Thinking of replacing your LPG with a heat pump? Here are some pros and cons
Got LPG but thinking of switching to a heat pump? Read on to help you decide!
What is LPG?
An LPG heating system uses Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as the fuel to heat a home. Essentially it functions as a traditional gas boiler, but with the fuel stored in a tank on your property instead of coming from a mains gas supply. This makes it suitable for homes that are not connected to the gas grid.
What makes LPG suitable?
In certain situations, compared to a heat pump, LPG may well be a more suitable option for your needs:
- Lower upfront costs: Heat pumps have a higher initial cost compared to LPG boilers, so it may suit your budget more (although see our point below on the Government's BUS grant for heat pumps, which can help offset this)
- Instant heat: LPG provides heat on demand. However, this means your home is always “spiking” heat and is a very inefficient way to heat your home. Heat pumps on the other hand provide consistent, constant heat all year round
How is a heat pump more suitable for your home than LPG?
Heat pumps are suitable for those households looking to decarbonise, go “off grid” (gas that is) or are off the gas grid already, and have more constant, consistent heating in their homes. Here are some other reasons why heat pumps are a better alternative to LPG.
- Lower running costs: While the initial cost of buying and installing a heat pump is higher, they are overall much more energy-efficient than LPG systems. This translates to much lower running costs in the long run. And if electricity prices get more competitive, this gets even better
- Higher energy efficiency: Heat pumps can be up to 400% efficient, meaning they can produce three to four times as much heat as the electricity they use. This is because they move heat rather than generating it. In comparison, LPG boilers typically operate below 90% (which is similar to a gas boiler)
- Improved air quality: Heat pumps don't produce combustion by-products, such as carbon dioxide and water vapour. This means you have better indoor air quality and reduced health risks that are more associated with burning fossil fuels
- Lower carbon emissions = more environmentally friendly: Unlike LPG, which solely relies on fossil fuels, heat pumps run off electricity, which is reducing in carbon intensity all the time. In fact, nearly 40% of electricity in the UK is now generated from renewable resources
- Compatibility: Heat pumps are highly compatible with solar panels and a battery storage system, making it a very efficient and sustainable combination: solar panels can power the heat pump during daylight hours, while the battery stores excess energy to run the heat pump even at night, significantly reducing reliance on the grid and lowering energy bills
Let’s sum up.
When considering whether to stick with your LPG system or switch to a heat pump, the latter offers a compelling alternative by providing an efficient and environmentally friendly way to heat your home.
Ultimately, the best choice for your home depends on your specific circumstances, including your budget and the size and insulation requirements. However, based on the above, heat pumps are generally a better option all round if you’re considering switching from LPG.
If you want to find out whether your home is suitable for a heat pump, take our Heat Pump Readiness test [link to: https://platform.thermly.co.uk/heatpump-readiness]. You’ll receive a report that will tell you whether your home is heat pump ready, and if it isn’t, the steps you can take to make it so.
You can also contact our team on 0800 029 3129 or register for a call back here if you want to talk your options through with an expert: https://www.thermly.co.uk/contact
