Understanding How Heat Pumps Really Work in Any Home
Heat pumps only work in newer homes
False – Heat pumps can be fitted into any age of building not only new builds. Historic England produced a report published in May 2023 based on heat pump installations in older buildings and concluded that they worked well in a range of historic buildings.
Buildings need to be very well insulated for heat pumps to work
False – Heat Pumps will work more effectively in homes with better insulation but if installed and set-up correctly, they work very well in less well insulated buildings but may require a larger unit and will cost more to run than those in houses with better insulation.
Heat pumps don’t work in cold temperatures
False – Finland, Norway & Sweden have the highest uptake of heat pumps per capita & the coldest winters in Europe! Study after study have shown that even in sub zero temperatures, heat pumps offer an effective alternative to heating systems powered by fossil fuels.
Heat pumps will not keep me warm in colder weather
False – When correctly installed, set-up and maintained, heat pumps will provide consistent, reliable heat and comfort. The UK Charity Nesta carried out a survey of heat pump users and over 80% of people stated that they were satisfied with how the technology performed, a very similar figure to respondents to surveys of people using fossil fuel heating.
Heat pumps are noisy
False – According to a research paper by Apex Acoustics, noise complaints post heat pump installation are at 0.03%, the UK government’s Department for Energy Security & Net Zero review (2023) concluded that the rare instance of noise complaints result from poor installations. Sound from a heat pump does need to be considered but a reputable installer will ensure that the size, model and siting of the pump will be factored in when carrying out a survey and deciding where to locate the pump. Newer heat pumps are much quieter than older models.W
Want to learn more?
For more information on heat pumps and how they can benefit your home, reach out to our Green Energy Hubs in Inverness or Pitlochry. Our experts are ready to help you explore the best options for your needs. You can also visit our website [here] to learn more about our services and how we can assist you in making your home more energy-efficient and sustainable.