Heat pumps reward a different way of heating — and that can change your energy costs and hot water use

Heat pumps are an energy efficient way to heat your home, and the technology could help you feel cosier and potentially even lower your energy bills too.

Air source heat pumps extract heat from the air outside using electricity, and transfer it inside to provide heating and hot water. They are three times more energy efficient than traditional boilers, according to the government’s Clean Energy Campaign, meaning they can substantially reduce the carbon footprint of your home.

How can heat pumps provide extra comfort and change hot water use?

With an air source heat pump, you have a fully-controllable heating system, which you can manage via a thermostat and smart home system – perfect for tech-savvy households keen to optimise efficiency.

Heat pumps work best if they are left on a low but comfortable setting throughout the day. The system will heat up in the morning, ensuring your home is warm when you get up, and again in the evening, having remained steady throughout the day. Should you wish to, you can use the heating controls in the day for added warmth. Unlike traditional boilers, heat pumps deliver heat more gradually and efficiently over a longer timeframe, rather than experiencing short bursts of high temperatures when you put the central heating on.

Heat pumps are designed to operate at lower flow temperatures than traditional boilers, making them more efficient and ideal for use with underfloor heating systems, which require consistent, lower temperatures. They provide both heating and hot water, and are compatible with most existing radiator and underfloor heating systems. E.ON Next’s expert team will recommend the best heat pump for you and your property, and carry out a heat loss assessment on your home, so you can rest assured your property has everything it needs, with no hidden surprises. Where connecting to existing radiators and underfloor heating isn’t possible, you can feel confident that the price E.ON Next offers for the installation will include any new radiators you may need.

Air source heat pumps heat water in a hot water cylinder, where it is stored, ready for usage. These systems can heat your water up to 45-55°C. The cylinder is insulated, meaning once the water is heated, it will stay that way for hours. As part of the system design, E.ON Next makes sure the cylinder size suits your hot water needs.

How can I use my heat pump efficiently?

The ratio of useful heating provided to the energy that's required is known as coefficient of performance (CoP). If a heat pump has a CoP of three, for example, it means the system produces three units of heat for every unit of electricity it consumes. A higher CoP value indicates better efficiency.

Running your heat pump at lower, steady temperatures means your heat pump doesn’t need to work as hard to warm the home. If the temperature in your home drops, it will need to use more energy to rapidly heat it again, which is why it’s recommended you keep your heat pump on all the time, and at lower temperatures when you’re out or asleep.

As well as aiming for a consistent temperature and using a timer to heat your home according to your schedule, regularly servicing your heat pump will ensure it’s operating at its best. Good insulation will help retain the heat it produces, and reduce the heat pump’s workload as the property will retain more of the heat.

E.ON Next’s dedicated heat pump support team provides genuinely responsive, human guidance, so you can feel confident throughout the installation and beyond. Rest assured that they will always be happy to help answer any questions or provide support should you need it, once you’re up and running too.

Can a heat pump reduce my energy bills?

An air source heat pump could be £260 a year cheaper to run compared to an old G-rated boiler, according to the Energy Saving Trust (based on fuel prices as of July 2025). As heat pumps have higher efficiency rates, they use less energy to produce the same amount of heat. Over time, this could lead to lower fuel bills.

Households can integrate their heat pump with smart tariffs, creating a cleverly joined-up system and allowing you to maximise savings. E.ON Next’s helpful team will recommend the best heat pump, as well as a tariff, to suit you in a no-obligation personalised quote, which you can easily get online. Once you've chosen your heat pump, E.ON Next will check to see if you're eligible for Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant funding (which offers up to £7,500 towards a heat pump installation), and help you with the paperwork. Plus, existing E.ON Next customers can get an extra £200 off. E.ON Next will then carry out a home survey, assessing for heat loss, to make sure your home has everything it needs for the installation. The professional team will install and certify your heat pump, and if you’ve chosen an E.ON Next tariff, switch your tariff over, so you can begin enjoying your new heat pump and tariff combination.