Costs and pricing
Heat pump running cost comparison
Annual running cost of a heat pump against what you run now, at your energy rates.
How much your electricity bills rise across the heating season, compared with a mild month.
Units of heat delivered per unit of electricity, from the quote or the product listing. Manufacturers usually quote somewhere between 2 and 4 depending on climate.
This compares a heat pump against electric resistance heating only. Running cost is all it shows — it does not size equipment, judge whether a heat pump suits your home, or account for backup heat on the coldest days.
Why a heat pump uses less
Electric resistance heating converts one unit of electricity into one unit of heat. That is the ceiling — it cannot do better, because it is making heat from scratch.
A heat pump does not make heat, it moves it, taking warmth from outside air and bringing it in. That is why it can deliver two, three or more units of heat per unit of electricity. The multiplier is its coefficient of performance, and the running cost divides by it.
COP is a seasonal average, not a constant
Efficiency falls as the outside temperature drops, precisely when you need the heat most. The figure a manufacturer quotes is a seasonal average across a test climate, and your winter may be colder than theirs.
If the quote gives a range, use the lower end here. A calculation built on the best-case number is not a forecast, it is a brochure.
What this deliberately excludes
This compares electric heating with electric heating. It does not compare against fuel-burning systems, and it will not size equipment, judge whether your home suits a heat pump, or account for backup heat on the coldest days.
It also ignores the installation cost entirely — this is running cost alone. Whether the saving justifies the outlay is a separate calculation, and one that depends on a real quote.
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