As the UK accelerates its push towards net zero, air source heat pumps (ASHPs) have become a central talking point in the future of home heating. But with upfront costs still higher than traditional boilers and a flurry of information — both supportive and sceptical — many homeowners are asking the same practical question: Are heat pumps worth it?

We dug into the latest research, statistics, and expert commentary to bring you a no-nonsense look at the real benefits of air-to-water ASHPs for UK homes.

The Key Benefits

A study by Nesta found that people who use heat pumps say they’re safe, reliable, and quiet, while providing effective heating and plenty of hot water. The same study found that 73% of heat pump owners are as satisfied — or even more satisfied — with their heat pump compared to their old heating system.

Want to know why so many people are happy with heat pumps? Read on to find out the key benefits for your home.

Lower Carbon Footprint

Homes in the UK produce about 20% of the country’s total CO₂ emissions, mostly from heating. Burning gas, oil, or coal releases not only CO₂ but also pollutants like nitrogen oxides. These can harm health and worsen air quality, especially in cities.

Lowering your home’s emissions helps reduce the UK’s contribution to global warming, which drives extreme weather, flooding, and heatwaves. 

Switching from a gas or oil boiler to a heat pump cuts your heating-related carbon emissions by 45–65%, according to studies by the UK’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and the Committee on Climate Change (CCC).

Energy Independence & Future Readiness

Protect Yourself from Rising Fuel Costs
Gas and oil prices have jumped up and down a lot in recent years. A heat pump runs on electricity, which is generally more stable — especially if you choose a renewable energy tariff. If you generate your own electricity with solar panels, you can run your heat pump using free, green energy from the sun. That means lower bills and less reliance on the unpredictable gas market.

Cost Savings – If You’re on Gas

Compared to Gas Boilers:
Research shows that a well‑designed air‑source heat pump (ASHP) can be cheaper to run than an older gas boiler.
For example, the Energy Saving Trust (EST) and other studies found that swapping an old, inefficient G‑rated gas boiler for an ASHP could save you around £260–£340 a year.  If you already have a new, efficient A‑rated gas boiler, it might still be slightly cheaper to run than an ASHP — but only by about £14 a year.  In other words, for many UK homes, an ASHP will cost about the same as gas to run — and often less if your current boiler is old.

Learn more: Heat Pumps vs Gas Boilers

Cost Savings – If You’re on Oil or LPG

Compared to Oil and LPG:
If you’re off the gas grid, the savings can be bigger.  Replacing a typical G‑rated oil boiler with an ASHP can save around £65 a year or more.
With LPG, the savings are even greater — up to around £700 a year if your old boiler is inefficient. These figures are based on average UK fuel prices, but oil and LPG prices often change a lot and can be higher than electricity.

Low Maintenance

Maintenance needs are low.  Like gas boilers, ASHPs typically only need an annual service; no regular fuel deliveries or combus­tion checks are required.

 Long-Term Value

They have long lifetimes (often 20+ years ) with minimal wear. In short, aside from the occasional check (e.g. clearing leaves), owners find them as straightforward to live with as any major appliance, without the soot, combustion risks or carbon-monoxide concerns of a boiler.

Comfort and Usability

Even and Comfortable Heating

Unlike boilers that fire on and off, heat pumps provide gentle, consistent warmth throughout the day — especially when combined with good insulation.

• Surveys from the MCS Foundation show over 80% of UK heat pump users are satisfied with comfort and hot water performance.
• Common feedback: once people understood how to use them, they wouldn’t go back.

Stable temperature and humidity

Heat pumps provide consistent heating, which reduces the need for opening windows. A UK retrofit trial in Oxford found that after installing heat pumps, CO₂ levels stayed below 900 ppm over 90% of the time—a sign of much better ventilation behaviour. Other pollutants, like formaldehyde and VOCs, were also lower. Humidity stayed comfortable too, thanks to dehumidifying features.

Safer Indoor Air

The Air Quality Expert Group—an independent body advising the UK government—notes that natural gas boilers release nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO) and particulate pollutants when burning fuel. These exhaust gases—sometimes vented indoors or near homes—can degrade air quality and pose health risks. Heat pumps don’t burn anything, so those harmful emissions vanish indoors. Homes heated by heat pumps are free from combustion pollutants that can linger or infiltrate from boiler exhausts.

Better for Health

No CO and NO₂ indoors lowers the risk of respiratory irritation or more serious health issues.

Helps Prevent Mould and Damp

Independent studies highlight that improved insulation and heating must be balanced with proper ventilation. Heat pumps, paired with good airflow and filtration, help cut down moisture and mould risks often linked to poorly ventilated retrofits.

Increase in Home Value

Homes with better energy performance are becoming more attractive to buyers, especially as energy prices and environmental awareness grow.

Homes with low-carbon heating (including ASHPs) already command premiums over regional averages.  In one analysis, a home with a heat pump sold for about £484k on average, significantly more than the national stock median (and comparable to other green heating schemes).

Industry studies back this up.  For example, WWF analysis suggests installing a heat pump increases a UK home’s value by roughly 1.7–3% on average.  While outcomes depend on market conditions and installation quality, the trend is clear: better efficiency makes homes more attractive.  Estate agents note that a well-installed heat pump is a unique selling point that draws interest.

So, Are Heat Pumps Worth It?

If an air source heat pump system is designed, installed, and operated optimally in the UK, it is absolutely “worth it” in both financial and environmental terms compared to traditional fossil fuel heating systems.

What the Experts Say

• MCS Foundation: “Heat pumps are the cornerstone of decarbonising homes and provide reliable, efficient heating.”
• International Energy Agency (IEA): “In temperate climates like the UK, heat pumps are among the most cost-effective solutions for residential heating.”
• Switch Together Experts: "When done right, air-to-water systems provide the best heating comfort available."