Welcome to a house that heats itself out of thin air

Neil Lewis, from Carmarthenshire, decided to invest in a greener heating system for his home. Three years on from taking the plunge and installing a heat pump, he’s totally sold on its benefits – and keen to spread the word to others.

“We’ve never looked back,” says Neil, manager at Ynni Sir Gâr, a community benefit society helping people benefit from cleaner, cheaper energy. “It’s far superior to our old oil boiler. It’s more convenient to run, and we’re saving a lot of money.”

Neil volunteers as a host with ‘Visit a Heat Pump’ – opening up his home in Abergwili, Carmarthenshire, to visitors who want to hear first-hand about installing and running a heat pump. “There are lots of misconceptions out there, which aren’t accurate,” he says. “I want to show that heat pumps are a really efficient way to heat your home.”

How it works

Air-source heat pumps use electricity to draw warmth from the air outside your home - a bit like a fridge-freezer in reverse. This energy is used to boil a refrigerant gas, which is compressed to increase its temperature. This, heats up water for radiators, taps and showers, without the need to burn fossil fuels.

Heat pumps need electricity to work, but they can be three to four times more energy-efficient than traditional oil or gas heating, or electrical storage heaters. They produce no household carbon emissions at the point of use.

Although there is an upfront cost for a heat pump, the annual savings on your bills can be considerable. Typically, a heat pump will also have a longer life than a gas boiler – up to 20 years if carefully maintained. They are also less likely to become less efficient as time goes on.

Heat pumps keep on working in all weathers – even when outside temperatures are as low as -20C, making them suitable for the fiercest winters in Wales. 

See for yourself

The Visit a Heat Pump service has hosts across Wales and the UK and is free and easy to use.

By visiting the website, you can search for a local host who’s happy to answer questions about their own heat pump and sign up for a visit. You can hear all about their experiences with installation and find out how much they’ve saved on their yearly bills.

Neil says: “I’m very pleased to have the opportunity to take part in the scheme, so that anyone can visit a household already living with the technology. Lots of people have questions: will the heat pump work? Will it be a big deal? Will I regret fitting it? I like to be able to reassure them.”

Simple to install

For Neil, installing the heat pump was a straightforward process, taking no more than a couple of days. A government grant helped with upfront costs (and financial help is still available for new installations). He now uses solar energy from his rooftop panels to help power the pump, cutting bills and carbon emissions even further.

He says: “I want people to understand that you don’t have to burn fossil fuels to heat your home. You can do it just from the air outside. It’s not a miracle – it’s just physics. If you’re thinking of getting a heat pump, have the confidence and just go for it. You won’t regret it.”

Find out more

Get help with energy efficiency in your home from Nest.

They can give you free, impartial advice on what measures are best for your home, including grants and interest free loans that are available.