You wouldn’t be alone in wondering whether your home is ready for a heat pump. In research carried out last year by the Construction Industry Collective Voice (CICV), over half of respondents (59%) said they lacked the necessary information to confidently switch to more sustainable heating systems.
Navigating funding availability; understanding what’s involved in switching; a myriad of product options – it’s not surprising that people are cautious about making the jump.
But new technology can make the choice less daunting, with a hybrid system providing a more easily acceptable “middle path”.
Upgrading your home heating
If your home uses a system boiler for heating and hot water, then you will already have a hot water storage cylinder and the switch to an air source heat pump is more likely to be achievable.
Around 80% of homes in the UK have a combi boiler. Their size and efficiency makes them hugely popular. However, there are significant challenges when it comes to upgrading to a heat pump. Not all homes are suitable for an immediate move to the current generation of heat pumps and our handy heat pump guide can give you some immediate guidance on this.
For people living with a combi boiler where there is no hot water cylinder and perhaps no space to install one, the hybrid heat pump can be an attractive step on the road to zero carbon heating.
Take your first step, not leap, to sustainable heating.
Hybrid heat pump systems, such as the E-Tec Hybrid from Alpha, combine the best of both worlds: efficient and sustainable heating from a heat pump in tandem with instant hot water via a boiler.
This system consists of a hybrid-specific heat pump located outside of your house, combined with a small combi boiler inside. The two are controlled by the Smartech Heating Control which chooses which heat source to use at any given moment. The result is a system that will reduce gas consumption by around 60%, resulting in much lower carbon dioxide emissions, without having to completely change your existing home heating system.
Because of this, the hybrid system is the perfect introduction into low temperature heating. You retain the familiarity of a gas boiler while benefitting from the efficiency of the linked hybrid heat pump. The hybrid boiler is also configured to work with LPG or natural gas and will be able to work with 20% hydrogen gas mix when available.
How does a hybrid compare with a heat pump?
The E-Tec Hybrid heat pump will provide a constant heat flow – perfect for home heating during spring and autumn. For particularly cold spells the boiler can kick in, providing an extra boost to make sure your home remains at the temperature you like. The boiler will provide the instant hot water you’re used to without needing a hot water storage cylinder.
Not all hybrids are equal. The E-Tec Hybrid is a purpose-built solution with the heat pump and boiler working together. Managing the two is the Smartech Heating Control which actively works keep running costs low, using the most cost-effective heat source at any given moment.
While the goal is for all UK homes to transition to sustainable heating, ideally through heat pumps, a hybrid system can help ease that change in.
If you’re ready to start your low-carbon journey but aren’t sure where to start, contact us to find out more about the options available including the E-Tec Hybrid and Custom Hybrid solutions.