What are heat pumps advantages and disadvantages? With any big decision it’s always important to look at the positives and negatives to understand what applies to you and what doesn’t. When it comes to investing in a heat pump, the best way to work out the advantages and disadvantages starts in the same way.
To help you on your journey to deciding whether a heat pump is a suitable solution for you, we’ve put together a shortlist of the key advantages and disadvantages of investing in a heat pump.
Heat pumps today
Heat pumps are being hailed across Europe and the rest of the world as the low carbon solution to manage our home’s heating and hot water needs. According to Statista, about 40 million heat pumps were installed in Europe in 2019. These numbers will only grow, especially with the kick-start of governmental subsidies to support homeowners in making the switch.
What are the disadvantages of investing in a heat pump?
Initial costs of a heat pump
One of the significant challenges of investing in a heat pump is the initial cost for the purchase and the works to install. The average price of a heat pump varies depending on your country of residence as does the type of heat pump available. While many countries offer subsidies to help homeowners balance the upfront costs, it’s always a point for consideration that heat pumps can require a substantial initial investment.
Research for a heat pump
Installing a home comfort system like a heat pump is not always as straightforward as it may seem. To make the best decision for you, it’s essential to invest some time to research. With research you can begin to understand what type of heat pump is right for your home. Finding a trusted dealer or installer can significantly help with this, but it’s always good practice to do your homework and shop around before reaching out.
Installation of a heat pump
Installing a heat pump can be a time-consuming and challenging process due to all the different components it involves. The good news is that this is primarily taken care of by your installer, but it could still impact your schedule and of course your budget. The installer will need to inform you about where the heat pump will be placed and how it will connect to your existing emitters. If your home is an older property, they can advise you on whether it is sufficiently insulated and any additional works you may need to get the most out of your heat pump.
What are the advantages of investing in a heat pump?
Reduced energy bills
Heat pumps generally operate with a ratio of 30% electricity and 70% renewable energy sources. Every kilowatt of electricity used in a heat pump generates between 3 – 4 kilowatts of renewable heat from the air, which amounts to approximately 300 – 400% efficiency. This is where homeowners usually receive their biggest return on investment. When combined with other renewable resources such as solar panels or photovoltaics, efficiency is increased even higher and bills even lower.
Reduced environmental impact
The biggest push towards the shift to heat pumps comes from the need to move to more environmentally friendly alternatives. As mentioned, heat pumps primarily operate by consuming renewable energy and therefore consume less electricity and produce no local emissions and perhaps even no emissions at all (depending on the electricity sources), making them fundamentally less harmful to the environment than older systems that utilise fossil fuels.
Return on heat pump investment
If you factor in the reduced energy costs, governmental subsidies, plus reduced maintenance requirements (heat pumps only require a general maintenance check once a year), heat pumps offer a much bigger return on investment than a coal or electrical heating system. Furthermore, installing a heat pump can often increase a property’s value giving you a bigger return if you ever consider selling your home.
Total solution for heating, cooling and hot water
Financial, environmental and governmental reasons aside, heat pumps are a very versatile solution to any home’s heating, hot water or cooling needs, whether it be a detached home, terraced home or an apartment. Being a home comfort system, heat pumps are designed to be the “middle-man” for all your needs ensuring that you have hot water and heating, even cooling, whenever and however you need it. In addition, most heat pumps today can also be managed via an app, so no matter where you are you can always stay in control.
There is no doubt that investing in a heat pump is a big decision that cannot be taken lightly but armed with the knowledge of the advantages and disadvantages, you can figure out what is an important consideration for your own unique circumstances and what isn’t.
Learn more about heat pumps, what they are, how they work and what type of heat pump is suitable for your home by visiting the Daikin Home Solutions Hub.
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