The environmental argument
There is a growing environmental argument to move away from using oil to heat our homes, and this is something we’re all slowly starting to accept. Oil has been used for heating in the UK since the late 19th century and it is widely reported that every day in the UK we consume around 1.6 million barrels of oil. Despite the population being more eco aware today than we were even just a few years ago, we’re still relying on oil as one of the main fuels to heat our homes.
In order to supply oil for the world’s demands, there are around 1500 offshore oil rigs around the world, all drilling into the seabed to recover the oil that’s been there for millions of years. Drilling for oil often makes the headlines for the damage caused by oil spills, but even the drilling process itself gets criticised for having lasting negative effects on ocean wildlife. So, there certainly are strong environmental arguments for reducing our reliance on oil.
The cost of oil argument
And if the environmental argument isn’t enough to put you off using oil, then let’s consider the impact on your pocket. We’ve recently experienced first-hand the volatile nature of oil prices and the effect this has on our household budgets. According to Which magazine, back in 2021, it was estimated that the average household was spending just over £830 every year to heat their homes. There is no doubt that this figure is higher today. But what’s more important is that as we continue to use up the earth’s limited supplies, the price of oil will keep going up.
The renewable argument
We are all in agreement that we need to start investing into more renewable sources of energy for heating our homes. That’s where air sourced heat pumps come into their own as they extract the energy from the molecules in the air and use that energy to heat your home and your water.
But what about the installation and running costs?
The great thing about air source heat pumps is that they run off electricity, which can be generated by other renewable sources like wind, sun or even waves to harvest the free energy from the air. This makes them significantly cheaper to run than oil pound for pound.
Granted, there is an upfront cost which will need to be written off over time. As a very broad-brush generalization, if we consider an oil boiler, plus installation that may cost in the region of £5,000, the air source heat pump equivalent could be in the region of £10,000. But don’t forget that most people are currently able to claim £7,500 of that back as a grant from Energy Saving Trust or Home Energy Scotland.
So, all things considered, if you’re fed up spending a fortune on oil, there is definitely an argument for checking out air source heat pump alternatives. Running on electricity that can be generated by renewable sources, it’s better for the environment and cheaper to run. You don’t get much better than that.
Want to find out more?
At Precise, we’re authorised, qualified and passionate about air source heat pump technology. We’re experienced and have a proven track record in both the design AND installation of air source heat pumps and are MSC certified. So by choosing us, you can be sure that you will get access to all the funding you’re entitled to – and a great result. We also guarantee an objective and non-jargon service, so why not ask us to come and see if an air source heat pump is right for you? Following an initial discussion on the phone, we will visit your property without obligation and completely FREE OF CHARGE – to see if an air source heat pump is your best option.
