Is it worth getting a combi boiler / heat pump?

[Gary111]

Hi, I’ve got an ideal Mexico, big thing in the garage , I think there’s a problem with the cylinder at the moment as we are using a lot of water on the meter and our tap water isn’t hot.
I’m wondering whether it’s worth switching to something more efficient rather than repairing what we have?

I’ve heard mixed reviews about both heat pumps and combi s

 

[muggles]

Heat pumps are great provided they're installed correctly, but bad installation will lead to high running costs

 

[CountryFan]

Heat pumps are great provided they're installed correctly, but bad installation will lead to high running costs

Does this include a suitable property?

 

[drives]

Does this include a suitable property?

No. If system designed correctly they can run reasonably efficiently in any property really.

 

[ChrisJP]

But that "correct design" can mean increasing radiator sizes and adding a lot of insulation, putting the installation cost typically to near £20k. The result may be a saving on energy costs of some £100-200/year (although this is heavily dependent on electricity costs which are only going higher) and you'll need an awful long time to see payback of the installation costs. Also, no-one yet knows how long a lot of heat pumps will last before needing replacement.

 

[foxhole]

Combi is suitable for low hot water demand ( small to medium households), Heat pumps need highly insulated property to provide sufficient heat and often solar power to keep running costs low as possible.
Also depends whether you use air source or ground source heat pumps as set up costs vary .

 

[Madrab]

Does this include a suitable property?

With the new hi temp heat pumps using the newer refrig fluids then they can run much hotter whilst maintaining their COP 3-4 efficiencies. It means that older less insulated properties can now be retrofitted, existing rads can be retained as system temps can be run hotter maintaining the original deltas and the cylinder can also be retained and be heated from the ASHP directly, to => 60deg, without any supplementary heat source.

Still a seriously significant outlay though and would take a significant period of time to recoup costs...

 

[drives]

Combi is suitable for low hot water demand ( small to medium households), Heat pumps need highly insulated property to provide sufficient heat and often solar power to keep running costs low as possible.
Also depends whether you use air source or ground source heat pumps as set up costs vary .

Why does everyone think ashps are only suitable for highly insulated properties? We changed a quarter of our radiators. Poorly insulated house. Works fine.

Granted it’s pretty cost neutral energy cost- wise so I wouldn’t install one expecting to save money necessarily (unless you have storage battery to exploit time of use tariffs). Our house has never been more comfortable though and ours is integrated with home assistant so a lot of monitoring and control options.