Air Source Heat Pumps
Air source heat pumps extract thermal energy from outdoor air and deliver it as heat, producing three to four units of warmth for every unit of electricity consumed – an efficiency impossible for any gas boiler. Eco Heat installs heat pump systems across Kent, offering a low-carbon alternative to gas heating for homes and commercial properties.
ENGINEERED
FOR EXCELLENCE.
Government Grant Available
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme provides £7,500 toward the cost of an air source heat pump for eligible homes in England and Wales. We can check your eligibility and manage the grant application as part of your installation.
Lower Running Costs
A heat pump with a SCOP of 3.5 produces £3.50 of heat for every £1 of electricity. Combined with off-peak electricity tariffs designed for heat pump users, annual running costs can be competitive with or lower than gas heating for well-insulated homes.
Full System Design
Every heat pump installation begins with a full property heat loss assessment. We size the system correctly for your home, specify any radiator upgrades required, and design the pipework layout, ensuring your system delivers efficient, reliable heat from day one.
How Does an Air Source Heat Pump Work?
An air source heat pump operates on the same thermodynamic principle as a refrigerator – in reverse. The outdoor unit extracts thermal energy from the air, even at temperatures as low as -20°C, and concentrates it through a refrigerant cycle. This heat is transferred to your central heating circuit via a heat exchanger, delivering warmth to your radiators or underfloor heating and charging a hot water cylinder for domestic use. There is no combustion involved – no gas, no flue, no risk of carbon monoxide.
Is a Heat Pump Right for Your Home?
Heat pumps work most efficiently in well-insulated homes, because they operate at lower flow temperatures (35–45°C) than gas boilers (70–80°C). Before recommending an installation, we carry out a full property heat loss assessment covering wall insulation, loft insulation, glazing coverage, floor insulation and existing radiator sizes. If your home is well-insulated or can be improved, a heat pump is likely to be a strong fit. Underfloor heating systems – designed to run at the same low temperatures as a heat pump – are an ideal match. For homes with radiator-based systems, we assess whether the existing radiators are sized adequately for lower flow temperatures, and specify larger radiators where needed. We always give honest guidance on suitability.
Heat Pumps vs Gas Boilers – The Key Differences
The key differences are efficiency, carbon footprint and running costs. A heat pump operates at 300–400% efficiency compared with 89–94% for the best gas boilers. Heat pumps produce zero direct carbon emissions, and their carbon advantage grows as the UK electricity grid decarbonises. The upfront installation cost is higher than a boiler, but the £7,500 grant significantly closes this gap for eligible properties, and lower running costs provide long-term financial benefit. Heat pumps also typically last 20+ years, compared with 10–15 years for a gas boiler, which further improves the whole-life cost comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
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