Heat Pump Guide
Heat Pump vs Gas Boiler: Which Is Right for Your Home?
Published 4 March 2026 · 9 min read · By Northants Heat Pumps
Side by side comparison
| Factor | Air source heat pump | Gas boiler |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | £8,000 to £14,000 (less £7,500 grant) | £2,500 to £4,000 |
| Net cost after grant | £500 to £6,500 | £2,500 to £4,000 |
| Annual running cost | £700 to £1,300 | £900 to £1,100 (gas) |
| Lifespan | 15 to 20 years | 10 to 15 years |
| Carbon emissions | Low, falling as the grid greens | High |
| Future-proof | Yes | Facing phase-out |
Upfront cost
On a sticker price, a gas boiler wins. But the comparison changes once the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant and 0% VAT are applied to the heat pump. For many homes the net cost of a heat pump lands within a few thousand pounds of a new boiler, and for some it is comparable. Benefit-receiving households may get a heat pump free through ECO4, which a boiler does not offer.
Running cost
Running costs are close for a well-insulated home on a heat pump tariff. A heat pump uses more expensive electricity but turns each unit into three or four units of heat, which roughly balances against gas. For oil and LPG homes the heat pump wins comfortably. We break down the numbers in our running costs guide.
Lifespan and maintenance
A heat pump typically lasts fifteen to twenty years against ten to fifteen for a boiler, and annual servicing costs are similar. Over a twenty-year horizon, the longer lifespan offsets part of the higher upfront cost.
Carbon and future-proofing
A heat pump cuts heating carbon emissions by around 70 percent today, and that figure improves every year as the electricity grid uses more renewable power. Gas heating is being phased out over the coming decades, with new build homes already moving away from gas. A heat pump protects you from that transition and from future gas price shocks.
When a gas boiler still makes sense
A gas boiler is the pragmatic choice if you need the lowest possible upfront cost this year, if your home cannot yet take a heat pump without significant work, or if you are about to move. In many of those cases a hybrid system is the better middle path: keep the boiler, add a heat pump, and let the controls run the cheapest option at any moment.
Our honest take
For most Northamptonshire homeowners who are staying put and willing to use the grant, a heat pump is the better long-term decision. We will tell you straight if your home is not ready, and we will not push a heat pump where a hybrid or a boiler genuinely suits you better. Start with a free survey on our contact page.
Frequently asked questions
Is a heat pump better than a gas boiler?
For most homes a heat pump is the better long-term choice on carbon, lifespan and future-proofing, and it is cost-competitive once the £7,500 grant is applied. A gas boiler is cheaper to install without the grant and simpler to retrofit, but running costs and carbon are higher, and gas heating faces a long-term phase-out.
Are gas boilers being banned?
Gas boilers are not banned in existing homes, but the UK is phasing out new gas-only heating over time, with restrictions tightening through the late 2020s and 2030s. New build homes are moving to low-carbon heating, and incentives increasingly favour heat pumps. Existing boilers can still be serviced and replaced for now.
Which is cheaper to run, a heat pump or a gas boiler?
For a well-insulated home on a heat pump tariff, running costs are similar to a modern gas boiler. For oil and LPG homes a heat pump is clearly cheaper. The deciding factors are insulation quality, system design and your electricity tariff.
Keep reading
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