Air Source Heat Pump vs. Gas Boiler

There are two clear options to choose from when it comes to heating your home. In one corner, you've got the traditional gas boiler, trusted by households across Essex and the UK. Its fossil fuel-guzzling method of heating has ruled the industry for some time now, with little serious competition to its dominance.

However, in the other corner, you've got the rising star of the heating system world: the air source heat pump. By extracting heat from the outside air, the heat pump can warm your entire home and provide you with hot water, without relying on any fossil fuels to do so.

In this article, we'll pit the two forms of heating against each other, discussing efficiency, cost, and environmental impact. By doing so, we'll help you decide which of the two options is best for your home.

How Do Gas Boilers Work?

Gas boilers work by heating gas in a combustion chamber to generate heat, which is then transferred to water via a heat exchanger. This hot water is then circulated around your home through pipes leading to radiators and underfloor heating systems. The combustion by-products, which include the much-maligned carbon dioxide, are expelled from the property through what's known as a flue.

Advantages of gas boiler heating

Quick heat: It doesn't take long for a gas boiler to provide your entire home with heat.
Consistent heat: The heat provided by gas boilers is consistent and won't vary unless you change the thermostat yourself.
Durable: Gas boilers tend to last around 10-15 years, with performance levels staying high depending on maintenance.

Disadvantages of gas boilers

Expensive to run: The ever-fluctuating cost of fossil fuels makes gas boilers expensive to run, often leaving poorer households with the decision of whether to eat or heat the home.
Awful for the environment: Gas boilers emit CO2, which becomes trapped in the atmosphere, heating up the planet. They also use fossil fuels, which can't be replaced, unlike renewable energy.
Carbon monoxide leaks: If your gas boiler breaks down, it can emit carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas, which will prove fatal if undetected.

It's important to note, gas boilers are now being phased out, with new-build homes being made to install low-carbon alternative heating systems instead.

How Do Air Source Heat Pumps Work?

Air source heat pumps consist of an outdoor unit which extracts heat from the air, and an indoor unit which distributes the heated air around the home. The air is further heated by a refrigerant, which amplifies it to heat your home and your water. The system works all year round, extracting heat from the air during the coldest of UK winters.

While heat pumps require electricity to run, they don't burn any fossil fuels while heating your home. Instead, they rely only on the outside air, a renewable source of energy.

Air source heat pump advantages

Efficiency: Air source heat pumps are 350% more efficient than gas boilers, creating three times more energy than they use.
Carbon neutral: As they don't burn fossil fuels, air source heat pumps are ideal for lowering your carbon footprint and moving towards a greener future.
Cost effective: After the initial installation costs, the only costs you'll pay for your heating will be the electricity to run the heat pump. This can be offset by the addition of a solar panel installation, which will cover your heating costs entirely.

Disadvantages of air source heat pumps

Installation costs: Heat pump installations can be expensive. However, with the UK Government's Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS), you can save up to £7500 on the installation.
Space requirements: Air source heat pump units will require you to have adequate room for both the outdoor and indoor units.

Air Source Heat Pumps vs. Gas Boilers: A Comparison

The differences between heat pumps and gas boilers are stark, from an environmental, cost, and efficiency perspective. Let's take a look at the main differences:

1. Efficiency

Efficiency is where heat pumps really stand out. They are 3.5x more efficient than gas boilers, producing over three times the amount of energy that they generate. This gives them a 350% efficiency rate, compared to the 90-95% efficiency that gas boilers possess.

This 90-95% statistic only applies to newer models of gas boilers, with older models having a substantially lower rate.

2. Cost

Heat pumps tend to cost more to install than gas boilers, with installations ranging from £7000-£14,000. Boiler installations usually cost a maximum of £4000. However, as previously mentioned, the government's BUS initiative can save you £7500 on your heat pump installation.

It's the running costs that set the heat pump apart from the gas boiler. When your system is up and running, you won't have to pay any cost for your heating and hot water. The only money you'll have to pay is the electricity to keep the heat pump running.

On the other hand, gas boilers have significantly higher running costs, which are constantly fluctuating, depending on gas prices. Plus, fossil fuels aren't renewable, meaning increased prices due to scarcity will come into play.

3. Environmental Impact

Heat pumps are excellent for the environment as they don't use fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are a major factor involved in climate change, as they release carbon dioxide, which gets trapped in the air and heats the planet. Gas boilers rely heavily on fossil fuels to run, which is why they're being phased out by the government as the country chases its Net Zero 2050 targets.

This makes heat pumps an absolute necessity if you want to lower your carbon footprint and future-proof your home.

4. Installation/Maintenance

The heat pump installation process isn't exactly simple, with two separate units needing to be installed. You may also need to replace your radiators for more appropriate larger models. Heat pumps need regular maintenance to ensure that everything is in order. However, gas boilers will also need annual maintenance, with the stakes being higher due to the use of hazardous gases.

The installation process for gas boilers is complicated, again due to the use of hazardous gases. It will likely involve the re-routing of pipes and intense plumbing work.

What's Right for You?

As the UK moves closer to its 2050 Net Zero target, the window of opportunity to install a gas boiler is getting smaller and smaller. With the environmental benefits on offer from air source heating, it is the only real choice for the present time.

Plus, with the government schemes and initiatives on offer, upgrading to a heat pump from a gas boiler has never been more affordable.

There's also the long-term financial gains to think about. The running costs of a gas boiler are substantially higher than those of a heat pump. That's because your heating will be provided by the air; a 100% renewable energy source.

Overall, the benefits of air source heat pumps vastly outweigh the benefits of gas boilers in 2025. Heat pumps are built for the future, with the aim of making our planet greener and safer to live on.

Heat Pump Installer, Essex | EPC

For trustworthy, hassle-free air source heat pump installations, look no further than EPC. We have over 15 years helping homes and businesses across Essex and the South East transition to green energy and save thousands on their energy bills.

Our MCS Certified experts will design a bespoke plan around your home's needs and your budget, as well as offering a premium aftercare service.