Your Complete Guide to Air Source Heat Pumps
(Understand how they work, what they cost, and whether they’re right for your home
Heat pumps are becoming increasingly suitable for UK homes. Advances in heat pump technology, coupled with improvements in home insulation, correctly sized pipework, and underfloor heating, make a modern heat pump more suitable than you think!
UK homes vary massively from the 1930s to Victorian to the 1950s, and even to Barn conversions, so not every home is going to be right for a heat pump. No matter what type of home you have, the same rules for making it suitable still apply.
To help with this, we have broken it down into three types of install:
- Boiler needs replacing?
- Home extension?
- New build developer?
Thinking About Getting a Heat Pump?
Start the conversation — no pressure, just friendly advice and support (including help with grants).
What Is an Air Source Heat Pump?
An air source heat pump (ASHP) is a low-carbon heating system that pulls warmth from the air outside and uses it to heat your home and hot water. It runs on electricity rather than gas and is considered one of the most efficient, eco-friendly alternatives to traditional boilers.
How Do Air Source Heat Pumps Work?
Think of it like a reverse fridge:
- A fan draws in outside air.
- Heat is absorbed into a refrigerant.
- The refrigerant is compressed, increasing its temperature
- This heat is transferred into your home’s heating system.
Bonus: Some air source heat pumps can also cool your home in summer by reversing the process — like built-in air conditioning.
Types of Heat Pumps
Ground Source Heat Pumps
- Heats both your radiators/underfloor heating and your hot water
- Requires deep bore holes underground to draw natural heat from the ground and transferring the heat into buildings to provide
heating and hot water in a low-carbon, energy efficient way. - Best for whole-home heating.
- Requires a water-based (wet) central heating system
- Require land space. More suitabke to coutryside location where plenty of land space is available.
Air Source Heat Pumps
- Heats both your radiators/underfloor heating and your hot water
- By utilizing the heat naturally present in the outside air, even during cold weather, to heat a buildings
- Best for whole-home heating.
- Requires a water-based (wet) central heating system
-
Requires small outside space next to the building
Air to Air Heat Pumps
- Heats air, not water
- Blows warm air directly into rooms using fans
- It also offers cooling — it works like an air conditioner.
-
Doesnt heat water.
Pros of Air Source Heat Pumps
- Save money on energy bills long-term.
- Eco-friendly: produce up to 4x the energy they consume.
- No fuel deliveries are needed as they draw energy from outdoor air.
- Low maintenance (just an annual service).
- Dual purpose: heats and cools.
- Qualified for the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
- Lasts 20–25 years with proper care.
- Quick to install – often just 2 days.
Things to Consider
- Upfront costscan be high (see below)
- Less efficient in freezing weather, but still functional
- May need larger radiators
- May need underfloor heating
- Best performance in well-insulated homes
- Heat pumps produce low-level fan noise and will require a small suitable dedicated space outside
Even if your home isn’t “perfect,” our team can help you find the best system for your needs, including hybrid optionsthat work with your existing boiler.
How Much Does an Air Source Heat Pump Cost?
Costs vary based on home size, installation complexity, and system type:
| Heat Pump Type | Typical Cost (Before Grants) |
|---|---|
| Air Source | £9,000–£18,000 |
| Air to Air | £1,300–£8,000 |
| Hybrid System | Comparable to Air Source |
| Ground Source | £15,000+ |
With the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, you could receive £7,500 off your installation — and VAT is currently 0% on energy-saving products.
Can You Save Money Using A Heat Pump?
Yes — However savings depend on what you’re switching from and how efficient your current system is, even how bad the winter season is so its not as straight forward in terms of cost but enviromental inpact is considerable.
Average annual savings:
- From electric storage heaters: up to £1,100.
- From LPG: around £560.
- From mains gas: lower, but still measurable (especially with smart tariffs).
A well-sized, professionally installed heat pump can help you save year after year.
Grants & Support
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) can knock £7,500 off your install cost. You're likely eligible if:
- You own your home in England or Wales.
- Your property has a recent EPC.
- You’re not in a new build or social housing.
APE Heating will handle your grant application as part of our service.
Do I Need to Upgrade My Home First?
Sometimes, the answer is yes, but not always.
You may benefit from:
- Improving insulation (loft or wall).
- Upgrading radiators.
- Adding underfloor heating.
- Increaseing pipe sizes within the existing heating system of your home.
- Upgrade existing electrics.
- Double glazing.
Ground Source vs Air Source: What’s the Difference?
|
Feature |
Air Source |
Ground Source |
|
Cost |
£ |
££££ |
|
Space Needed |
Small external area |
Large garden for digging |
|
Efficiency in cold temps |
Lower, but still works well |
Very stable year-round |
|
Install time |
Fast (1–2 days) |
Slower (weeks, excavation) |
For most homes in Greater Manchester thinking of makeing the move away from Gas, an air source heat pump is the practical choice.
BOILER REPLACEMENT
This type of heating install is often driven by time or lack of it as the case may be! For example, my boiiler has stopped working and my home is freezing!
When considering an ASHP we advsie custoners to have a full home heat loss calculation to be done. This is so we can advise if a heat pump is a suitable heating option for your home. It's a process that is key to the success of any install. This process takes time and when you overlay the need for a heating system quickly it may not be convieniant.
If you are considering a heat pump we advise to plan what you need before the existing boiler breaksdown. You can then schedule in your installation and benefit from the positive enviromental imput a heat pump can provide.
Please note the previous goverment did ban the use of all gas boilers from 2035 this has now been overturned by the existing labour government. Policies are yet to be published indicating if gas boilers will be phased out in the future.
Gas boilers remain a viable option for homes across the UK because they are a very good way to heat your home, they are around 90% effieceint but they burn fuel which contributes around 18% of the UK's CO's omsissions
HOME EXTENSION
The UK home extensions market continues to grow. Factors like the "improve, don't move" trend, social changes, and preferences for open-plan interiors continue to drive demand. However, economic uncertainties and planning regulations can also impact the market. This can be in a positive or negative way. Its important to note that current building regultions requires better insulation has to be applied for building regs sign off so homes that were oncfe perhaps to drafty are now much more suitable for a heat pump. Also, when deisgning your open plan living space wet underfloor heating is often specified due to its low cost and low level heat requirments. Wet underfloor heating work realy well with underfloor
Again, If you are considering a heat pump we advise to plan what you need before your building project starts. This is so we can make sure we design the correct heat pump solution for your home. You can then schedule in your installation and benefit from the positive enviromental imput a heat pump can provide.
DEVELOPER
The UK government's plan for increasing new build development aims to build 1.5 million new homes in England over the next five years. This target is part of a broader "get Britain building again" strategy, including reforms to planning laws and a focus on social and affordable housing. The plan also includes the development of new towns and the release of green belt land,
Book Your Survey
APE Heating is your local expert installing air source heat pumps in South Manchester. We will evaluate your home, outline your options, and handle everything—including grant support.