Heat Pump vs. Boiler: What Are The Main Differences?
2024 has certainly been the year of the heat pump, with more and more systems being installed in homes across Ireland. This shift has been driven by a conscious awareness of sustainability and the importance of energy efficiency – an awareness we see certain to carry on into the New Year. We’re confident that even more homeowners will opt to replace their existing boiler with a heat pump system in 2025, but how exactly do they differ from boilers? In this blog, we’ll explore the key differences between a heat pump vs a boiler, including the way they function, their energy efficiency and the environmental impact each system has.
How They Work
Heat pumps and boilers function very differently. Boilers are quite simple, using the combustion of fossil fuels like gas to heat the water in your wet central heating system, which is then distributed to radiators to heat the home.
Heat pumps are a fair bit more sophisticated. They extract heat energy from the air outside of the home (even when it’s cold outside) and bring it indoors where it can then be distributed around the house. It’s a significantly less costly solution than a boiler in terms of both actual energy costs and broader environmental impact.
Energy Efficiency
When it comes to the energy efficiency of a heat pump vs a boiler system, the heat pump wins hands down. The energy efficiency of heat pump systems is one of their most important selling points. By extracting heat energy from the air to keep it within the house, it maintains a stable temperature very well. This effect is helped significantly if your home has good insulation in the walls, windows and attic.
A key difference between a heat pump and a boiler system is that the boiler is very demanding in terms of energy. This is because they need to operate at very high temperatures to generate heat for the home.
It’s also worth bearing in mind that heat pumps pair fantastically well with other eco-friendly heating solutions such as underfloor heating or energy-efficient aluminium radiators. These systems require less heat to function than traditional steel radiators and thus allow you to be far more effective with the heat you generate and use.
Environmental Impact
The reduction of our carbon emissions from home heating is one of the world’s top priorities at the moment – and a clear focus nationwide with Irish Net Zero targets. As a result, boilers, which make use of the combustion of fossil fuels to operate, come out a much less attractive option when you’re looking through the lens of their eco-friendliness. On the other hand, heat pumps can run entirely on renewable energy.
Thinking Forwards
If you’re weighing up the pros and cons of a heat pump vs a boiler and are considering the future-proofing of your home, then investing in having a heat pump system installed is an easy choice. With the government working towards their net-zero goals, it’s looking more and more like heat pumps are going to become standard in people’s homes in the future.
We hope that this comparison of a heat pump vs a boiler system has been helpful to you. If you’re considering making the upgrade to a heat pump for your own home, then don’t hesitate to get in contact with us at Pipelife. Pipelife has over 50 years of experience in the home heating industry, and we’re equipped with the tools and knowledge to ensure a fantastic result in your home.