The complete guide to hybrid air source heat pumps

•  In a hybrid air source heat pump system includes a backup boiler
•  The air source heat pump provides 80% of the heating
•  Hybrid air source heat pumps cost around £7,000 to £15,000

As the UK looks for greener solutions to heating our homes, the need to replace gas-powered boilers is growing. Despite the high upfront cost of heat pumps, hybrid air source heat pumps have grown in popularity over the past few years.

But what exactly are hybrid air source heat pumps, and how do they work to make UK homes greener? To help answer this, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide on everything you need to know about hybrid air source heat pumps.

If you’re already familiar with hybrid and air source heat pump costs, why not dive in and get yourself a quote for a new heat pump? We can make this process a million times easier with our simple comparison tool.

Once you’ve filled in a few details, our suppliers will be in touch with quotes for you to compare. You’ll find the right deal in no time.

How does a hybrid air source heat pump work?

• An air source heat pump is installed alongside a boiler
• The air sources heat pump draws heat from the air outside (even at temperatures as low as -25°Celcius)
• The air source heat pump uses electricity to convert the heat from outside into heat and hot water for the home
• When it gets too cold outside and the heat pump is struggling, the boiler kicks in as a backup heating system

Whereas most home heating systems use fuel or convert electricity to heat a home, an air source heat pump works using the air outside and electricity.

It’s designed to integrate into the existing heating system, so it works with radiators, and can provide hot water.

Air source heat pumps don’t need warm air outside in order to function, they can draw residual heat from the air at temperatures as low as -25°C. This means air source heat pumps are completely viable in colder climates.

However, they have to work harder to heat the home when temperatures drop below 0°C, which is where a hybrid system comes into play.

With a hybrid air source heat pump, the standard boiler will quick in if the heat pump is struggling to heat your home, although the air source heat pump should still provide around 80% of the heating year round.

Pros and cons of a hybrid air source heat pump

Should you get a hybrid heat pump or a normal one?

Whether you choose to get a hybrid heat pump or a normal one depends entirely on your circumstances – including where you live, which we’ve mentioned briefly above. Because most air source heat pumps only heat homes up to around 40-45°C (104-113°F), older, more poorly insulated homes will struggle to keep warmth efficiently.

This is especially true when the temperatures outside drop below a certain threshold, because as it gets colder, air source heat pumps become less efficient. Sure, many heat pumps can continue to work in freezing temperatures, but the cold makes heating radiators far more difficult.

It’s not helped either by the fact that many homes have smaller radiators designed for traditional gas-fired boilers. An air source heat pump requires larger radiators to distribute heat more efficiently; smaller radiators simply don’t work as well.

The advantage of a hybrid heat pump, then, is the ability to fall back on a gas-powered boiler when the conditions don’t allow an air heat pump to generate enough warmth.

They’re also an excellent stepping stone towards net zero, at least until technology improves to a point where non-hybrid heat pumps work efficiently in sub-optimal conditions.

If you live in an area where a normal heat pump will work well throughout the year, take a look at our list of the best air source heat pumps available on the market right now.

Are hybrid air source heat pumps suitable for all property types?

Hybrid air source heat pumps might not be suitable for all property types.

Homeowners who live in flats, or listed buildings for example, might not be able to install a hybrid heat pump. This is also the case when installing a regular air source heat pump.

In the case of flats, this is because they might not have anywhere to store the air source heat pump’s external unit, unless they have a large balcony.

Listed buildings, or properties in conservation areas, are subject to restrictions around making changes to the buildings outer appearance. This can make installing a hybrid heat pump more difficult.

Lastly, some properties might also not have the space to store both the air source heat pump’s internal unit, and a boiler.

How much does a hybrid air source heat pump cost?

A hybrid air source heat pump can cost anywhere from £7,000 to £15,000, depending on the size of the property.

Additionally, a new boiler costs around £4,000, although not everyone will need to replace their boiler when installing a hybrid heat pump system.

As you can see, hybrid air source heat pumps cost much more than boilers. However with the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, homeowners can get £7,500 towards the cost of a new heat pump.

With the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, a hybrid air source heat pump is cheaper than a gas boiler. Despite this, around 73% of people are not aware of the heat pump grant, according to our National Home Energy Survey.

Besides upfront costs, there’s also the issue of running costs.

Here’s a helpful chart showing the cost of running a standard gas boiler compared to a hybrid air source heat pump over 15 years (based on a semi-detached property occupied by two people):

Heat pump running costs

A ground source heat pump’s running costs for a three-bedroom household will typically come to around £939 per year.

The average air source heat pump will cost about the same, though this can vary significantly, depending on where you live in the UK.

What’s the best hybrid air source heat pump?

As the technology is still quite new, the hybrid air source heat pumps available on the market are limited when compared to the plethora of boilers for sale. What is good though, is that many of the best-known boiler manufacturers have started selling hybrid air pumps, combining their boiler expertise with the new technology.

Take a look at the table below for our pick of the best hybrid air source heat pumps currently available on the market:

How long does a hybrid air source heat pump take to install?

The process of installing a hybrid air source heat pump can differ according to your home’s heating setup.

For example, your pipework could be in an optimal location, which would make the installation process quicker (likelier in newer properties).

However, if the pipework is not in the right location, then it’s likely that you’d need to have new piping installed to accommodate the heat pump. This is more likely in older properties, which were designed around older forms of home heating.

Space is something you need to think about too. A hybrid air source heat pump will require space outside the property, with the pump mounted either onto a wall or positioned on the ground.

Just remember that having space for the unit is not enough; you will also have to make sure there is clearance around the heat pump so it can work properly. Wall-mounted pumps need around 200 mm as a minimum to function efficiently, whereas ground units tend to need a little more space.

Hybrid air source heat pump maintenance

In most cases, hybrid air source heat pumps are low maintenance and don’t require the comparatively frequent repairs needed for standard boilers. This is because the hybrid aspect means that the boiler is used far less, which has the obvious effect of reducing wear and tear on the unit.

A high-quality hybrid heat pump can last between 20-30 years, though it’s still advisable to get a checkup every year or so.

Despite this, there are still a few things you should do throughout the lifespan of your hybrid heat pump. These include:

• Checking the filters, coils, and fans and either cleaning or swapping them if necessary
• Making sure airflow isn’t hindered by leaves or other debris
• Keeping an eye on whether the heat pump is leaking (heat pumps collect and store condensation from the air that must be emptied every now and then)

Even considering the above, the essential parts of a hybrid air source heat pump are far less likely to degrade than those of a standard boiler.

Next steps

With the government aiming to reduce gas boiler installations by 80% by 2035, now is the time to consider a hybrid air source heat pump. They’re the perfect starting point for those looking to reduce their carbon footprint, without the worry of dropping a standard boiler entirely.

To compare free heat pump quotes, just pop a few details into our easy-to-use comparison tool – then put your feet up and let us do the hard work.

We’ll pass on your information to our suppliers, who’ll then be in touch shortly with free quotes for you to compare. You’ll be reaping the heat pump-powered rewards in no time!

Hybrid air source heat pumps: FAQs

Can you have a hybrid heat pump with an existing boiler?

Yes, you can keep your existing boiler with a hybrid heat pump. This type of system is sometimes called a ‘bivalent system,’ where the heat pump and boiler are connected through a buffer tank.

Are hybrid air source heat pumps worth it?

Hybrid air source heat pumps can be worth it if you live in an area where winter temperatures regularly go below -25°C, or if you’re not able to improve your home’s insulation or get larger radiators.
In all other cases, a regular heat pump should be enough to heat any well-insulated home.

How long do hybrid heat pumps last?

The air source heat pump portion of a hybrid heat pump will last 25-30 years. The boiler portion will last around 10 years.

Written by

Tom Gill Writer

Tom joined The Eco Experts over a year ago and has since covered the carbon footprint of the Roman Empire, profiled the world’s largest solar farms, and investigated what a 100% renewable UK would look like.

He has a particular interest in the global energy market and how it works, including the ongoing semiconductor shortage, the future of hydrogen, and Cornwall’s growing lithium industry.

Tom also regularly attends Grand Designs Live as a Green Living Expert, where he provides expert solar panel advice to members of the public.

He frequently focuses on niche environmental topics such as the nurdle problem, clever ways to undo the effects of climate change, and whether sand batteries could store energy for clean heating in the winter.

If there’s an environmental niche to be covered, it’s a safe bet Tom’s already thinking of how to write about it.

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Maximilian Schwerdtfeger Content Manager

Max joined The Eco Experts as content manager in February 2024. He has written about sustainability issues across numerous industries, including maritime, supply chain, finance, mining, and retail. He has also written extensively for consumer titles like City AM, The Morning Star, and The Daily Express.

In 2020, he covered in detail the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) legislation on sulphur emissions and its effects on the global container shipping market as online editor of Port Technology International.

He also explored the initiatives major container ports and terminals have launched in order to ship vital goods across the world without polluting the environment.

Since then, he has reported heavily on the impact made by environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices on the supply chain of minerals, with a particular focus on rare earth mining in Africa.

As part of this, in 2022 Max visited mines and ports in Angola to hone in on the challenges being faced by one of the world’s biggest producers of rare earth minerals.

His most recent sustainability-related work came much closer to home, as he investigated the eco-challenges faced by independent retailers in the UK, specifically looking at how they can cut emissions and continue to thrive.

Max lives in South London and is an avid reader of books on modern history and ghost stories. He has also recently learned to play the game Mahjong and takes every opportunity to do so. He is also yet to find a sport he doesn’t enjoy watching.

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