Do Heat Pumps Work in the UK? Costs, Benefits, Disadvantages & FAQs

The Push for Net Zero: A Changing Landscape for UK Home Heating

The UK government has committed to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050, a target that has drastically reshaped the country's approach to heating. With heating accounting for over a third of total household carbon emissions, a transition away from fossil fuels, especially gas, is now a top priority.

As part of this shift, the sale of new gas boilers in new-build homes will be banned from 2025, with broader restrictions planned for existing homes soon after. Amid these sweeping regulatory changes, heat pumps have been presented as the primary solution for low-carbon heating. But are they truly a good fit for the UK’s unique climate and housing stock?

Heat Pumps: The Government’s Chosen Solution

Several years ago, heat pumps were thrust into the spotlight as the government’s preferred answer to gas boiler replacements. Backed by incentive schemes like the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, heat pumps quickly became the poster child of green home heating. But many homeowners who rushed to install them are now left frustrated by performance issues, especially during winter — the time they’re needed most.

These aren’t isolated incidents. Reports of inefficiency, high running costs, and breakdowns in cold weather have been widely circulated. So what’s going wrong?

What Is a Heat Pump and How Does It Work?

Heat pumps are devices that extract thermal energy from the environment — usually the air or the ground — and use it to heat your home and water. They work by moving heat rather than generating it, making them potentially very efficient under ideal conditions.

There are several types of heat pumps:

• Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP): The most common in the UK. These absorb heat from the outside air.
• Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHP): Extract heat from the ground using buried pipes. These are more efficient but significantly more expensive and disruptive to install.
• Air-to-Air Heat Pumps: Work like an air conditioner in reverse — they blow warm air into a home but don’t heat water.
• Air-to-Water Heat Pumps: These supply heat to a home's wet central heating system, like underfloor heating or radiators.

So Why the Disappointment?

On paper, a top of the range heat pump can deliver an efficiency of up to 5:1 (for every unit of electricity used, five units of heat are generated). But these figures are achieved under ideal conditions — conditions which are not often found in the UK.

Temperature Dependency

Heat pumps perform best in mild climates. The UK, however, has a humid and fluctuating climate, frequently dipping below zero in winter. The colder the air, the harder the system must work to extract usable heat. This leads to reduced efficiency — and increased electricity use — just when heating demand is at its highest.

Defrost Cycles and Moisture Issues

UK humidity presents another unique challenge. Moisture from the air can freeze within the heat pump’s outdoor unit, causing it to enter regular defrost cycles. These cycles consume additional energy and can bring the system to a halt temporarily, leaving homes without heat. Many heat pump owners have reported a significant spike in running costs when their systems become stuck in frequent defrost cycles. With energy bills already peaking during the winter months, the last thing homeowners need is for their heating system to drive costs even higher just to stay operational.

In fact, hundreds of heat pump users across the UK have reported waking up to a frost-covered, non-functioning unit in the middle of winter. And because heat pumps are mounted outdoors, they’re fully exposed to the elements, from heavy rain to snow — all of which can contribute to malfunctions or additional maintenance requirements.

Not Ideal When You Need It Most

Simply put, the more you need heat, the less efficient your heat pump becomes. That’s the inverse of what most people want in a heating system.

In addition, with both heat pumps and traditional gas central heating systems, even if individual radiators are turned off using their valves, the system still circulates hot water throughout the entire pipe network. This means energy is being used to heat and pump water through areas of the system that aren’t delivering heat to rooms — effectively wasting energy. This is especially inefficient in larger homes or those with extended pipework, where unused spaces still cause energy consumption.

Other Common Disadvantages of Heat Pumps

Beyond performance issues in cold, wet weather, there are other significant drawbacks:

• High Up-Front Costs: Often £7,000 to £15,000 for installation — and even more for ground source systems.
• Special Infrastructure Requirements: May require new radiators or underfloor heating due to lower output temperatures.
• Costly Servicing and Maintenance: Annual servicing is recommended and parts and labour can be expensive.
• Running Cost Unpredictability: Efficiency and operating costs vary wildly based on location, insulation, weather, and external temperatures.
• Visual Impact: Large, often unattractive units need to be mounted outside the property.
• Unsuitability for Flats and Smaller Homes: Many properties lack the space or permissions for installation.

But Are There Any Advantages?

Yes — when installed in the right conditions, heat pumps can be an efficient and environmentally friendly solution. Their ability to move heat rather than generate it means they can be cheaper to run than many electric radiators, gas, or oil systems in mild climates. They also qualify for government grants, and their carbon footprint is significantly lower than gas boilers.

However, in less-than-ideal environments like much of the UK, performance often falls short of expectations.

So, What’s the Alternative?

The Rise of Infrared Heating

While heat pumps have dominated headlines, infrared heating is quietly gaining ground as a more reliable and cost-effective alternative. Far infrared heating (not to be confused with glowing near-infrared outdoor heaters) is increasingly recognised as a leading option for UK homes.

In fact, research conducted at the Salford Energy House focussed primarily on air source heat pumps and infrared panels identified infrared heating as one of the most efficient heating systems available, especially for retrofits.

How Does Infrared Heating Work?

Infrared panels heat objects and people directly, before heating the air. This is fundamentally different from conventional or convective systems (like traditional radiators or heat pumps), which warm the air in a room first. Imagine the heat from sunlight on a warm day, this warmth is trapped in objects and surfaces like your walls and your sofa and slowly released even after the infrared panel has been turned off.  With infrared, warmth is immediate and long-lasting, even after the system has been turned off. Furthermore, Due to the rapid way in which they deliver heat, infrared panels require 42% less wattage than traditional electric radiators to heat an equal sized area, translating to immediate savings on running costs.

Why Infrared Heating Outperforms Heat Pumps in the UK

• Totally Unaffected by Outdoor Temperatures: Works the same in sub-zero conditions as it does in summer.
• No Moving Parts: Nothing to freeze, break down, or maintain.
• Lower Upfront Costs: Typically £2,000 to £4,000 for a full home installation.
• No Servicing or Maintenance: Infrared panels have a 40+ year lifespan and come with 10-year warranties.
• Discreet and Stylish: Slimline panels that can be wall- or ceiling-mounted, with custom designs or finishes.
• Suitable for All Property Types: Including flats, listed buildings, and properties where external units are not permitted.
• Zone Heating: Only heat the rooms you’re using, reducing waste and lowering bills.

Conclusion: A Better Way Forward?

In an ideal world — with consistently mild weather, new-build insulation standards, and perfect installation — heat pumps could live up to their promise. But for the average UK home dealing with cold winters, high humidity, and space constraints, heat pumps are often an expensive gamble.

Too many homeowners have found themselves disappointed and cold, burdened with high bills and unreliable heating when they need it most.

Infrared heating presents a viable, dependable, and future-proof alternative. It performs consistently, regardless of the weather, requires no maintenance, and costs far less to install and run. For many homes across the UK, it’s the smarter choice in a heating landscape that’s still evolving.

Ready to take control of your energy bills?
To explore how an advanced infrared heating system could lower your heating costs and offer reliable warmth all year round, get in touch with our team today.

 0333 090 7160
 info@infraredgroup.co.uk