Heat Pumps: The Truth After Living With One
Heat Pumps: The Truth After Living With One
Most Opinions About Heat Pumps Come From People Who Don’t Own One
Heat pumps are one of those subjects where everyone seems to have an opinion.
Some people say they are the future of home heating. Others say they are expensive, noisy, unreliable, useless in winter, or only suitable for brand-new houses with underfloor heating and perfect insulation.
The problem is that many of the strongest opinions come from people who have never actually lived with one.
So this is not a theoretical article written from a brochure. It is a practical reflection from living with an air source heat pump, solar panels, batteries, and a home energy system that is monitored closely over time.
Our system includes 26 solar panels, a substantial battery store of around 50 kWh, solar hot water, and an air source heat pump. The heat pump is wall mounted, which raises some interesting points about vibration, noise, positioning, and installation. It is a real working system in a real British home, not a showroom demonstration.
And the truth is this: heat pumps can be excellent, but they are not magic.
They need the right house, the right installation, the right settings, and realistic expectations.
What a Heat Pump Actually Does
An air source heat pump takes heat from the outside air and transfers it into the home through the central heating system. That sounds odd because we tend to think of cold air as having no heat in it, but even cold air contains thermal energy. The heat pump uses electricity to move that heat rather than creating heat directly like an electric heater.
That is why efficiency matters. A direct electric heater gives roughly one unit of heat for one unit of electricity. A well-performing heat pump can deliver several units of heat for each unit of electricity used. Energy Saving Trust describes heat pumps as generally around four times as efficient as a new gas boiler, although performance depends heavily on the installation and operating conditions.
This is the first point many people miss. A heat pump is not just “electric heating”. It is a heat-moving machine.
Running Costs: The Awkward Truth
Running costs are where the debate becomes complicated.
Electricity is currently much more expensive per unit than gas. From 1 July to 30 September 2026, Ofgem’s average Direct Debit price-cap rates are 26.11p per kWh for electricity and 7.33p per kWh for gas, with standing charges on top.
At first glance, that makes gas look much cheaper. But that is not the whole story.
A gas boiler may turn one unit of gas into perhaps 0.85–0.95 units of useful heat, depending on boiler efficiency and system setup. A heat pump might turn one unit of electricity into three or four units of useful heat, depending on outside temperature, flow temperature, and installation quality.
So the real question is not simply:
“How much does electricity cost compared with gas?”
It is:
“How many units of heat do I get from each unit of energy I buy?”
For example, using Ofgem’s July–September 2026 electricity price of 26.11p per kWh:
At a coefficient of performance of 3, heat costs roughly 8.7p per useful kWh.
At a coefficient of performance of 4, heat costs roughly 6.5p per useful kWh.
Using Ofgem’s gas price of 7.33p per kWh, a 90% efficient boiler gives useful heat at roughly 8.1p per kWh.
That means a mediocre heat pump setup may not save much money compared with gas. A good one, especially with solar, batteries, or a smart tariff, can be cheaper. Energy Saving Trust currently says heat pump running costs are around the same as a new gas boiler at current prices, with scope for savings through time-of-use tariffs and good operation.
This is why the honest answer is not “heat pumps are always cheaper” or “heat pumps are always more expensive”.
The honest answer is: it depends on the system.
Comfort: Different From a Gas Boiler, But Not Worse
A gas boiler often works like a blast furnace. The heating comes on, the radiators get very hot, the room warms quickly, then the heating switches off.
A heat pump works best in a different way.
It prefers lower water temperatures and longer running times. Instead of short bursts of very hot radiators, it gently maintains the temperature of the house. The result can be more even and more comfortable, but only if you stop trying to use it exactly like a gas boiler.
This was one of the biggest changes in thinking.
With a heat pump, the question is less:
“Can I turn the heating on for half an hour and quickly warm the house?”
and more:
“How do I keep the house at a steady, comfortable temperature using the least energy?”
That means settings matter. Flow temperature matters. Thermostat behaviour matters. Radiator sizing matters. Insulation matters.
When a heat pump is working well, the house does not feel overheated. It feels stable. There are fewer peaks and troughs. The comfort comes from consistency.
Winter Performance: Yes, It Works in Cold Weather
One of the most common myths is that heat pumps do not work when it is cold.
They do.
They may become less efficient as the outside temperature falls, but modern heat pumps are designed to operate in winter conditions. Energy Saving Trust notes that heat pumps work below freezing, although efficiency decreases as temperatures drop.
In practice, this means the system may use more electricity during cold snaps. That should not surprise anyone. A gas boiler also uses more gas during cold weather.
The difference is that a heat pump owner notices it more because the electricity consumption is visible, especially if the home has solar, batteries and monitoring.
This is where living with the system teaches you more than a sales brochure ever could. You begin to see how weather, sunshine, battery state of charge, hot water demand, and heating demand all interact.
A cold, dull winter day is the hardest test. The solar panels produce little. The heat pump works harder. The batteries discharge quickly. Even a large battery store can bottom out.
That does not mean the heat pump has failed. It means winter energy demand is real.
Running a Heat Pump From Batteries: Helpful, But Not Infinite
Our battery store is large — around 50 kWh. Strictly speaking, battery storage is measured in kWh, not kW. A kilowatt is a rate of power; a kilowatt-hour is a quantity of stored energy.
A 50 kWh battery system sounds enormous, and for many household uses it is. It can shift solar energy from daytime to evening, reduce grid imports, and make the home much more resilient.
But a heat pump changes the scale of winter electricity use.
On a mild day, the battery store may cover much of the household demand. On a cold, grey winter day, the heat pump can take a substantial amount of energy, particularly if it is also heating hot water. The battery can still bottom out.
This is one of the most important practical lessons.
Solar panels and batteries are brilliant partners for a heat pump, but they do not make winter disappear. In December and January, solar generation is lower, days are shorter, and heating demand is higher. That is exactly when the battery has the least incoming energy and the greatest outgoing demand.
The best strategy is not simply “run everything from batteries”.
It is more subtle:
Use solar when available.
Charge batteries when electricity is cheap, if on a suitable tariff.
Avoid unnecessary high-temperature heating.
Heat water intelligently.
Let the house act as a thermal store where possible.
Accept that some grid electricity will still be needed in winter.
Nesta has highlighted flexible heat pump operation and time-of-use tariffs as one way to reduce running costs by shifting demand away from expensive periods.
For homes with solar and batteries, that flexibility becomes even more valuable.
Hot Water: It Works, But It Needs Planning
Another misconception is that heat pumps cannot provide proper hot water.
They can, but again the system behaves differently from a gas boiler.
A gas boiler can heat water very quickly at a high temperature. A heat pump generally prefers lower temperatures for efficiency. Hot water usually involves a cylinder, scheduled heating periods, and occasional higher-temperature cycles depending on the system design.
This means you need to think about your household pattern.
When do people shower?
How much hot water is actually needed?
Can the cylinder be heated during solar generation?
Is it better to heat water during a cheaper tariff window?
Does the system need a boost before several baths or guests staying?
Once set up properly, hot water becomes routine. The difficulty is usually not that the heat pump cannot do it. The difficulty is that people expect it to behave exactly like their old boiler.
It does not.
That does not make it worse. It makes it different.
Noise: Less Dramatic Than the Myths Suggest
Heat pump noise is another area where public debate often becomes exaggerated.
A modern air source heat pump has an outdoor fan and compressor, so it is not silent. But neither is it normally the roaring machine some critics describe. Energy Saving Trust says heat pumps may be a little noisier during cold snaps, but you should still be able to have a normal conversation while standing next to one.
Installation matters enormously.
Our heat pump is wall mounted, which makes vibration control particularly important. A ground-mounted unit has different considerations, but a wall-mounted unit needs proper brackets, anti-vibration measures, and sensible positioning.
Poor installation can make a quiet unit seem noisy. A slightly loose fitting, poor levelling, or vibration through a wall can be far more irritating than the fan noise itself.
This is why noise should be designed out at the installation stage, not argued about afterwards.
MCS guidance sets out a sound calculation process for domestic heat pumps and includes a permitted-development assessment limit of 37 dB(A) at the assessment position under its 2025 calculation method. Energy Saving Trust also summarises the practical issue by noting that heat pump installations must comply with strict noise standards.
The practical lesson is simple: choose the position carefully, use a competent installer, and pay attention to vibration.
Installation: The Part That Matters Most
A heat pump is not a plug-in appliance. It is part of a whole-house heating system.
The installer needs to think about:
Heat loss from the house.
Radiator sizes.
Pipework.
Flow temperature.
Cylinder size.
Control settings.
Outdoor unit position.
Noise and vibration.
Electrical supply.
How the system works with solar, batteries, and tariffs.
Energy Saving Trust gives a typical air source heat pump installation cost of around £11,000, while the Boiler Upgrade Scheme currently offers £7,500 towards an air source heat pump in England and Wales.
That grant is important, but the cheapest installation is not necessarily the best installation.
A badly installed heat pump can give heat pumps a bad name. It may run at too high a flow temperature, cycle inefficiently, make more noise than expected, or leave the household disappointed.
A good installation starts with the house, not the machine.
Common Misconceptions
“Heat pumps don’t work in winter.”
They do. They work harder and may become less efficient, but they are designed for winter use. The real issue is whether the system has been correctly sized and installed.
“They are always cheaper to run.”
Not always. With current UK electricity and gas prices, a heat pump needs good efficiency, suitable settings, or support from tariffs, solar and batteries to beat gas convincingly. At average current prices, Energy Saving Trust says running costs are around the same as a new gas boiler.
“They are just electric heaters.”
No. A heat pump moves heat rather than simply converting electricity into heat. That is why it can deliver several units of heat for each unit of electricity.
“They are too noisy.”
They can be noisy if badly installed or badly positioned, but a well-installed modern unit should not be intrusive. Noise and vibration are installation issues as much as equipment issues.
“You need a perfect new-build house.”
No, but the house does need to be suitable. Insulation, radiator sizing and system design all matter. Older homes may still work well, but they need proper assessment.
“Solar panels and batteries make it free.”
No. They help enormously, but winter is still winter. A large battery store can still empty during cold, grey weather when heating demand is high and solar generation is low.
What Living With One Has Taught Me
The biggest lesson is that a heat pump makes you more aware of energy.
With gas, most people simply turn up the thermostat and wait for the bill. With a heat pump, solar panels and batteries, the whole home becomes an energy system. You start to notice when the sun is out, when the battery is full, when the hot water cycle runs, when the heat pump works hardest, and when winter weather changes everything.
That awareness is not a disadvantage. It is part of learning to use energy intelligently.
It is rather like sailing.
You cannot control the wind, but you can trim the sails. You cannot control winter, but you can control flow temperatures, heating schedules, insulation, battery charging and hot water timing.
The system rewards understanding.
So, Would I Recommend a Heat Pump?
Yes — but not blindly.
I would recommend a heat pump if:
The home has been properly assessed.
The installation is designed carefully.
The household understands that it works differently from a gas boiler.
Radiators, pipework and insulation have been considered.
The owner is willing to learn the controls.
Solar panels, batteries or smart tariffs can help reduce running costs.
I would be cautious if:
The installer has not done a proper heat-loss calculation.
The quote simply swaps a boiler for a heat pump without system design.
The home has major insulation problems that are being ignored.
The household expects instant boiler-style heat.
The outdoor unit position creates avoidable noise or vibration issues.
Heat pumps are not a universal magic box. But neither are they the disaster often described by people who have never owned one.
Conclusion: The Truth Is Better Than the Myth
After living with a heat pump, the truth is more interesting than the arguments.
It is not silent, but it should not be noisy.
It is not free to run, but it can be efficient.
It does work in winter, but winter still matters.
It can heat hot water, but timing and storage matter.
It works beautifully with solar and batteries, but even 50 kWh of battery storage is not infinite.
The best way to understand a heat pump is not to listen to the loudest opinion online. It is to look at real homes, real data, and real experience.
For us, the heat pump is part of a bigger move towards a lower-carbon home: solar panels, battery storage, hot water management, better insulation and closer monitoring of how energy is used.
That is the real future of home heating.
Not one magic device.
A smarter house.
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