Will my heat pump be compatible with my existing radiators?

We are often asked by customers whether they will need to replace their radiators with larger ones or install underfloor heating when fitting a new heat pump. The quick response is no, it may not be necessary and it’s certainly not mandatory, but the longer answer depends on several factors, which we’re going to run through here. 

 

First let’s take a quick look at how heat pumps operate and heat your home. A heat pump converts heat from the environment (usually the ground or the air) into a hot fluid by compressing it. This fluid is distributed around your home’s heating system – which means you still need pipes (i.e. radiators or underfloor heating) to get your rooms nice and toasty. 

 

The reason there’s debate about whether heat pumps need particularly large radiators is because they release heat more slowly and at a lower temperature than traditional boilers -  around 40°C compared to 60°C for boilers. A larger surface area helps disperse the heat so that your home will feel the same temperature as it would with a boiler.

 

Do heat pumps require underfloor heating?

 

You don’t need to install underfloor heating when you replace your gas boiler or old heating system with a new heat pump. Heat pumps function efficiently with radiators. However, if you’re building a new house or undergoing renovations, then you might want to consider underfloor heating. That’s because as we’ve already mentioned, a large heating surface area is required to achieve comfortable and comparative temperatures.

 

Now let’s get back to the radiator debate. It’s true that the temperature output of heat pumps isn’t as high as traditional gas boilers and therefore the larger the surface area of the radiator, the more heat will be produced and efficiency achieved. However, both ground source heat pumps and air source heat pumps will work with your existing radiators. Indeed, radiators can work well with heat pumps and, in most cases, existing radiators won’t need replacing, especially if you already have large, powerful radiators installed.

 

Most radiators in UK homes are actually oversized for gas boiler systems running at 60 °C. This is because it’s safer to install too large radiators than to risk having too small radiators to keep a home warm. As a result, even if an air source heat pump outputs just 40°C, the oversized radiators in most homes are actually the right size required for a heat pump.

 

Our professional installers will be able to accurately assess the compatibility of your existing radiators and tell if they’ll be able to work to their full capacity and adequately heat your home. If we suggest that your radiators do need replacing, we can make that process stress-free for you. We can size the new units appropriately for each room to make sure your home is both efficient and toasty warm when you need it to be.

 

Which radiators work best?

 

If you are going to replace your radiators, then we’d recommend opting for aluminium as they work well with heat pumps. Aluminium’s excellent conductivity allows rapid and efficient heat transmission compared to steel or cast iron radiators. Aluminium’s eco-friendliness also adds to its appeal. Aluminium radiators can be made from recycled materials and can be further recycled when they come to the end of their useful life – which, if you’re making the switch to a heat pump for environmental reasons, makes perfect sense!

 

If you’re looking for a heat pump installer and want advice on whether your home and existing heating system is suitable for a heat pump, then let us help you. With our national network of fully accredited and qualified expert heat pump engineers, we can complete a free home assessment and also check your eligibility for the £7,500 government grant towards your new heat pump. Get in touch today.