Heat pumps have been heralded as a way for households to cut energy bills and become more eco-friendly, but are they as good as their supporters claim? DERIN CLARK talks to two Norfolk families who have had them installed to find out.
With temperatures dipping below freezing, the cost of heating is at the forefront of many minds when debating whether to turn up the thermostat.
For two families living in Reepham, having heat pumps installed has helped ease energy bills without having to worry about keeping their homes warm.
Gloria Digby and her daughter, Emma, both live in the town and have switched to air source heat pumps.
Retiree Gloria, who owns a four-bedroom detached house with her husband, made the change in 2019 when the couple's 30-year-old oil boiler needed upgrading.
"We were looking at having quite a lot of work done," she said.
"A friend of ours had heat pumps installed so we thought we would give it a go."
She admits it was an expensive investment, but a government scheme available at the time has resulted in some of the money being paid back.
Prior to having the heat pumps installed, her energy costs comprised of paying for electricity and having an oil tank filled.
"We did a quick calculation last summer and found that if we filled our 2,600 litre oil tank it would have cost us £4,000."
On top of this, the couple would also have had to pay for electricity.
Now, however, during the expensive winter months, their monthly energy bills are just £180.
The heat pump industry is booming and, with government targets of 600,000 installations per year by 2028, is only expected to get bigger.
Local firms, such as Attleborough-based Finn Geotherm, are at the forefront of this heating revolution and are growing rapidly as the technology becomes more popular.
READ MORE: How Norwich became the first UK city to install a heat pump
Last year, Emma Digby decided to have heat pumps installed in her own home after seeing the benefits her parents had enjoyed.
Living in a three-bedroom detached house with her husband and seven-year-old daughter, the family's monthly bills are higher at £250.
"Both my husband and I work from home and are only in the office one day a week, so we use a lot of electricity," she said.
"Plus with a young family, we are doing washing all the time."
Both Gloria and Emma revealed that they have not worried about heating their homes during the winter, even with the cold snaps Norfolk has experienced.
"We just leave the heat source pump on all the time, night and day," added Gloria.
Emma revealed that she was concerned that the heat pumps would not be as effective as her previous oil heating.
"We had our heating set to 20 degrees because I was worried going from oil to a heat pump we weren't going to feel the warmth from the radiators," she said. "But we actually had to turn it down because it was too hot.
"We've got it set to 19.5 degrees and, as someone who feels the cold, I've not been cold."
Overall, both Gloria and Emma are pleased with their heat pumps and said they would recommend them.
"It is nice to know that we have a sustainable heat source," added Emma.
"It is also good knowing that we are not at the mercy of oil prices, which fluctuate even without a sudden crisis."
Despite growing in popularity, heat pumps have been criticised.
The upfront costs of having them installed are high, pricing many families out of the market.
They also need electricity to run, which makes some environmentalists question their sustainability benefits.
Often, to get the full benefits of heat pumps, homeowners need to have solar panels also installed to help cut running costs and lower carbon emissions, which can see installation costs mount up.
With the move towards lower carbon heating, however, it seems that heat pumps will continue to become more popular during the coming years.
How much do heat pumps cost?
The cost of installing a heat pump can vary depending on the type installed, but an air source heat pump is normally between £8,000 and £18,000.
Some homeowners may also have new radiators added at the same which can push up costs, but this is not always necessary.
The government is currently offering grants of up to £5,000 towards an air source heat pump under its Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
This scheme also offers grants of up to £6,000 towards a ground source heat pump.
When considering the costs of heat pumos, homeowners should also keep in mind that they need to be serviced yearly, which can be between £150 and £200.
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