The short answer
For a well-insulated home with a correctly sized system, a heat pump can be worth it — but it genuinely depends on your home. With the £7,500 grant the upfront cost is comparable to a premium boiler for many homes, and a heat pump delivers around 3 units of heat per unit of electricity, so it's efficient. Whether it cuts your bills versus gas depends on your insulation, the system design, your radiators, and the gap between electricity and gas prices — so running-cost outcomes vary widely between homes.
Anyone who gives you a single guaranteed saving is guessing. What follows is how to judge it honestly for your own home.
What the outcome depends on
- Insulationbetter = cheaper to run
- System designright size & flow temp
- Radiatorsmay need upsizing
- Electricity vs gas pricesets running-cost gap
- The £7,500 granttransforms upfront cost
The factors that decide it
A heat pump moves heat rather than burning fuel, typically delivering around three units of heat per unit of electricity (a 'coefficient of performance' of roughly 3). That efficiency is highest in a well-insulated home with correctly sized radiators running at a lower flow temperature. The running-cost comparison with gas then hinges on the price gap between electricity and gas, and on a heat-pump-friendly electricity tariff.
How to sanity-check a quote's numbers
- Ask whether the quote is based on a full heat-loss survey, not a rule of thumb.
- Check the design flow temperature — lower generally means more efficient running.
- Ask which radiators (if any) need upsizing and whether that's in the price.
- Treat any 'guaranteed bill cut' language with caution and get assumptions in writing.
Get an assessment for your actual home
We'll match you with an MCS-certified installer who carries out a heat-loss survey and models running costs for your specific home and tariff.
Frequently asked questions
Will a heat pump cut my heating bills?
It can, but it depends on your insulation, system design and the electricity-to-gas price gap. A heat pump is efficient (around 3 units of heat per unit of electricity), but running-cost outcomes vary by home. Ask for a modelled estimate.
Is a heat pump worth it with the grant?
The £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant brings the upfront cost close to a premium boiler for many homes, which is what makes it worth considering. Whether it saves on running costs depends on your home.
Do heat pumps work in cold weather?
Yes — air source heat pumps work in UK winters, including below freezing, though efficiency falls as it gets colder. Correct sizing and a well-insulated home matter most.
Sources & further reading
Figures on this page are typical UK ranges drawn from published sources and depend on your specific home. They are guidance, not a quotation or guaranteed saving.