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Annual household gas bills are up 28% to €1,249.*
Oil prices are up. Fuel costs are up. Electricity prices are expected to increase again.
There’s another increase to <insert bill here>.
Prices seem to go just one way.
Up.
But is there a way to actually reduce a bill?
Heat pumps may offer an opportunity.
But are air to water heat pumps actually worth it in Ireland?
Key takeaways:
First, let’s make sure we’re on the same page – let’s briefly take a look at what air to water heat pumps are and how they work.
Air to water heat pumps are energy efficient central heating devices. They work by extracting heat from the outside air (even when cold out) and transferring it to your home’s heating and hot water system.
Air to water heat pumps deliver three to four units of heat for every unit of electricity consumed.
Their heating controls enable precise scheduling of heating and hot water to match household needs. According to the SEAI, this typically reduces energy consumption by up to 20%.
But are air to water heat pumps actually worth it in Ireland?
Air to water heat pumps are worth it in Ireland.
The Irish climate and high cost of home heating, combined with the efficiency of air to water heat pumps make them a worthwhile investment.
The SEAI estimate that, out of all Irish household energy usage, 61% is used for space heating and 20% for water heating.
This combined with Ireland’s high cost of all home heating fuel types means many are looking for a more efficient, cost effective option.
Air to water heat pumps, when appropriately installed, reduce home heating bills. They deliver a return on investment in as little as 6 years.
They’re relatively quick to install and can work with existing radiators and underfloor heating.
Air to water heat pumps typically cost between €13,000 and €17,000 to fully install.
Even lower when taking advantage of government grants.
They can deliver 100% of an Irish home’s heating and hot water needs.
This means they can eliminate oil and gas bills.
Their efficiency (coefficient of performance) means that every unit of electricity consume delivers, as mentioned, three to four units of heat.
Ultimately, all these factors combine to make air to water heat pumps worth it in Ireland.
But, they may not be worth it in all cases so let’s take a look at how you can ensure you get a return on your investment.
To ensure air to water heat pumps are worth it, get a technical assessment completed by an SEAI registered technical advisor.
They’ll advise you on what steps you need to take to make your home air to water heat pump ready.
A crucial aspect of this is your home’s Heat Loss Indicator (HLI) value. You may need to upgrade wall, roof and floor insulation, and possibly make improvements to windows, doors and ventilation, along with other works to improve airtightness.
You may require no upgrades or many, either way it’s good to find out from a professional.
This step is required if you intend to avail of the SEAI grant (more details below), which helps further ensure an air to water heat pump is a worthwhile investment for you.
Additionally, you should choose qualified, experienced and reputable SEAI registered heat pump installers that provide workmanship warranties and install award-winning air to water heat pumps.
This ensures a high quality system will be installed to the highest standard – necessary to make heat pumps worthwhile.
Continue reading to get a bonus tip that’ll make installing an air to water heat pump extremely worth it.
Now, let’s take a look at grants.
The grant for an air to water heat pump is €6,500 (€4,500 for apartments) and there’s a €200 grant towards a technical assessment.
There are many other grants available, if needed, to make your home heat pump ready.
This includes up to:
A technical assessment will identify which specific works, if any, are required to ensure an air to water heat pump will be a worthwhile investment for you.
All homeowners (incl. landlords) with houses built and occupied before 2021 can apply for a heat pump grant.
But certain criteria must met, including:
Get a dedicated grant coordinator with your air to water heat pump installation.
These grants along with many other factors have increased the demand for air to water heat pumps in Ireland.
Let’s take a brief look at the important factors contributing to the rising popularity of heat pumps in Ireland next.
The growing popularity of air to water heat pumps in Ireland stems from their efficiency levels and Ireland’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions.
The government’s Climate Action Plan aims to install 400,000 heat pumps in existing homes by 2030.
To help achieve climate targets, the government has introduced generous grants (up to €6,500 towards heat pump installations), low-interest rate loans and reduced VAT rates on heat pump installations.
These are proving to be key demand drivers.
Despite being behind government targets, wait times for heat pump installations are rising.
One key factor is the shortage of skilled labour.
Homeowners are racing to book their heat pump installation while the incentives are strong and the wait times are as low as they will likely be this decade.
Ultimately, the combination of government incentives and the performance of air to water heat pumps has led to increased popularity, which is expected to rise further.
Now let’s get that bonus tip that’ll make installing an air to water heat pump extremely worthwhile.
Air to water heat pumps consume electricity to heat homes and water.
While they consume one unit of electricity for every three to four units of heat delivered, they still use electricity.
And electricity prices are increasing, like everything (seemingly).
But this simple thing makes air to water heat pumps extremely worthwhile: use free electricity.
You can do this with solar panels.
The typical payback period for solar in Ireland is 5-7 years. The electricity generated after this period is effectively free.
When sized appropriately, solar can deliver sufficient energy to run your heat pump. You’re then heating your home and water for free.
Granted there are upfront costs for solar. But electricity bills are reduced immediately (by approx. 50%) and there are SEAI grants available.
The power generated during winter months may not deliver 100% of the energy required for a heat pump. But excess energy generated during summer months can offset the cost of winter electricity demands.
For more details, get a free no-obligation solar consultation.
To get an air to water heat pump installed, simply:
Once completed, follow the necessary steps, if any, to get your home heat pump ready. We can manage and complete all upgrade requirements through our One Stop Shop solution.
We install award-winning air to water heat pumps, provide 5 year workmanship warranties as standard, and more. We’re also SEAI registered solar panel installers if you decide you want to run your heat pump from solar.
Our grant coordinator will help you through the entire process and complete as much as possible.
We will schedule a date and time that suits you for our air to water heat pump experts to complete the installation.
To see if an air to water heat pump is appropriate for you, and to get a quote, book a free no-obligation heat pump consultation:
*Source: cso.ie.
At Ohk energy, we believe in the power of community and giving back. That’s why, when we teamed up with Leinster and Ireland back-row star Caelan Doris, we saw an opportunity to make a real difference. To celebrate our partnership with Caelan, we launched the Power a Brighter Future campaign, raising vital funds for Childline by ISPCC.
From August 6th, 2024, to September 6th, 2024, we pledged €50 from every sale of solar PV systems and air-to-water heat pumps to Childline, an organisation dedicated to supporting vulnerable children across Ireland.
Thanks to the support of our customers and community, we are proud to announce that we raised over €16,300 for this incredible cause.">
