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Heat Pumps in 2026: Which Type Is Right for Your Home?
The heat pump market has transformed dramatically in the past two years. New refrigerant technology, high-temperature models, and expanded government grants mean there is now a viable heat pump solution for almost every home… including older, less well-insulated properties that were previously considered unsuitable. Here, our MEP engineering team cuts through the noise.
Heat pumps are no longer just for new-builds with underfloor heating and triple-glazed windows. Thanks to a new generation of high-temperature heat pump technology – most notably systems using R290 (propane) refrigerant… the conversation has fundamentally changed. Older homes with traditional radiators, modest insulation, and an oil or gas boiler are increasingly viable candidates for a heat pump upgrade. And with a £7,500 government grant available through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS), the financial case has never been stronger.
But not every heat pump is the same, and not every home needs the same solution. At We Design For, our role is to help homeowners and building owners navigate these choices with clear, independent, engineering-led advice… not to push a particular product or technology. This updated guide explains the different types of heat pump now available, who they suit, and how to think about the decision holistically.
Why Heat Pumps Are Still the Right Direction of Travel
Despite the noise in the media about heat pump suitability, the fundamentals remain compelling. A well-specified heat pump will typically deliver two to four units of heat energy for every one unit of electricity it consumes — making it two to four times more efficient than even the most modern gas boiler. When powered by renewable electricity (including solar PV), running costs can be dramatically lower than gas or oil, and carbon emissions fall sharply.
For the UK to meet its legally binding net-zero commitments, decarbonising home heating is not optional. Gas boilers currently account for approximately 14% of the UK’s total greenhouse gas emissions… roughly two tonnes of CO₂ per boiler per year. Heat pumps are the most scalable, proven technology available to address this, and the pace of improvement in the technology… particularly around high-temperature performance… has accelerated rapidly.
The Different Types of Heat Pump… and Who They Suit
One of the most common misconceptions about heat pumps is that there is a single type, suited only to well-insulated modern homes. In reality, the market now offers several distinct technologies, each with different performance characteristics, installation requirements and ideal applications.
1. Standard Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP)
Air source heat pumps extract heat from the outside air and transfer it into your home’s heating and hot water system. They are the most widely installed type in the UK, partly because they are less expensive than ground source systems and require far less disruption to install – typically just an outdoor unit mounted at the side or rear of the property.
Modern ASHPs can operate effectively at outdoor temperatures as low as -20°C, and the government’s permitted development changes in May 2025 have made installation even more accessible, removing the previous requirement to maintain a one-metre boundary from a neighbour’s property.
Standard ASHPs typically deliver flow temperatures of 35–55°C, which is ideal for well-insulated homes with underfloor heating or oversized low-temperature radiators. If your existing radiators are adequately sized, or you are willing to upgrade them, an ASHP can perform very well in a range of property types.
- Best for: Well-insulated homes, new builds, properties with underfloor heating or upgraded radiators
- Key consideration: Radiator sizing and fabric performance need to be assessed
- Government grant: £7,500 through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme
2. High-Temperature Heat Pumps Using R290 Refrigerant… The Game Changer
This is where the technology has moved most significantly in recent years, and it is the development that opens up heat pumps to a much wider range of UK properties – including older homes with standard radiators that were previously considered unsuitable.
R290 is the scientific designation for propane, a natural refrigerant that has been used safely in refrigeration for decades. It has a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of just 3 – compared to 2,088 for the older R410A refrigerant, and 675 for the widely used R32. It contains no PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), which are now subject to increasingly strict regulation in both the UK and EU. In short, R290 is the most environmentally benign refrigerant currently available for heat pump applications.
Critically, R290 systems can deliver flow temperatures of up to 75–80°C – comparable to a conventional gas boiler. This means they can work effectively with existing standard radiators, without the need for expensive upgrades to the distribution system. For homes that have been dismissed as unsuitable for heat pumps because of their radiators or insulation levels, an R290 high-temperature heat pump can be a genuine direct boiler replacement.
Major manufacturers including Samsung, Grant UK (Aerona 290), Vaillant, and specialist UK manufacturers have now launched R290 heat pump ranges for the domestic market. Commercial-scale R290 systems from companies such as Clade Engineering and Pure Thermal can deliver up to 80°C flow temperatures and outputs of 200kW or more, making them viable for commercial buildings, hotels and housing developments.
From a regulatory standpoint, R290 is also future-proof. EU F-Gas regulations now require refrigerants used in new systems to have a GWP below 150, and the UK is expected to follow. R290, with its GWP of 3, places these systems entirely outside F-Gas regulation and reporting requirements.
- Best for: Older, less well-insulated homes; properties with standard-sized radiators; retrofit projects where pipework changes would be prohibitively costly
- Flow temperature: Up to 75–80°C – equivalent to a conventional boiler
- Environmental credentials: GWP of 3 (vs 2,088 for R410A), zero ozone depletion, no PFAS
- Government grant: £7,500 through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme
- Key consideration: R290 is flammable, so installation must be carried out by appropriately trained and accredited engineers – this is not a DIY technology
3. Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHP)
Ground source heat pumps extract heat from the ground through buried pipework – either horizontal trenches (requiring significant land area) or vertical boreholes (more compact but more expensive to drill). Unlike air source systems, ground source heat pumps benefit from a stable underground temperature of approximately 10–13°C year-round, meaning their efficiency does not drop in cold weather the way an air source system’s can.
This consistent source temperature gives ground source systems a higher seasonal coefficient of performance (SCOP) than most air source alternatives – in other words, they are more efficient over the course of a year, particularly in colder climates or exposed locations. They also tend to be quieter, as there is no outdoor fan unit.
The trade-off is cost and disruption. Ground source installation typically costs significantly more than air source, and the groundworks required – whether trenches or boreholes – are a major undertaking. Ground source heat pumps are therefore best suited to rural properties with land available, new builds where groundworks can be planned from the outset, or situations where long-term efficiency savings justify the higher upfront investment.
- Best for: Rural homes with land, new builds, properties in exposed locations with cold winters
- Key advantage: Consistent efficiency year-round, unaffected by cold air temperatures
- Government grant: £7,500 through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme
- Key consideration: Higher installation cost; significant groundworks required
4. Air-to-Air Heat Pumps
Air-to-air heat pumps work differently from the systems described above – rather than connecting to a wet central heating system (radiators and pipework), they deliver warm or cool air directly into the space through fan units. They are essentially the same technology as a modern air-conditioning system, and they can provide both heating in winter and cooling in summer.
Until recently, air-to-air systems were not eligible for government grant support. However, in November 2025, the UK Government announced that air-to-air heat pumps will be included in an expanded Boiler Upgrade Scheme, with grants expected to become available in the near future. This is a significant development that will open up heat pump technology to properties where a wet heating system is impractical.
Air-to-air systems are particularly effective in properties with open-plan layouts, conservatories, or in milder parts of the country. They do not provide domestic hot water, so a separate system is still required for this.
- Best for: Properties without wet central heating, open-plan spaces, where cooling is also desired
- Key limitation: Does not heat domestic hot water
- Government grant: Announced – grants expected through BUS shortly
At a Glance: Heat Pump Comparison
| Type | Best For | Flow Temp | Refrigerant | BUS Grant |
| Air Source (ASHP) | Most UK homes, retrofit | 35–55°C | R32, R290 | £7,500 ✓ |
| High-Temp ASHP (R290) | Older, less insulated homes | Up to 75–80°C | R290 (propane) | £7,500 ✓ |
| Ground Source (GSHP) | Rural, large plot homes | 35–50°C | R32, R290 | £7,500 ✓ |
| Air-to-Air | Heating & cooling, milder climates | N/A – warm air | R32, R290 | Grant coming soon |
The Financial Case: Grants, VAT, and the Warm Homes Plan
The financial landscape for heat pump investment has improved substantially since 2022, and the current combination of incentives makes 2026 an excellent time to act.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS)
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme offers a flat grant of £7,500 towards the installation of an air source or ground source heat pump in England and Wales. The grant is applied upfront by your MCS-certified installer and deducted directly from the installation cost – you do not need to claim it back. The scheme is currently funded until the end of 2027, with strong application numbers suggesting demand is high.
In Scotland, the Home Energy Scotland scheme offers up to £7,500 in grants plus an interest-free loan of up to £7,500 – providing up to £15,000 in total support, and up to £9,000 for those in remote areas.
Zero Rate VAT
Until April 2027, heat pump installations attract 0% VAT rather than the standard 20% – a saving that can amount to several thousand pounds on a typical installation. When combined with the BUS grant, the effective upfront cost reduction is substantial.
The Warm Homes Plan
The UK Government’s broader Warm Homes Plan – backed by close to £15 billion – includes fully funded support for low-income households to install heat pumps, as well as insulation improvements. For those who qualify, the transition to heat pump heating could be achieved at little or no personal cost.
What We Assess: The Whole-Home Engineering Approach
Choosing the right heat pump is not simply a matter of picking a product from a brochure. It is an engineering decision that affects your comfort, your running costs, and your home’s long-term carbon footprint. At We Design For, our assessment covers the full picture:
- Loft, wall and floor insulation; window and door performance; air-tightness; room-by-room heat loss calculation. This tells us how much heat your home actually needs and what flow temperature is required – and therefore which heat pump type is appropriate.
- Radiator sizing, pipework capacity, and flow rates. If your radiators are undersized for low-temperature operation, a standard ASHP may require upgrades – but a high-temperature R290 system may eliminate this need entirely.
- Domestic hot water requirements affect system sizing and the choice between monobloc and split configurations.
- Outdoor unit placement, clearances, noise levels and local planning constraints — including permitted development rights.
- Time-of-use tariffs can dramatically improve the economics of heat pump operation. We also model the combined benefit of solar PV and battery storage alongside a heat pump, which can further reduce running costs.
- We model not just the upfront cost but the 15–20 year running cost picture, accounting for energy price projections and the carbon cost of remaining on fossil fuels.
Critically, if a heat pump is not the right solution for a particular home at a particular point in time, we will say so. There are situations where fabric improvements should come first, or where a phased approach – improving insulation now, installing a heat pump later – makes better economic and engineering sense. Our advice is independent and unbiased.
Is a Heat Pump Right for Your Home in 2026?
For most UK homes, the answer is increasingly yes – and the arrival of R290 high-temperature heat pump technology has made this true for a much wider range of properties than was the case even two years ago. The combination of improved technology, strong government grants, and zero-rate VAT means the financial and environmental case has rarely been stronger.
But the right answer for your home depends on the specifics of your property, your heating system, and your long-term plans. That is exactly the kind of assessment we are here to provide.
Thinking about a heat pump? Let’s talk.
Our team offers independent, whole-home heat pump assessments — from fabric performance and radiator sizing through to grant eligibility and solar integration. Get in touch at enquiries@d-for.com, call +44 (0) 2034 114 434, or visit www.d-for.com.