With National Heat Pump Week taking place from 12 to 16 October, we’re looking at some of the things to consider if you’re thinking about changing how you heat your home - from whether a heat pump might suit your property to the financial support and local advice available.
Heat pumps are an alternative to traditional heating systems, but every home is different. Before deciding what’s right for you, it’s worth understanding how they work, what your home might need and where you can get independent advice.
How does a heat pump work?
Heat pumps use electricity to capture heat from outside your home and transfer it inside.
Air source heat pumps take heat from the outside air, while ground source heat pumps draw heat from the ground. Unlike a gas or oil boiler, which burns fuel to produce heat, a heat pump moves existing heat from one place to another.
Could a heat pump work in my home?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer.
The type and condition of your home, how well it retains heat, your existing heating system and radiators, available space and how you use your heating can all affect which improvements are appropriate.
That’s why it’s useful to think about your home as a whole rather than simply replacing one heating system with another.
Our Energy at Home pages can help you explore different ways to improve your home’s energy efficiency and plan improvements in the right order.
Explore ways to improve the energy efficiency of your home.
Plan energy improvements for your home.
What financial help is available?
The government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) can help with the upfront cost of replacing a fossil-fuel heating system with a low-carbon heating system.
Eligible property owners can currently receive:
- £7,500 towards an air-to-air water heat pump
- £7,500 towards a ground-source heat pump
- £2,500 towards an air-to-air heat pump
- £5,000 towards a biomass boiler.
There is now additional support for some homes that aren’t connected to the gas grid.
Until 31 March 2027, eligible properties heated by oil or LPG and without a mains gas connection can receive an additional £1,500 towards an air-to-water or ground source heat pump, bringing the grant to £9,000.
The extra support is already attracting interest. Government figures published in August showed a record 8,150 Boiler Upgrade Scheme applications in July, with increased interest from households using heating oil.
Eligibility criteria apply, so it’s important to check the latest scheme information before making any decisions.
Check the Boiler Upgrade Scheme on GOV.UK.
You can also use our website to explore other financial support that may be available for making your home more energy efficient.
Find funding for home energy improvements.
Get independent advice before you decide
If you’re interested in a heat pump but aren’t sure where to start, getting independent advice can help you understand your home and the options available.
Through the Community Energy Network, Bath and North East Somerset residents can access local home energy advice and support, including free advice and home visits.
Get help from an expert.
If you want to explore a heat pump in more detail, you can get a more in-depth Heat Pump Assessment. An assessment looks at how a heat pump could work in your particular home, including potential benefits, costs and any changes that may be needed before installation.
Homeowners in Bath and North East Somerset are currently eligible to apply for a Retrofit West Home Assessment Voucher, which can cover 50% of the cost of an eligible assessment with a Heat Geek installer, up to a maximum contribution of £400. Funding is currently available until December 2026, or earlier if the available funding is fully allocated.
Bath & West Community Energy (BWCE) provide independent Heat Pump Assessments that do not focus on a specific system, helping you to understand the best options for your home so you can approach the installer market with confidence.
Find out about Retrofit West Heat Pump Assessments and vouchers.
Explore BWCE’s Heat Pump Assessment options.
Hear from people who’ve already made the switch
Sometimes one of the best ways to understand what living with a heat pump is really like is to hear from people who already have one.
Bath & West Community Energy (BWCE) is hosting two free local ‘An evening with… a heat pump’ events this autumn.
You’ll be able to hear from local homeowners who’ve already installed heat pumps, learn more from BWCE’s Heat Pump Technical Lead, Benny Talbot, and ask your own questions in a discussion and Q&A with a panel of local heat pump owners.
Wellow
Wednesday 14 October, 7pm to 8.30pm
Wellow Sports Pavilion, Wellow
Find out more and book - Wellow
Pensford
Tuesday 3 November, 7pm to 8.30pm
Pensford Memorial Hall, Pensford
Find out more and book - Pensford
Both events are free and everyone is welcome.
