Is My Off-Grid Home Suitable for a Heat Pump?

Heating our homes makes up 14% of the UK’s carbon emissions, so as we all move towards a lower carbon future, it’s no surprise that we’re being urged to reduce our reliance on fossil-fuelled boilers. This is particularly true for homes off the mains gas grid, as they are typically older, less energy efficient, and use more heat.

The government plans to phase out traditional boilers over the coming years, and it is now actively incentivising people to transition towards greener alternatives. Through its Boiler Upgrade Scheme , it’s offering homes £5,000 grants to put towards installing heating pumps, as well as other low carbon heating systems. In fact, it hopes to be installing 600,000 heat pumps a year by 2028.

Heat pumps are an efficient renewable technology, and they will of course play an important role as the country journeys to net zero emissions. However, anyone considering switching to heat pumps needs to be aware that you need the right conditions and requirements for installation to get the best results.

For example, they work best in highly insulated, airtight properties; they need to be matched with low-temperature radiators or underfloor heating; they need to be kept on consistently; and you need to have enough space inside and out to accommodate them. Admittedly, they’re not the perfect solution for everyone. In fact, a recent report from the Energy and Utilities Alliance suggests they could potentially be impractical for up to 54% of UK homes.

So, how do you know if heat pumps are the right fit for your off-grid home? With some insights from the Off-Grid Gas Division at Flogas, we’ve taken a look at the key factors you need to consider before investing in a heat pump and also looked at how heat pumps compare with LPG (and soon-to-come Bio-LPG), which could be a more effective and lower-cost option for some off-grid homes looking for a greener heating solution.

What is a heat pump?

Heat pumps look similar to an air conditioning unit, and they sit outside of your property. They work like a fridge but in reverse, taking heat from the air outside, boosting it to a higher temperature using a compressor, and then transferring it indoors to heat your radiators or underfloor heating. The remaining heat is stored in your hot water cylinder that you can then use for showers, baths, and taps. The pump and compressor run on electricity, but if your heat pump is installed in the right conditions, they should use less energy than the heat they produce, making them an energy-efficient solution.

Is your home insulated enough?

For a heat pump to work effectively, your home must be properly insulated. Heat pumps operate at lower temperatures than traditional heating systems, which means they can take longer to get rooms to temperature if they’re draughty and letting out lots of heat.

Britain has some of the least energy-efficient housing in Europe , and for homes to become suitable for heat pumps, significant upgrades may be required. Around 25 million homes lack adequate insulation, and to bring a poorly insulated home up to scratch could cost thousands.

This may be a particular concern for off-grid properties, as rural homes are typically old and less energy efficient, making them more challenging to upgrade. For example, oil-heated homes are more likely to have solid walls, which are harder to insulate to a good standard. Solid wall insulation can cost anywhere between £5,000 and £11,000 , and it can impact a home’s appearance, which can make it unattractive to homeowners.

Do you have the right radiators?

Because heat pumps operate at a lower temperature, they should be paired with low-temperature radiators or underfloor heating. Unlike boilers, which switch on and off and let you heat a space very quickly, heat pumps are meant to stay on 24/7 – providing a comfortable and consistent ambient temperature. However, this does mean it can take longer to heat up your home. Conventional boilers will heat the water in your radiators up to 75°C, whereas a heat pump circulates hot water to radiators or underfloor heating at temperatures of between 35°C –45°C when working at its most efficient mode.