dips when temperatures drop below 0°C, your heat pump will still be able to provide you with heat, though you will notice an increased cost in running the system during this time.
Counter: Seasonal Coefficient Of Performance (SCOP)
Now, we’re not trying to hide the fact that your heat pump’s performance will dip when temperatures are below freezing. But that’s compared to its performance when temperatures are above freezing, and when temperatures are above freezing, heat pumps work extremely efficiently.
This is all measured through something known as the seasonal coefficient of performance, or SCOP. You don’t necessarily need to understand how the SCOP is measured, but you do need to know what the value means.
This is best understood through an example:
If a heat pump has a SCOP score of 5, then for every one unit of electricity it takes to power the heat pump, the heat pump will generate 5 units of free energy from the air for your home.
For reference, when temperatures are around 7℃, most heat pumps operate with a realistic SCOP score of 3.2. Even in freezing temperatures most heat pumps won’t drop below a SCOP score of 2, and it will almost certainly always remain above 1, so you will still be getting ‘free’ units of energy from the air no matter the temperature.
Our point? Even in freezing temperatures your heat pumps will be performing well, just not as well as they would in warmer temperatures.
5. Noise Nuisance
Nuisance may be a harsh term to use here, since most people compare an air source heat pump in operation to the sound of light to heavy rain, but there’s no denying that it produces a noise when operating and that noise can be irritating to some.
Of course, heat pump noise levels have reduced and continue to fall as new technologies are developed, but it may be a good while yet before we see a completely or near silent air source heat pump on the market.
Counter: Carefully Consider Heat Pump Location
If you know that the air source heat pump is going to make a noise when operating, then you can plan this to some extent. Of course, the position of your heat pump needs to be led by your installer because they’ll know where it’ll perform at its best.
However, there’s nothing stopping you sitting down with them and discussing your concerns about the noise – they may be able to help. For example, if you’re a light sleeper then you might be able to work out a plan for moving your heat pump further away from your bedroom.
6. High Upfront Cost
The biggest disadvantage and barrier to installing air source heat pumps has to be the upfront cost. If they were cheaper, heat pump installers would almost certainly be run off their feet because of the range of benefits they bring.
As it stands, though, the cost is high, and that can put off a lot of would-be buyers. It’s difficult to say how much an air source heat pump installation could cost you, because so many factors affect installation. As a rough estimate though, an air source heat pump including installation could cost anywhere from around £8,000 to £18,000.
For a more accurate estimate fill out our quick form today and compare multiple heat pump installers near you for the best possible deals.
Counter: Energy Bill Savings
The upfront cost is a significant barrier to air source heat pumps, and here at Heat Pumps UK we would never try to minimise the extent of it. Air source heat pumps cost a lot, but they also help you save a lot.
If you do have the budget to invest in air source heat pumps, then it’s worth thinking about your return on investment. Over the years, the savings you’ll make in energy bills will eventually cover the cost of your installation, and after that you’re making incredible savings year on year.
It’s also worth bearing in mind that some of your costs of replacing your gas boiler with a heat pump could be covered by free funding. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme, for example, provides the opportunity for eligible households to get up to £7,500 in grants to upgrade their central heating system to an energy efficient alternative.
7. Electricity Powered
From the largest disadvantage to the smallest disadvantage now, but it’s a disadvantage all the same. It’s worth noting that air source heat pumps still require electricity to power them, and that electricity will most likely be provided by the grid, so it’ll cost you to run the heat pump to begin with.
During colder months it will cost you even more to run the heat pump, and that can be frustrating to some customers who may have assumed that as a renewable heating system, heat pumps might not cost them anything to run at all.
Counter: Use solar to power your heat pump
Of course, if you already rely on a renewable system for your electricity, such as solar panels, then the electricity used to run your heat pump could be free, but not everybody has this luxury and not everybody can afford to rely fully on renewable energy sources to power and heat their home.
8. Maintenance Required
In order to keep your system running at its best, you will need to have your system serviced and that maintenance won’t be free. That means yet more cost for an annual service or other maintenance issues that you might not have considered beforehand.
Unfortunately, maintenance on heat pumps can’t be carried out yourself as they need a thorough annual service to ensure they’re working as they should – a job that’s someone without the relevant training, knowledge, and experience simply isn’t qualified to do.
Counter: Healthier System For Longer
This isn’t so much a counterpoint as it is just a benefit that comes out of the maintenance work – and that’s that your heat pump system will perform so much better for longer — usually around 15 year on average — thanks to regular servicing and maintenance.
Why You Should Still Choose Air Source Heat Pumps
Despite many of the disadvantages outlined, we’ve countered many of those, so that in many cases an air source heat pump is still a worthy option. As a low carbon heating systems that can generate heat and hot water for your home, they can also work in reverse to cool your home by extracting heat and releasing cooler air into your home, much like an air conditioner.
As a renewable source of heating, this makes heat pump technology a much greener choice for your home than traditional oil or gas boilers or a wet central heating system. Air source heat pumps are also a less expensive option than ground source heat pumps. While there’s no denying that air source heat pumps aren’t suitable for every situation, especially for those limited for space or whose homes are difficult to insulate effectively or in a cost-effective way.
Heat Pumps UK is here to help you understand whether an air source heat pump is a suitable option for you. With options including high temperature heat pumps or oversized radiators, a heat pump installation could still work out a cost-effective option for you. We’ll put you in touch with the best local heat pump installers who can advise you on your heat pump options and whether they’re the right option for you.
