Cost of installing eco-friendly heat pumps hits £30,000

HOMEOWNERS trying to install ecofriendly heat pumps have been left with surprise £30,000 bills after it emerged millions of radiators are too small to work with the new technology.

The Government wants 600,000 heat pumps installed every year by 2028, in line with its net zero aim, but the majority of homes may need thousands of pounds worth of upgrades to accommodate them.

Heat pumps need larger radiators to achieve the same heat output as gas boilers, which heat water to much higher temperatures.

Some 99 per cent of British homes do not have radiators large enough to heat a room on the coldest winter’s day, using a low-temperature heat pump, the most common model, according to a Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) study.

“High temperature” heat pumps can help fix this but 90 per cent of homes would still need better radiators.

To heat a home on an average winter’s day, 94 per cent of British households would need to upgrade their radiators if using a standard heat pump.

Gas boilers achieve temperatures of

around 70°C, but most air-source heat pumps operate at around 35°C to 45°C for the radiator system and around 55°C for hot water.

The BEIS said the typical costs for buying compatible radiators would be £1,700 for a one to two-bedroom house, £2,200 for a three-bedroom house, and approximately £2,900 for a five-bedroom house. However, this does not include the labour cost of fitting a new heating system.

Some customers have received much higher bills. Michael York, 83, was quoted nearly £30,000 to install a heat pump and replace all his radiators.

Mr York said: “Last year my 19-yearold boiler was making a funny noise and I decided it was time for an upgrade. I looked into a heat pump, because of the Government’s interest in them.

“I consulted a heat pump specialist who said the installation cost for a suitable heat pump and changing all the radiators was nearly £30,000.”

Andy Kerr of Boxt, a gas boiler retailer, said: “[It] is a complex installation and usually requires the whole central heating system to be replaced.”

A spokesman for BEIS said: “Gas boilers are expensive to run, whereas electric heat pumps are more efficient.

“Anyone who installs [a] heat pump can claim a grant worth up to £5,000 and will benefit from 0 per cent VAT.”