The government are making air source heat pump grants available to households across the UK. Just fill out our quick application form online to see if you qualify!
Air Source Heat Pump Grants
Gov Backed Air Source Heat Pump Grants to Install Heat Pumps in Your Home
Reduce Your Heating Bills
Government Backed Scheme
Up To 100% Air Source Heat Pump Grant
Qualify for an air source heat pump grant In 3 Simple Steps…
Sound too easy? We promise it really is.
Apply
Fill out our online application form for an air source heat pump grant and go through a simple evaluation to see if you qualify for any government funding. Our internal grants team will then evaluate your application.
Survey
Following your successful application, we will arrange a free, no obligation survey to ensure the maximum grant is obtained and advise you on the best products to reduce your homes energy usage.
Installation
The installation of your chosen products will be carried out by our experienced and local engineers at a time that suits you. All of our installations are COVID safe & adhere to all government guidelines.
About Warma UK
Warma UK has helped thousands of customers improve their homes energy efficiency and reduce their energy bills all with the help of government funded grants. We pride ourselves on our customer service which is as efficient as the products we install! We have a network of engineers located across the UK to ensure that each install is carried out by a local and trusted engineer. This means you get the service and reliability of a national company, with the personal touch of a local trader.
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Table of Contents
A guide to air source heat pump grants and funding options in the UK
Escalating energy bills and greater awareness of eco-friendly ways to heat a home are increasing interest in air-to-water heat technology, as well as other systems that reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.
Fortunately, the Government has responded by updating the help it provides to replace and modernise boilers, which includes air source heat pump grants.
This guide to air source heat pump grants will explain eligibility criteria, and what these grants include, as well as the benefits of using this cash to switch to a renewable energy system in your home.
First step in getting air source heat pump grants
As mentioned, consulting a trained grant advisor at Warma UK is an important first step in switching to renewable energy and benefitting from this grant towards the cost of air source heat pumps.
We can check your eligibility and guide you through the options, so you get the best heating system for your property, and only have to find a manageable amount to cover any shortfall between the £5,000 grant and the cost of switching to renewable energy heating.
What are air source heat pump grants?
First, let’s look at the background of this home improvement and energy efficiency benefit.
The systems people currently use to heat spaces and water in UK homes could be wasting their money, and damaging the environment.
For example, one study concluded that home gas boilers create twice as much CO2 and eight times as much nitrogen dioxide as all the UK’s gas-fired power stations combined!
To encourage households to switch to more eco-friendly and energy-efficient heating alternatives, the Government launched The Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
This became available in April 2022 and will run until April 2025. It is only available in England and Wales but offers a £5,000 grant towards the cost of upgrading your home to a renewable heating system based on air source technology.
Are air source heat pump grants not available in Scotland? Scottish homeowners don’t have access to this particular grant-aid but can apply for an interest-free loan to pay for energy efficiency improvements, such as the installation of an air source heat pump.
Also, low-income families in Scotland may be able to access relevant grant aid under the Warmer Homes in Scotland initiative.
Air source heat pump grants are available to anyone claiming benefits who live in England or Wales, Scotland is yet to be confirmed. The government’s Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme offers air source heat pump grants to help improve the energy efficiency of homes.
To be eligible for an air source heat pump grant, your home must have an EPC rating of band C or below. You will also need to meet the criteria for the particular grant you are applying for. For full eligibility please see out table below which sets out the criteria for qualifying for an air source heat pump grant.
The ECO4 scheme and help to install air source heat pumps
There is another potential way to get cash towards making a ‘switch’.
The ECO4 scheme is part of the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) to promote the use of more fuel-efficient systems in UK homes and help households to manage escalating energy bills.
This Government-backed initiative began in 2013, and the latest funding regime is an update of ECO3.
From late 2022, ECO4 will help qualifying homes in England, Wales AND Scotland to install energy efficiency measures. This funding will continue until 2026.
To be eligible for this help – including air source heat pump grants – you must be in receipt of a qualifying type of benefit. Some of the benefit types previously recognised under ECO3 have been removed, but the list still includes the main categories, including Universal Credit.
ECO4 also imposes a few other slight amendments to the criteria involved in receiving this financial help, including more stringent rules on the types of boilers eligible for grant funding.
An advantage of the ECO4 funding initiative is that it may give you invaluable help to install an air source heat pump if you don’t qualify under the Boiler Upgrade funding stream. Especially households in Scotland.
Air Source Heat Pump Grants In The UK
Whether you apply for a grant (money you don’t have to pay back) under the ECO4 Scheme or The Boiler Upgrade Scheme, it provides a big contribution towards installing an air source heat pump.
This is likely to reduce your heating bills by as much as 40%! Also, alongside the grant, you won’t pay any VAT on the installation.
What is an air source heat pump?
Understanding what an air source heat pump does explains why the Government is so keen to fund their use in as many homes as possible.
The basic principle is that the pump gathers heat from the external atmosphere (year round and despite the weather) and transfers it to water (This is sometimes referred to as an air-to-water source heat pump). The hot water generated then creates warmth in radiators and underfloor heating systems, or it is used in water supplies for taps, showers and baths.
The process involves an innovative heat exchanger that relies on the interaction between pressure and temperature. One of the reasons this is considered a renewable energy system is that it doesn’t create carbon dioxide.
The energy savings are considerable because the process only requires small amounts of fuel to create a significant amount of heat. On average, an air source heat pump can collect 4 kWh of thermal energy, while using only 1 kWh of electric energy.
There are, of course, different makes and models of air source heat pump. Knowing which one to invest in involves studying the specifications and output, and then finding one that meets your home’s heat requirements.
You will find the amount of heat generated by – in terms of every unit of electricity it uses – referred to as Coefficient of Performance or a CoP rating.
Also, you may need to study the Seasonal Coefficient of Performance (SCoP) or Seasonal Performance Factor (SPF), to get a good idea of how efficient each unit is right across the year.
Am I eligible for an air source heat pump grant?
This funding source is only available for people that own the property. So, you can’t apply if you are a tenant. It can be used for a holiday home or small commercial building though. It doesn’t have to be your main residence.
One of the issues which may block your ability to apply for an air source heat pump grant is that you have already benefited from a previous government grant aimed at energy efficiency. Also, you can’t use it to upgrade an existing heat pump that operates as a renewable energy system.
In other words, the grant is only available to switch from a system that relies on fossil fuels or an electricity supply.
Also, grants are made only for homes that have a current EPC, and no outstanding deficits in their loft and cavity wall insulation standards. EPC stands for Energy Performance Certificate, which in 2007 became a legal requirement for any building sold, let or constructed. The EPC is a way of assessing a property’s energy efficiency on a scale of A to G, and is often used when buying a home to make sure you are not facing higher than average fuel bills,
Finally, eligibility for air source heat pump grants depends on demonstrating that you are investing in a system that matches the heat and hot water needs of your entire property.
Can anyone install this type of heating system?
The primary aim of The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) from the government’s perspective is to reinforce its mission to reduce carbon emissions. So naturally, it wants to make sure claims for the cash are valid, and used for equipment that genuinely achieves its aims.
So, there are rules! Particularly grants are only available if you install a renewable heating system using an MCS certified and registered installer.
MSC is an accreditation scheme that demonstrates compliance to industry standards, underpinned by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy.
Am I eligible for an air source heat pump grant?
This funding source is only available for people that own the property. So, you can’t apply if you are a tenant. It can be used for a holiday home or small commercial building though. It doesn’t have to be your main residence.
One of the issues which may block your ability to apply for an air source heat pump grant is that you have already benefited from a previous government grant aimed at energy efficiency. Also, you can’t use it to upgrade an existing heat pump that operates as a renewable energy system.
In other words, the grant is only available to switch from a system that relies on fossil fuels or an electricity supply.
Also, grants are made only for homes that have a current EPC, and no outstanding deficits in their loft and cavity wall insulation standards. EPC stands for Energy Performance Certificate, which in 2007 became a legal requirement for any building sold, let or constructed. The EPC is a way of assessing a property’s energy efficiency on a scale of A to G, and is often used when buying a home to make sure you are not facing higher than average fuel bills,
Finally, eligibility for air source heat pump grants depends on demonstrating that you are investing in a system that matches the heat and hot water needs of your entire property.
To check if you qualify for an air source heat pump grant – and research which system to buy – it’s a good idea to talk to Warma UK. We can advise you on the different units, their efficiency rating and whether they would be best fit for your property.
What else you need to know
One of the frequently asked questions on this topic is, would an air source heat pump grant cover the entire cost of installing this eco-efficient heating system?
The money available under both The Boiler Upgrade Scheme and ECO4 Scheme is fixed. You get £5,000 for air source heat pump installation. Any additional costs involved in upgrading your home heating system must be met by you.
Some people find additional lending to help them to make the switch and benefit from the current availability of air source heat pump grants.
Property developers are not able to apply for this grant, as they are not replacing an outdated system. However, if you are a private individual building your own home in England and Wales, it is worth investigating whether air source heat pump grants are applicable to your project.
Finally, though this is clearly a ‘green’ initiative, finding the ‘top up cash’ needed is also a wise investment.
Usually, over 50% of a household’s energy bills goes on heating rooms and hot water. Even relatively modern boilers leak some heat too. Taking advantage of a grant to switch to a heat pump brings significant savings on your energy bills.
According to the Energy Saving Trust (an independent organisation formed to tackle the climate emergency): “Tens of thousands of heat pumps have already been installed across the UK, and over 1.5 million heat pumps were installed across Europe in 2020 alone.”
Who is eligible for air source heat pump grants?
To receive free air source heat pump grants, then you or someone in your home must be a recipient of one of the following benefits:
- Child Tax Credit
- Income Support
- Income-based jobseeker’s allowance (JSA)
- Income-related employment and support allowance (ESA)
- Pension Credit Guarantee Credit Element
- Personal independence payment
- Universal Credit
- Working tax credit
- Child benefit dependant on income & dependants
&
Applicants under the air source heat pump grant scheme must satisfy the following criteria
- Own Your Own Home
- Must Get Permission From Landlord (Rented)
- Receive One Of The Above Benefits
- Not Council Owned
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Heat pumps must be cleaned and maintained every year. Without the proper maintenance the heat pumps could become less efficient by having to work harder to generate heat.
No, you do not need planning permission to install air source heat pumps.
On average, solar panels can save you around 40% a year on utility bills. That means throughout their lifetime, they can save you thousands of pounds.
No, the air source heat pump grant does not have to be repaid. The air source heat pump grant is a government-sponsored initiative that provides financial assistance to homeowners who install air source heat pumps on their property. It is designed to offset the installation cost and encourage renewable energy use.
Air source heat pumps can be installed in a few hours or a couple of days, depending on the number of units being installed. Generally, smaller systems take less time to install than larger ones.
You Do Not Need To Be Receiving Benefits!*
Apply For Your Air Source Heat Pump Grant
Following your successful application, we will arrange a free, no obligation survey to ensure the maximum grant is obtained and advise you on the best products to reduce your homes energy usage.
Customer Services Are Open 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday.
Government Grants for Air Source Heat Pumps
The Government scheme for air source heat pump grants aims to reduce emissions but also cut the cost of fitting heat pumps so that more households can afford them. The idea is to ensure that low carbon, more efficient heating systems, such as heat pumps, will be no more expensive – and in many cases cheaper – to buy and run than gas boilers. Most homeowners, public landlords and private landlords in England and Wales will be able to participate in the scheme. The grant won’t, however, be available to those in social housing and new-build properties.
Northern Ireland has a different energy system, while the scheme won’t be available to those in Scotland.
This cash is designed to help cover the cost of everything from the pump to the installation, including any required changes to your home. For example, you may need to have new radiators installed that work with heat pumps. You will, however, be expected to pay for any shortfall on the final bill – see below.
The £5,000 air source heat pump grant is unlikely to cover all installation costs and you’re expected to foot the bill for the balance. Heat pumps (and their installation) cost between £10,000 and £12,000 on average. The idea is that you will end up paying roughly the same amount as you would for a gas boiler.
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