One question we hear almost daily from homeowners across Wiltshire is “do air source heat pumps save money?” With energy prices continuing to fluctuate and more people looking to reduce their carbon footprint, it’s no surprise that many local residents are weighing up the financial benefits of switching to renewable heating. Having installed heat pumps throughout Trowbridge, Melksham and the surrounding areas for years, we’ve seen firsthand how the savings can vary from home to home.
The Factors That Influence Your Savings
When considering will an air source heat pump save me money, several key factors come into play:
1. Your Current Heating System
The potential savings largely depend on what you’re replacing:
- Oil boilers: Homeowners switching from oil heating typically see the most significant savings, especially in rural parts of Wiltshire where oil deliveries come at a premium. We’ve had customers in villages around Westbury and Frome saving £500-£700 annually.
- Electric heating: If you’re currently using storage heaters or direct electric heating, the savings can be substantial – often 40-60% of your heating costs.
- Gas boilers: The comparison with modern gas boilers is more nuanced, with more modest savings, particularly at current energy prices.
2. Your Home’s Insulation Quality
A well-insulated home will always see better returns from a heat pump:
- Modern properties built to current building regulations typically achieve excellent efficiency rates
- Older stone cottages, which are common in our Wiltshire villages, may need additional insulation measures to maximise savings
- Mid-range properties with cavity wall insulation and decent loft insulation usually perform very well
3. System Design and Installation Quality
This is where having an experienced local installer really makes a difference. Proper sizing and setup of your heat pump system significantly affects its efficiency. As we explain in our guide on heat pump installation, a correctly specified system will operate at optimal efficiency, maximising your savings.
Real Cost Savings: The Numbers
Based on our experience installing heat pumps across Wiltshire, here’s what typical households might expect:
For a 3-bedroom semi-detached house:
- Replacing oil heating: Approximately £500-£700 annual savings
- Replacing direct electric heating: £700-£900 annual savings
- Replacing gas: £100-£300 annual savings (varies with gas and electricity prices)
Of course, these figures aren’t guarantees – they reflect what we’ve observed with our customers across Trowbridge, Melksham, Chippenham and the surrounding areas. Your actual savings will depend on your specific circumstances.
Beyond Immediate Bill Savings
When considering if air source heat pumps save money, it’s important to look beyond your monthly bills:
Long-Term Value
Heat pumps typically last 15-20 years – often outlasting conventional boilers. This longer lifespan means your investment stretches further.
Maintenance Costs
Annual maintenance costs for heat pumps are broadly similar to gas boiler servicing, though there are fewer components that can fail. From our experience maintaining systems across Warminster and Frome, heat pumps tend to be highly reliable when professionally installed.
Home Value
Property value increases aren’t guaranteed, but increasingly, energy-efficient homes with renewable heating systems are commanding premium prices in the Wiltshire market.
Protection from Future Energy Price Rises
As the UK transitions away from fossil fuels, gas and oil prices may become more volatile. Heat pumps provide some insulation from these fluctuations, particularly if paired with solar panels.
Grant Funding: Boosting Your Savings
The economic equation for heat pumps has been transformed by government incentives:
- The Boiler Upgrade Scheme currently offers £7,500 towards air source heat pump installation
- This grant significantly reduces the payback period, often to 5-7 years
- Our team can handle the application process for you, as we’ve done for dozens of customers in Chippenham and Westbury
For more details on available funding, see our guide to heat pump grants.
Real-Life Example: The Smiths in Melksham
Last year, we installed an air source heat pump for the Smith family in Melksham, replacing their ageing oil boiler. Their detached 1970s three-bedroom home had decent insulation but relied on expensive oil deliveries.
After a full heating season, they reported:
- Their annual heating costs dropped from £1,800 to £1,100
- Their home felt more consistently warm throughout
- They no longer worried about running low on oil during cold snaps
Is an Air Source Heat Pump Right for Your Home?
While the numbers look promising for many homes, heat pumps aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution. For the best results, your home should:
- Have reasonable insulation standards
- Ideally have underfloor heating or larger radiators (or be willing to upgrade these)
- Have space for the external unit and hot water cylinder
We offer free, no-obligation home assessments to provide a realistic picture of potential savings for your specific property.
The Bottom Line: Do Air Source Heat Pumps Save Money?
Based on our experience installing and maintaining heat pumps across Wiltshire, the answer is generally yes – most homeowners do save money in the long run, particularly those moving from oil or electric heating. The combination of lower running costs, government incentives, and longer system lifespan typically delivers good value.
However, the exact savings vary widely based on your specific circumstances. Whether an air source heat pump will save you money is a question that deserves a personalised answer based on your home, current heating system, and energy usage patterns.
As local heat pump installers serving Trowbridge, Melksham, Westbury, Frome, Warminster and Chippenham, we’re here to provide honest, practical advice about whether a heat pump would be economically beneficial for your home. Our heating services experts can conduct a thorough assessment and give you realistic projections based on similar properties we’ve worked with in your area.
Contact us today on 01225 708 562 or email info@anheating.co.uk to arrange your free heat pump consultation and discover if making the switch could reduce your energy bills for years to come.
