How to Choose the Right Heat Pump for Your Home

Upgrading your heating system is one of the smartest ways to reduce your energy bills and make your home more sustainable. But before you choose a heat pump, it’s essential to understand your existing system, heating needs, and the different technologies available. Here’s a practical guide to help you make the right decision.

1. Evaluate Your Existing Heating System

Many homeowners decide to switch to a heat pump because of high heating costs. Before making the change, it’s a good idea to analyze your heating expenses over at least the past year—and even better, compare several years. This helps avoid a misleading picture caused by unusually mild or harsh winters.

Traditional boilers and oil tanks take up a lot of space, while a modern heat pump requires less than half a square meter, freeing up valuable room in your utility area.

When upgrading, consider renewable, low-maintenance heating that performs efficiently even on the coldest days of winter.

2. Understanding the Principle of Heat Extraction
Air Source Heat Pumps

Air-to-water heat pumps extract energy from the air. They are ideal when land space is limited, as they don’t require drilling or buried hoses. They can also work in hybrid setups alongside existing boilers — perfect for gradual system upgrades.

Ground Source Heat Pumps

Ground source systems use buried loops about a meter underground to extract heat. They are highly efficient but require digging up a large portion of land during installation.

Geothermal Heat Pumps

Geothermal systems go deeper — one or more boreholes are drilled vertically into the ground. This method is discreet and space-saving, leaving your garden almost untouched while providing a stable year-round heat source.

3. Assess Your Heating and Hot Water Needs

Selecting the right size of heat pump depends on your heating demand and domestic hot water usage.

A heat pump can power both radiators and underfloor heating.

For maximum efficiency, it’s best when the system operates at lower supply temperatures — this means less energy is needed for the same comfort level.

Smaller homes may only need a 180-liter model with an integrated water heater, while larger homes can add a second tank to cover higher demand.

In most cases, 55–60°C water temperature is sufficient for daily use.

4. Cooling: Comfort All Year Round

Modern heat pumps aren’t just for winter — they also provide cooling during hot summer months.

Passive cooling uses the naturally cool ground loop to circulate chilled fluid indoors, costing roughly the same as running a few light bulbs.

If more cooling is needed, active cooling uses the compressor to increase capacity, ensuring comfort even in heatwaves.

5. Comparing Heat Pump Performance: COP vs. SCOP

When comparing heat pumps, pay attention to COP (Coefficient of Performance) and SCOP (Seasonal Coefficient of Performance):

COP measures how efficiently a heat pump converts electricity into heat under specific test conditions (e.g., COP 4 = 1 kW electricity → 4 kW heat).

However, COP doesn’t tell the whole story — it doesn’t include all components’ energy use, like circulation pumps.

SCOP provides a more realistic picture by averaging performance over an entire year, including variations in temperature and hot water production.

👉 The higher the SCOP, the more efficient your system will be throughout all seasons.

6. Correct Sizing and Expected Savings

A larger heat pump usually costs more upfront but offers lower running costs, while a smaller one may be cheaper initially but consume more energy.

Proper sizing gives the best balance between investment and long-term savings. When installed correctly, a modern heat pump can reduce heating costs by 50–75% compared to an old system.

Keep in mind:

Home insulation and building condition

Local climate zone

Type and price of current energy source

And remember — a well-designed installation increases your property’s value.

7. Getting a Cost Quotation

When comparing quotes, look at the total cost of a turnkey installation, including:

Equipment

Installation

Disconnection and removal of your old boiler

A low purchase price can be attractive, but if the system isn’t efficient enough, higher running costs may erase the savings. Always ensure the heat pump has enough capacity to comfortably heat your home.

For modern comfort, ask for smart control options — remote operation via smartphone or internet allows you to adjust temperatures while away, saving energy and ensuring warmth when you return.