A heat pump is a machine that extracts heat from one place and transfers it to another. The heat pump is not a new technology; it has been used in fridges since the early 1800's. Refrigerators and air conditioners are both common examples of heat pumps. Heat pumps transfer heat by circulating a substance called a refrigerant through a cycle of alternating evaporation and condensation. A compressor pumps the refrigerant between two heat exchangers. In one heat exchanger, the evaporator, the refrigerant is evaporated at low pressure and absorbs heat from its surroundings. The refrigerant is then compressed en-route to the second heat exchanger, the condenser, where it condenses at high pressure. At this point, it releases the free heat it absorbed earlier in the cycle. The heat from the fluid is transferred to the water in your heating system, including radiators and underfloor heating, as well as your hot water tank.

See the Electric Ireland Heat Pump Video and the Electric Ireland Help Section for more details.

Heat pumps are more costly than conventional fossil fuel boilers to purchase. However, homeowners who adopt this low carbon alternative can avail of grants to offset the additional cost. The SEAI currently offer a grant of €3,500 towards the cost of installing a heat pump system in homes built before 2011. To further support this Electric Ireland offer energy credits towards your electricity bill of up to €1,019.20 depending on what type of heat pump is installed through The Energy Efficiency Incentive. These grants and energy credits further reduce the overall cost of installation.

Air source heat pump installations usually cost between €8,500 and €14,500, depending on the size and power of the heat pump, how much hot water storage you require and whether you want the heat pump to be controllable over the internet. Ground source systems range from €12,500 to €23,500, again depending on the size of heat pump, hot water cylinder and ground loop system. Because each home is unique, the installed cost of a heat pump is different for each home and will depend on the size and type of heat pump and the position of the outdoor compressor unit. More information is available in the Electric Ireland Help Section.

To ensure that you are getting the best out of your heat pump you should service the unit annually by a trained professional, the manufactures website will be able to guide you to recommended technician. Heat Pumps should last for 15 - 20 years and generally come with a 3 - 7 year warranty.

A heat pump system will benefit from annual servicing to ensure that all the mechanical connections are sound, settings are at their optimum and that the heat collector is working properly. Regular professional servicing may also be required to validate extended warranties, this varies from manufacture to manufacture. Depending on the make and model of heat pump you may be able to complete some of the filter cleaning activities to ensure your heat pump continues to perform efficiently.

Do not cover the unit. Removing plants and objects around the heat pump will allow a greater air flow into the unit will help maintain its performance. Keep fans and coils clean and free from debris. Avoid changing the thermostat frequently, set it to the specific temperature and leave it. Lowering the thermostat by one degree could result in significant financial savings.

Finally, heat pumps can be combined with solar PV panels. By using electricity that is produced on site, you could reduce your energy bills while also decreasing your carbon footprint. It’s thought that using solar PV panels could reduce the running costs of your heat pump.

For more details on Solar PV you can visit Electric Ireland's Solar PV page.

The likely benefits of a heat pump are:

• lower fuel bills are likely, especially if you are replacing conventional electric heating.
• lower carbon emissions.
• no fuel deliveries needed.
• can heat your home as well as your water.
• minimal maintenance required.
• can be easier to install than a ground source heat pump.

During winter, an ASHP may need to be on constantly to heat your home efficiently. You will also notice that radiators won't feel as hot to the touch as they might do when you are using a gas or oil boiler.

Unlike gas and oil boilers, heat pumps deliver heat at lower temperatures over much longer periods. If you are installing an ASHP to replace a gas or oil boiler, you should upgrade your insulation to get the most out of your ASHP. You might also consider fitting larger radiators or underfloor heating.

If you are thinking about installing a heat pump additional information can be found at SEAI.

Yes, Solar PV and Solar Thermal Systems can be integrated to work with your heat pump system depending on the make and model of your heat pump.

More details on heat pumps and Solar PV are available in the Electric Ireland Efficiency Help Section and the Electric Ireland Solar PV page.

Yes, heat pumps can be fitted to an existing house. Prior to installation, a full home survey should be carried out by a competent person to ensure the suitability of the house and to identify any additional required insulation measures. In order to get the best performance from heat pumps, it’s recommended that your home is well-insulated and relatively airtight. For that reason, installation is often done in combination with a fabric retrofit to improve the building’s energy performance. Every home is different. The key to selecting the right heat pump for your home is accurate assessment of the heat that will need to be transferred into your home for heating. This needs to be carried out by experienced and qualified specialists.

SEAI also offer insulation grants to facilitate this. There are also deep retrofit programmes available which help homeowners make the most cost-effective choices to achieve an ‘A’ energy efficiency rating standard.

A Day/Night meter will allow you to take advantage of cheaper night rate electricity. The night rate is around half the price of day rate, and a heat pump which is linked to the weather takes natural advantage of what is usually the coldest period in the 24hr cycle. Heat Pump Systems can be programmed to maximise the utilisation of cheaper night rate electricity.

For more details on electricity meters and connecting an additional meter you can visit the Electric Ireland Help Section and ESB Networks.