If you’re weighing up a heat pump against sticking with your gas boiler, you’ve probably found a lot of conflicting advice online. Here’s a straightforward look at how the two actually compare for a typical Northampton home.
How Heat Pumps and Gas Boilers Actually Compare
A gas boiler burns fuel directly to produce heat. A heat pump instead extracts existing heat from the outside air (or ground) and concentrates it — meaning it can produce more heat energy than the electrical energy it consumes. The trade-off is that heat pumps typically run at lower flow temperatures over longer periods, which suits some homes better than others depending on insulation and radiator setup.
Running Costs: It's Not a Simple Answer
Because heat pumps run on electricity and boilers run on gas, running costs depend heavily on your specific tariff, how well-insulated your home is, and how the system is set up and controlled. Rather than quoting a generic saving figure that may not apply to your house, we work out real running-cost estimates based on your actual property during a survey.
Curious What a Heat Pump Would Cost to Run in Your Home?
We’ll assess your property and give you honest, home-specific numbers — not generic marketing claims.
Is Your Home Ready for a Heat Pump?
Older homes with limited insulation or small radiators sized for a hot-running gas boiler sometimes need adjustments — better insulation, larger radiators, or underfloor heating in places — to get the best performance from a heat pump. None of this rules a home out, but it’s exactly what a proper survey is designed to check before you commit.
Government Support for Switching
There are government schemes designed to help with the upfront cost of switching from a gas boiler to a heat pump, such as the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. Eligibility criteria and grant amounts are set by the government and can change, so we’ll talk you through what’s currently available and how it applies to your situation when you get in touch.
Find Out If a Heat Pump Is Right for Your Home
Get a free, no-obligation assessment — including current grant eligibility.