Advantages and Disadvantages of a Hybrid Heat Pump System
If you have researched heat pumps in the past and come to the conclusion that they simply won’t generate enough energy to power and heat your home, a hybrid heating solution could be perfect for your needs.
Combining the clean, almost completely free energy produced by a heat pump, with the proven efficiency of a gas boiler will ensure that your home remains at the ideal temperature all year round, whilst also saving you a significant amount of money on your annual energy bills.
Hybrid heat has been dubbed the ‘future of home heating’ but with the cost of installation ranging from around £5000-£10,000 installation is not something to take lightly. It is important to be aware of all the pros and cons before making the decision on whether a hybrid system is the right choice for your home.
Advantages of a hybrid heat pump system
Lower energy bills
An air source heat pump will dramatically reduce the amount that you will have to spend on heating your home on an annual basis.
Heat pumps do require a small amount of electricity to work, but the cost of this is nowhere near the amount that it costs to fire up a gas boiler to produce the same amount of heat.
With energy bills soaring across the UK at the moment, all homeowners are looking for ways to cut costs, and no single step is more effective in this regard than the installation of an air source heat pump.
Estimates suggest that in the ideal conditions, homeowners could save themselves an incredible 50% on their heating bills by switching to a hybrid system.
Lower emissions
There are two main reasons that people choose to install renewable energy sources such as air source heat pumps in their homes.
One, to save money, and two, to help save the planet.
By installing an air source heat pump alongside a gas boiler, you will reduce your reliance on fossil fuels, reducing your carbon footprint significantly and helping to do your bit to help protect the environment.
Improved Energy Efficiency
The moment that your air pump is incorporated into your existing heating system you will see a significant rise in your home’s energy efficiency level.
To put the difference into perspective, a top of the range brand new gas combi boiler will be lucky to achieve 94% energy efficiency, whilst an air source heat pump will achieve anywhere in the region of 300-400%.
The whole point of a hybrid heating system is that it will automatically switch between your heat pump and gas boiler depending on which is most energy efficient at any one time.
A heat pump is perfect for the summer months, for example, and you will often be able to avoid switching your gas boiler on at all for many months of the year.
In the winter, however, when temperatures drop and demand is higher, a gas boiler may be more efficient, as there will be less heat energy to harness in the outside air and gas boilers are better at dealing with low temperatures.
Durability
A gas boiler has an estimated life expectancy of around 10 years.
By reducing the amount, you use your boiler, however, by installing a heat pump alongside it, you can extend this, and result in a much lower risk of repairs or replacement being required in the near future.
Disadvantages of a hybrid heating system
Not fully clean energy
A hybrid heating system is far more environmentally friendly than a gas boiler alone.
However, as a heat pump does require a certain amount of energy to run, the energy produced cannot be classed as 100% clean.
Ideally, you would be able to run your home off renewable energy alone, but this simply isn’t financially viable for most people just now, and a hybrid heating system allows you to do your bit in a responsible way.
Installation costs
By far the biggest factor preventing many from installing a hybrid heating system in their homes is the installation cost of doing so.
A hybrid heating system can cost as much as £10,000 whilst a gas boiler replacement is close to the £3500 mark.
However, the savings that you will make over the many years of usage you will get out of a hybrid system and the reduced risk of needing to replace your boiler on a regular basis means that a heat pump will cancel out much of the discrepancies.
Long wait for savings
Eventually, the cost of installing a hybrid heat pump will be recouped in lower energy bills but this will take a good few years.
For this reason, hybrid heating is best suited to those who expect to remain in the same home for many years to come.