Over the past few years I've had countless conversations with homeowners debating whether to switch from gas or oil boilers to a heat pump — and the conversation has only become more complicated as electricity prices have climbed. As someone who follows energy trends closely at Energy News, I want to give you a practical, personal checklist to decide if a home heat pump still makes sense for you in the UK today.
Why this matters now
Heat pumps are widely promoted for their low-carbon heating and high efficiency. But with electricity tariffs rising, many people ask: won’t higher electricity prices wipe out the savings a heat pump promises? My short answer: maybe — but often not. The full picture depends on several factors that I always run through with homeowners: current fuel type, home insulation, local electricity prices and tariffs, the specific heat pump's performance, and available grants.
How heat pumps actually save energy (and where costs come from)
Heat pumps move heat rather than generate it. A modern air-source heat pump (ASHP) or ground-source heat pump (GSHP) can have a coefficient of performance (COP) of 2.5–4.5 in typical UK conditions — meaning for every 1 kWh of electricity used, you get 2.5–4.5 kWh of heat. That efficiency is why heat pumps can still beat gas boilers on running costs despite higher electricity prices.
That said, running cost = electricity price × heat pump electricity consumption. So if electricity costs increase sharply, the running cost rises too. But the comparison must be plus/minus against the price of the fuel you’re replacing (gas, LPG, oil, or electric heating) and the system's seasonal performance (SPF / SCOP), not simply peak COP.
My homeowner cost-benefit checklist
Use this checklist to assess whether a heat pump is worth it for your home. I walk through each item as I would with someone considering the switch.
Simple cost comparison example
Here’s a straightforward example I use to illustrate the math. Assume an average UK home needs 12,000 kWh of heat per year.
| Scenario | Heat pump (SCOP 3) | Gas boiler (efficiency 90%) |
| Heat required (kWh) | 12,000 | 12,000 |
| Energy input required (kWh) | 12,000 / 3 = 4,000 electricity | 12,000 / 0.9 = 13,333 gas |
| Unit price (example) | 28p/kWh electricity | 7.5p/kWh gas |
| Annual fuel cost | 4,000 × 0.28 = £1,120 | 13,333 × 0.075 = £1,000 |
With these prices, the heat pump appears slightly more expensive (£1,120 vs £1,000). But change any of the variables (higher gas prices, better SCOP, time-of-use tariffs) and the balance shifts. If electricity is 22p/kWh or SCOP is 3.5, the heat pump beats gas on running costs. Also remember a heat pump avoids carbon emissions and may be eligible for grants that reduce upfront cost substantially.
Factors that shift the balance in favour of a heat pump
Things that can make a heat pump less attractive
Practical tips from my installs and readings
Deciding whether a heat pump is worth it right now comes down to personal circumstances: your current fuel, insulation level, local prices, available grants, and tolerance for upfront cost. If you want, share basic details about your home (fuel type, annual heating bill, insulation status) and I can run a quick back-of-envelope calculation tailored to your situation.
