Do I need two heat pumps?

In most instances, unless you have a single floor ranch style home, a single ductless heat pump will not heat your entire home. However, that doesn’t mean you should be buying multiple heat pumps to cover off every square inch of living space.

How many heat pumps do I need?





30 BTU of heating output per 1 sq ft of living space.

For every sq ft of living space, you need about 30 BTU of heating output. That means, for example, that for a 1,000 sq ft home, you would require a 30,000 BTU heat pump (that’s a 2.5-ton heat pump).

How do you increase the efficiency of a heat pump?

Heat pumps operate most efficiently when holding a steady temperature. Turning a heat pump down when you’re away or asleep may actually use more energy than leaving it on. The reason is that it has to work harder to come back to the desired temperature than it does to maintain it.

Do you need a heat pump in every room?

It is a common misconception about Ductless Heat Pumps that you need an air handler, or “head” in every room, but this is almost never the case. A single head system, if properly sized, can heat and cool up to 1500 square feet or even more depending upon your home’s building envelope and air flow.

At what temperature do heat pumps become ineffective?





between 25 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit

Heat pumps do not operate as efficiently when temperatures drop to between 25 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit for most systems. A heat pump works best when the temperature is above 40. Once outdoor temperatures drop to 40 degrees, heat pumps start losing efficiency, and they consume more energy to do their jobs.

Can one heat pump heat a whole house?

A whole-house heat pump can provide heating and cooling for your entire home, making it a great choice for those who want an energy-efficient solution.

How far should heat pump be from house?

When installing a heat pump, you need a clearance of an average of 12 to 24 inches (one to two feet) in all directions, but you can place it as far away as 100 feet from the house.

Where is the best place to put a heat pump?



Typically, the best location for a heat pump condenser is a shady area, away from direct sunlight. The condenser also needs to be installed directly on the side of or behind the home, away from any shrubbery or vegetation (which could interfere with airflow.)

Do heat pumps work in old houses?

Heat pumps can be installed in almost any home, however there are some considerations that may need to be addressed, particularly regarding insulation. In order for a heat pump to work at its most efficient, your home needs to be well insulated to prevent as much heat from escaping as possible.

What are the disadvantages of a heat pump?

7 Disadvantages of Heat Pumps are:

  • High upfront cost.
  • Difficult to install.
  • Questionable Sustainability.
  • Requires significant work.
  • Issues in cold weather.
  • Not entirely carbon neutral.
  • Planning permissions required.


Will a heat pump work in a poorly insulated house?

Air source heat pumps will work for most properties, but some will be more suitable for air source heat pumps than others. Well-insulated energy-efficient homes will generate the most savings with air source heat pumps as they’ll require less electricity overall to maintain warm or cool temperatures in the house.

Can you replace a combi boiler with a heat pump?

In October 2021 the UK government announced a Boiler Upgrade Scheme to help householders changing from a gas boiler to a heat pump (air source or ground source). The £450 million scheme will run for 3 years and offers a payment of £5,000 per home towards installing a new heat pump.

Are heat pumps cheaper to run than gas?

Instead, they move existing heat energy from outside into your home. This makes them more efficient. Since they deliver more heat energy than the electrical energy they consume. So a heat-pump system can cost less to run than a traditional fossil fuel heating system.

Should I replace my gas boiler with a heat pump?



For households that aren’t connected to mains gas, heat pumps are often an excellent solution, certainly better than an oil boiler, which produces high CO₂ emissions. Heat pumps are also not suited to providing big boosts of heat as gas-fired boilers are.