Kirk Goes Fully Electric with a Heat Pump
Kirk replaced his old gas boiler with a heat pump, saving money on energy bills and going fully electric.
Summary
Off-gas completely
Heat pump
Loft insulation
The Home:
- House Type: 1930s semi-detached house
- No. Of bedrooms: 3
- Wall Type: Insulated Cavity Walls
- Location: Redfield, Bristol, BS5.
“Using the free advice service from Retrofit West was very useful when shopping around for a heat pump.”
Kirk, Homeowner
Background
Kirk knew that one of the first things he wanted to do with the house was upgrade the heating system – there was a decades-old back boiler and an old gas fireplace.
Kirk started looking into heat pumps through Retrofit West and obtained free comprehensive advice from our advisor, Nathan. Through weighing up the pros and cons, and the costs involved, Kirk decided to go ahead with the heat pump installation – taking advantage of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant in the UK to keep the costs lower.
Assessment
Through his own research, Kirk learned that heat pump installations can present challenges and sometimes aren’t done well. It was important from the start that Kirk engaged with an installer who was competent and could complete all the calculations and checks necessary for an efficient unit.
Following a thermal imaging survey and airtightness test, Kirk could see where his home had cold spots and draughts – meaning that installing draught-proofing measures and insulation was easier and more precise.
Kirk went with Sustain Heating and Renewables, featured on the Retrofit West Trusted Trades Directory, for their competitive quote and friendly installation.
The Challenges
Kirk also understood that for a heat pump to run efficiently, the home needs to be properly insulated. Already having cavity wall insulation was a big bonus, and Kirk went ahead with getting loft insulation too.
After the heat pump was installed, Kirk wishes he had a recording of the explanation the installer gave about the heating system to refer to afterwards. There are multiple wireless units which communicate data about the heating system and Kirk feels it’s important to have a basic understanding of what each component does. However, after the annual maintenance check, Kirk will ask for the installer to explain it again. He would also like to learn how to carry out basic maintenance tasks on the heat pump system, e.g. how to empty the Y filter.
Solutions
Replaced all the radiators in the house with double-panel units – which suits the flow rate of the heat pump system to keep the house a comfortable temperature constantly. The total cost for both the heat pump system and the replacement radiators was £15,000.
Kirk now has a water tank where his downstairs WC was – happy to sacrifice the space for the equipment as the occupancy in his home is for 2 people.
By using Hive, a smart heating control system, Kirk can set the temperature and timings he’d like, and the heat pump will meet his requirements. This takes the stress out of forward planning and no cold-water surprises!
Results
Winter in 2025 is the first time that Kirk’s heat pump has been running in colder temperatures – and it’s doing great! Kirk also is off-gas completely, having switched from a gas hob to an electric induction hob – one less bill to pay!
“It’s so satisfying to not be paying a standing charge for a service I don’t use anymore. To have gone fully electric feels great.”
It’s not useful to compare the electricity bill from last winter to this year as a few other changes have taken place since – his housemate has an electric car, and there have been builders coming in and out leaving doors open doing various works. However, Kirk knows that the electricity bill is still below the average for a house of this size – confident that the January 2025 to January 2026 comparison will be significantly lower.
What’s next? Kirk’s plans for his home involve replacing the sealant strips around his double-glazed windows and doing more draught-proofing work to further the efficiency of his house.
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