Find out about air source heat pumps.

We're here to help you understand how air source heat pumps work and what the benefits are to you.

Jumping leaf.

What is an air source heat pump?

We all know what a boiler is. Millions of people throughout the UK use them to power their homes, but you might not have come across an air source heat pump before. These take air from the outside and use it to heat your home and give you hot water, creating a cleaner, more efficient alternative than a gas boiler.

Air source heat pumps are a great way of making your home more sustainable by reducing your heating costs and carbon footprint. A heat pump is typically 3 to 4 times more efficient than older heating systems.1 They're not just a lot of hot air!

More on heat pumps

1 Based on a heat pump installed by E.ON.

How does an air source heat pump work?

Well it works like a fridge. Only in reverse. Make sense?

  1. Heat pumps contain a liquid that absorbs heat from the outside air (even in temperatures as low as -20°C).

  2. The heat pump then compresses the liquid to increase its temperature and then transfers the heat to your heating system.

  3. Heat pumps can heat your water up to 45-55°C, more than enough for your radiators and hot water.

Air source heat pumps do use a small amount of electricity to work, and if you get your electricity from us on a fixed tariff it'll be 100% renewable. Perfect.

How much does it cost to install an air source heat pump?

This does depend on several factors, including the size of your property, however for a three bedroom detached house installation would typically cost between £10,000 and £20,000.2

However, there are grants available that could help pay towards your new heat pump. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme could save you £7,500 off the cost of your new air source heat pump. It was announced as part of the £3.9 billion funding to help cut carbon emissions in the Heat and Buildings Strategy.

2 Example price is based on a typical 3 bed detached house and fitting a 7kw Daikin Altherma 3 system with 7 pack radiator upgrade. This price includes VAT, and based on the Boiler Upgrade Scheme £7,500 grant being taken off the full price. Prices will vary by property and a survey is required to provide a tailored quote.

Heat pump explainers: What a heat pump installation looks like.

Learn about how an air source heat pump works and how we would install a heat pump in your home. A heat pump is an energy-efficient solution that can provide heating and hot water for your home.

3 Potential annual savings are based on the installation of a standard air source heat pump in an average sized three-bedroom detached home. Savings are dependent on your property size, your household electricity usage, the current of any existing electric storage heater used and its age. Savings are dependent on the current electric storage heater, oil, gas, LPG system used, and their age. Figures are sources from the Energy Saving Trust website and are based on fuel prices as of April 2024.

We're Which? Trusted Traders.

E.ON's air source heat pump installations are a Which? approved service.

E.ON have the national accreditations for boiler and air source heat pump installation services in the UK, giving you the reassurance you need when picking a sustainable solution for your home.

Brighten up your energy and save up to £713 a year on your electricity.4

Take control of your energy generation by having solar panels installed on your home. You'll be able to generate sustainable electricity from solar power which can be used to power everything from your kettle to your lights.

Plus, you can also get battery storage which means you don't waste that excess electricity you generate, and can sign up for our Smart Export Guarantee tariffs which enables you to get paid for electricity you send back to the grid.

E.ON are currently offering £200 of solar panels and battery storage and £150 off solar panels, so don't miss out. T&Cs apply.

More about solar

4 These are example figures only, based on standardised MCS calculations. Savings are based on property fitted with a south-facing solar array in central England on a roof with a 35-degree tilt and no shading, with electricity consumption of 4,800 kWh per year (with the customer Home all day), at a tariff rate of 22.4p/kWh. The solar array contains 12 x 435W panels (5.22 kWp) generating 4,881 kWh/year, fitted with a 5.1 kWh (5.1 kWh usable) battery.

Some of our heat pumps FAQs.