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A heat pump in a Sheffield terrace, fitted during a heatwave
Josie’s boiler was at the end of its life, so she chose an air source heat pump for her three-bed mid-terrace in Sheffield. Her OVO heat pump installation was completed in June this year. The £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant paid for more than the pump - it meant she could replace every radiator in the house too.
Why a heat pump, and why now?
The timing lined up. Her boiler was on its last legs, and she was already having work done on the house, including re-rendering the external walls for better insulation. Gas prices were on her mind too. "We were concerned about the knock-on effect of global affairs on gas prices, and saw this as an opportunity to have more control over our heating bills," she says. "We were also conscious of the environmental benefits so it was a win/win really."
How did the grant change the plan?
Josie first heard about the Boiler Upgrade Scheme on a BBC news story, which sent her off to research heat pumps. Since she needed a new boiler anyway, the grant mattered for a different reason: what it made possible. "We had really old radiators that needed updating, especially to make the heat pump more economical," she says. "The BUS enabled us to have all the radiators upgraded in the house as part of the install, which we wouldn't have been able to afford otherwise."
Was applying difficult?
"Very easy, as OVO Solar & Heating did the majority of the work." The only thing Josie needed to do was get an up-to-date energy certificate. It was relatively cheap, and the team guided her to a registered assessor.
What was the installation like in a small terrace?
It took three and a half days, in the middle of a heatwave. "We certainly didn't need the heating on, and we were happy to have cold showers," she says. The installer handled everything, including liaising with local powergrid to change a fuse on the front of the property. Josie was sent the paperwork to double check and sign off before anything went ahead.
Her worries beforehand were a bit unusual. "It sounds daft, but I was worried about the impact on our three cats of having strangers doing work in the house." In practice, most of the work was outside or in the cupboard on the stairs. Concerns about fitting a heat pump into a compact back yard also proved unfounded, and her old airing cupboard turned out to be just the right space for the tank and electricals.
What has she noticed so far?
The heating hasn't been switched on for the season yet, but the hot water "works brilliantly" and she hasn't noticed any noise. Her direct debit has also been reviewed and reduced by £80 a month. Josie is realistic about what comes next: "I presume this will go up after the winter, once we've been using the heating but we don't use the heating during the summer months anyway, so we haven't done anything different this year."
With the grant covering just over half the cost of the project, she's in no doubt the £7,500 made the difference. "It was a big factor in getting the heat pump." Her advice: "If you need a new boiler, then why wouldn't you invest in a heat pump? There is really nothing to be afraid of, in terms of the install, how to use it, and the financial savings."
FAQs
Can you fit a heat pump in a terraced house?Yes. Josie’s three-bed mid-terrace has a compact back yard, and the tank and electricals went into an old airing cupboard. The outdoor unit takes up roughly the same footprint as a washing machine, so you don’t need a large garden. It needs reasonable airflow and shouldn’t sit directly under a bedroom window or very close to a neighbour’s.
Do you need new radiators for a heat pump?Not always. Heat pumps run at a lower flow temperature, so they work best with larger radiators or underfloor heating. Josie’s old radiators needed updating, and her grant helped cover replacing all of them. In many homes only a few need upgrading, and OVO’s heat loss calculation shows exactly what output each room needs.
What happens at a free heat pump survey in Sheffield?A local engineer visits for one to two hours. They carry out a heat loss calculation for every room, check insulation, outdoor space, your hot water cylinder and your electrical supply, then give you a full system design and a fixed quote. There is no obligation to go ahead.
Thinking about a heat pump in Sheffield? Get your heat pump survey today