
If you’re one of the thousands of Irish homeowners who doesn’t have a heat pump yet but is thinking about retrofitting the family home, chances are you already know a fair bit about these clever devices.
That’s partly because the number of heat pumps installed in Irish homes has surged in the past few years, with the Government and SEAI using both carrot (offering a generous range of grants and funding for retrofit projects including heat pumps) and stick (banning oil and gas boilers in new-build homes) to encourage people to switch from traditional heating systems to electric-powered heat pumps.
At this stage of Ireland’s transition away from fossil fuels, most homeowners would know someone who has already invested in a heat pump. More importantly, most people would know why their neighbour, friend, parents or workmate has made the switch to a heat pump.
Aside from those SEAI grants making heat pumps more affordable (newer and better-insulated homes built from 2007 onwards automatically qualify for a grant of €6,500 for an individual heat pump), the benefits of this technology are beginning to be more widely understood.
Chief among these is the staggering energy efficiency of heat pumps. Because a Daikin air-source heat pump uses 75% renewable energy (outside air) and only 25% electricity, it can satisfy a household’s heating and hot water needs using a fraction of the energy required by traditional (oil/gas) heating systems.
The combination of well-insulated, or even air-tight, homes and super-efficient heat pumps delivers what many Irish homeowners can only dream of – all year round comfort. Because buildings are well-insulated, a heat pump requires less energy to keep the indoor environment comfortable, all while reducing electricity consumption.
Efficiency and comfort are the headline-grabbing benefits but there are plenty more reasons to invest in a Daikin heat pump. Here are a half-dozen overlooked or hidden benefits of these mighty machines!
1. Heating in winter… cooling in summer
There’s no doubt our summers have become noticeably warmer over the past decade, with mini-heatwaves even taking place outside the normal summer season. Most people think of heat pumps as heating systems – and they are – but did you know they can also cool your home when it’s hot outside? Think about that the next time you’re sweltering!

2. Heat pumps are less expensive to maintain
Heat pumps are famously low-maintenance in every way. Once installed, they work away to maintain a steady level of comfort without the need for homeowner intervention. Compared to oil or gas boilers, they also have fewer moving parts and of course they don’t burn fuel, which means they don’t need as much maintenance, saving you money in the long term. Just make sure your heat pump is serviced annually to maintain your warranty.

3. You’ll breathe easier with a heat pump
Following on from the last point, one of the great benefits of a heat pump is that there is no combustion or burning of fossil fuels involved. Not only does this reduce the amount of physical wear and tear on the system, it also ensures your indoor air is cleaner and healthier all year around.

4. Your home will increase in value
If you’re doing your homework on heat pumps, you’ll know that they are not cheap. However, as a long term investment, they offer a serious return. By installing a heat pump in your home – in tandem with, say, attic/wall insulation and new windows and doors – you will dramatically improve your home’s BER rating, which in turn will bump up the value of the property as buyers seek out more energy-efficient homes.

5. Heat pumps + solar PV = win win
Solar power is a clean, sustainable energy source that can be used in combination with a heat pump to provide your home with heating and hot water. The two systems work extremely well together, helping to reduce your annual energy bill while eliminating fossil fuels from the home. (You can also avail of SEAI grants for heat pumps and solar PV either via the One Stop Shop or individual energy upgrades.)
6. Future-proofing your energy needs
Heat pumps are powered by mostly renewable energy, which means they can help you to shrink your home’s carbon footprint over time. Heat pumps also reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 70% compared to traditional heating systems, which means they are vital to the decarbonisation of Ireland’s housing stock and crucial weapons in the war on climate change. Quite simply, heat pumps are the future.

If you’d like to find out more about the diverse benefits of heat pumps and check if your home is ‘heat pump ready’, contact your local installer or One Stop Shop today and start your journey.
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