Heat pump and gas boiler maintenance costs compared

Under current guidelines, the sale of new boilers will be banned from 2035 and households will be forced to install heat pumps instead under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.

The government currently offers households a grant of £5,000 to install an air source heat pump or £6,000 to install a ground source heat pump.

But even with the subsidy and Octopus and British Gas offering some of the lowest priced heat pump installations, it is still significantly cheaper to install and maintain a traditional gas boiler.

Naturally, with the rise of the heat pump, many questions have arisen – not least the fact that they are located outside buildings, so would be vulnerable to the British weather.

Here, This is Money answers some questions, including the lifespan and maintenance costs of heat pumps compared to a gas boiler, and submits them to the energy experts.

Do heat pumps break down more or less quickly than a central heating boiler?

Stewart Clements, director of the Heating & Hotwater Industry Council (HHIC), the heating industry specific body that works with the boiler and heat pump manufacturers, said: ‘Heat pumps have similar reliability levels to a gas boiler.

‘To prevent malfunctions or efficiency problems, heat pumps, just like central heating boilers, must be regularly maintained by a qualified heating engineer.’

The Energy Saving Trust says a well-designed heat pump installation is likely to last longer than a typical gas boiler.

But as with any heating system, a heat pump must be properly maintained in order to operate as designed. “Most heat pumps are usually easy to maintain,” they add.

Do they require annual maintenance and how much will it cost?

Just like a gas boiler, a heat pump needs an annual check.

This is usually a warranty condition for both heat pumps and boilers and will help resolve any issues before they become too serious.

The Energy Saving Trust says that ‘because heat pumps do not use flammable gases they are inherently much safer than a gas boiler and similarly do not require annual safety checks.

“They also don’t require maintenance to operate efficiently in the same way: if a boiler is not serviced it will become less efficient over time, while the efficiency of an air source heat pump changes based on the weather or if it is not is kept clean. ‘

Estimates for maintaining heat pumps put the cost at about double that of traditional boilers, with some households paying more.

According to Checkatrade, the average cost of an air source heat pump service is between £125 And £150.

The HHIC puts this figure at £200 for an air source heat pump and £250 for a ground source heat pump.

While the average cost of boiler service for a gas boiler is around £80 according to Checkatrade.

British Gas recommends an annual service, whether you have a heat pump or boiler, to make sure everything is working properly. The cost with them is the same for both a heat pump and a boiler ranging from £90 Unpleasant £100.

The HHIC recommends having heat pumps serviced annually, which is also recommended for a central heating boiler.

An annual service is also often a condition of factory warranties on the products, so it is essential that a specialist performs this to keep the warranty valid.

In addition to the heat pump, there is likely to be a hot water heater, so that should also be considered when maintaining or servicing your heat pump, the HHIC says.

The Hot Water Association advises that ongoing maintenance of a cylinder is recommended every 12 months.

In most cases it will also be a condition of the manufacturer’s warranty that a cylinder is properly maintained on a regular basis.

How easy is it to get past a heat pump technician?

While industry research shows that more professionals are interested in retraining in renewable energy installation and maintenance, there are significantly fewer specialist heat pump engineers than gas engineers.

This means it’s worth trying to get your annual heat pump service done in the quieter summer period to avoid running short in the winter.

British Gas is driving a shift in engineers learning how to maintain a heat pump.

The energy giant said: “We are training engineers in installing and maintaining heat pumps all the time, and we are hiring 3,500 engineers to train green skills over the next ten years.”

Like a heating boiler, experts recommend having a heat pump serviced annually to ensure it is working properly

Are heat pumps more vulnerable to wear and tear?

Being outdoors, heat pumps can be at risk of being damaged by the elements.

The HHIC said: ‘This may be the case and so should be mitigated where necessary.

‘For example, it is important to keep the heat pump free of garden waste such as leaves, shrubs or branches.

‘External covers can be used to protect the outdoor unit, but care must be taken to keep the air path to and from the unit free of debris or blockages.

‘For homes by the sea, you also have to make sure that the product is suitable for the circumstances and is corrosion-resistant.

“We recommend checking for damage to the insulation on exposed pipes connected outside to your heat pump to prevent heat from escaping through the pipes and reducing efficiency,” the HHIC added.

Cold weather is another consideration for heat pump maintenance.

The Energy Saving Trust said: ‘It is also important to periodically check that the system is still properly dosed with antifreeze to protect it in cold weather.’

Your installer will advise how often this should be done.

If you have a geothermal heat pump, it may also need to be repressurized or the quality of the antifreeze checked.

What kind of warranty and lifespan do they have?

Manufacturer warranties for heat pumps are similar to gas boilers. The warranty depends on the installer – for example, British Gas offers a 5 year warranty.

The life of a heat pump is 15-20 years for a heat pump compared to 12-15 years for a boiler according to British Gas.

The HHIC says: ‘The expected life of a heat pump is more than ten years if it is regularly maintained.

‘The length of the manufacturer’s warranties varies so check with your installer what the warranty period is for the heat pump that is installed.’

Your heat pump does not require any specific insurance or breakdown cover.

What does a repair cost compared to a central heating boiler?

Unlike boiler services, boiler repair costs can vary widely from job to job.

Checkatrade looked at the average cost of this in the UK which is £300. An emergency service can be over £410.

The repair costs of a heat pump are less clear. If your air to water heat pump is more than 20 years old and has stopped working properly, you may need to buy a replacement pump.

If you need to replace the heat pump, you can count on an average cost of € 13,000.