Heat pumps are the single biggest trend in Irish home energy right now, and they can have a dramatic effect on your BER rating. Here's what to expect, what grants are available, and whether a heat pump makes sense for your home.
How Does a Heat Pump Improve Your BER?
A heat pump improves your BER in two ways. First, it's vastly more efficient than a traditional boiler, a typical air-to-water heat pump operates at a Coefficient of Performance (COP) of 3 to 4, meaning it produces 3–4 units of heat for every 1 unit of electricity consumed. Compare that to even a modern condensing gas boiler at around 90% efficiency. Second, because heat pumps run on electricity rather than fossil fuels, they produce significantly lower carbon emissions, and the BER calculation weights carbon heavily.
The BER improvement from a heat pump depends on what you're replacing. Going from an old non-condensing oil boiler to a heat pump can improve your BER by 2 to 3 full grades. Replacing a modern condensing gas boiler delivers a smaller but still meaningful improvement of 1 to 2 grades.
Types of Heat Pump
Air-to-water heat pumps are the most common choice for Irish homes. They extract heat from outdoor air and use it to heat water that flows through your radiators or underfloor heating. They work well in Ireland's mild climate and are the type most supported by SEAI grants.
Air-to-air heat pumps heat (and cool) rooms directly without a wet heating system. They're most common in apartments and are a popular upgrade for units with electric storage heating, replacing storage heaters with air-to-air units can transform both the BER rating and the comfort of the apartment.
Ground-source heat pumps extract heat from the ground via buried loops. They're extremely efficient but more expensive to install and typically only suitable for properties with sufficient garden space.
SEAI Grant for Heat Pumps
The SEAI provides a grant of up to €6,500 towards the cost of an air-to-water heat pump system. If you're replacing a fossil fuel heating system (oil or gas boiler), you can also claim a €6,000 Renewable Heat Bonus, bringing the total grant to up to €12,500. As with all SEAI grants, you'll need a before-works and after-works BER assessment. The before-works BER must be completed before installation begins.
Is Your Home Ready for a Heat Pump?
Heat pumps work best in well-insulated homes. If your walls and attic are poorly insulated, a heat pump will have to work harder and may not deliver the comfort or efficiency you expect. This is why many assessors and contractors recommend a "fabric first" approach, insulate the walls, roof, and windows first, then install the heat pump. Your BER advisory report. If you're considering a heat pump as part of a wider retrofit, the One Stop Shop grants programme can cover multiple upgrades in one project will help you understand whether your home needs fabric upgrades before a heat pump makes sense.
Considering a heat pump? A BER assessment is the first step, it establishes your current rating and identifies what upgrades to do first. Call 087 777 4155 to book. For more on heat pumps, visit HomeEnergyGuide.ie.