Heat pump guide

It’s a low carbon heating system that takes heat from the outside environment and raises the temperature to use in your central heating system.

It uses electricity to do this. But for every unit of electricity it uses, it produces three units of heat. This makes them a very efficient alternative to a gas or oil boiler for heating your home. 

They also produce much fewer CO2 emissions than other heating systems, and keep your home at a consistent temperature throughout the day making it warm and cosy.

Source: Energy Savings Trust

There are two types that are most common in the UK:

• Air source
• Ground source

Which one is better suited to you largely depends on your budget and property type. You can find out what might be right for you by visiting Heat pumps | Home Energy Scotland.

A heat pump works a bit like a fridge, but in reverse – instead of keeping things cold, it moves heat into your home. It pulls low-level heat from the air or the ground outside, boosts it to a higher temperature, and then uses it to warm your radiators, underfloor heating, and hot water.

It does this using a clever four-step cycle:

• Collecting heat – even on chilly days, there’s heat in the air and ground. The heat pump captures it using a special liquid refrigerant.
• Boosting the temperature – the refrigerant is compressed, turning it into gas.
• Warming your home – this hot gas transfers its heat into your central heating system, ready to keep rooms cosy and water hot.
• Starting over – the gas cools, turns back into a liquid, and is ready to collect more heat.

Source: Heat pumps: how they work, costs, and savings - Energy Saving Trust

They are suitable for most houses in the UK. Despite this, there are several ‘myths’ that are holding people back from adopting the technology.

Read the 11 heat pump myths | Home Energy Scotland for the common hot topics and misconceptions about heat pumps.

All over Scotland, homeowners are making the switch to heat pumps – cutting carbon, saving energy, and keeping their homes cosy. Head over to Home Energy Scotland to read our inspiring Heat Pump Hero case studies.