Heating & Hot Water · 8 min read · Intermediate

Is My Home Suitable for an Air Source Heat Pump?

Understand the property factors that influence heat-pump suitability, including heat loss, emitters, flow temperature, outdoor space and hot water.

Key points & steps

Start with the property heat loss: the lower the heat demand, the easier it is to keep rooms comfortable at lower heating-water temperatures.
Check insulation, draughts, glazing and other fabric measures that could sensibly reduce heat loss before sizing the final system.
Assess radiators or underfloor heating to determine whether they can deliver enough heat at the proposed flow temperature.
Allow suitable outdoor space for the external unit with appropriate clearances, airflow and consideration for noise and neighbouring properties.
Plan domestic hot water: many heat-pump installations use a hot-water cylinder, so suitable internal space may be needed.
Review electrical supply, controls and any wider works required as part of the installation.
Use a competent system designer for the final room-by-room heat-loss calculation and equipment selection.

A heat pump is not judged by the age of the house alone; actual heat loss and emitter design are more useful.
Large radiators are not necessarily a problem — increased emitter area can help a lower-temperature heating system.
Consider the whole project cost, not just the outdoor unit: emitters, cylinder, pipework, controls and electrical work may all be relevant.