AN INEFFICIENT HEATING system can be a real nuisance, leaving your house colder than it should be and your bills higher than they need to be. 

One surefire way to improve the energy efficiency of your home is to upgrade your insulation and make the switch to a heat pump. 

Heat pumps work by drawing heat from an external low-temperature source, such as the ground or the air outside, and increasing the temperature of that heat to warm your home through radiators and/or underfloor heating. They work without burning fossil fuels, creating a more comfortable and healthier home, as well as reducing your carbon footprint.

There are several advantages that come with a heat pump. Heat pumps are ideal for maintaining a constant temperature and improving home comfort and health; they also provide a constant supply of hot water to the taps in your home. Installing a heat pump will also improve your home’s BER, increasing its sell-on value. 

Another benefit of opting for a heat pump is that most come with integrated heating controls, meaning that you can match your energy usage to the patterns of your home life. In fact, heat pumps are a highly efficient alternative to oil or gas boilers, and when you lower your energy use, you lower your energy bills.

Many homeowners believe they have to install underfloor heating for a heat pump to work well. That is generally not the case, with heat pumps working just as well with traditional radiators.

There is a range of grants available to homeowners who wish to upgrade their homes and achieve a higher BER rating. Through SEAI, there are grants of up to €10,500 available to install heat pumps in your home.