Why it might be time to say bye bye boiler, hello heat pump

If your oil or gas boiler is more than 10 years old, you have a decision to make about how you’re going to heat your home in the future.

Although most boilers typically have a lifespan of up to 15 years, after the 10-year mark the build-up of rust, corrosion and plain old wear and tear means your boiler is much more at risk of breaking down. When this happens, what you do next will have an impact on your home and family life for years to come.

In times gone by, this scenario wasn’t a huge dilemma. Your boiler broke down, you simply replaced it with another one. Now, however, fossil fuel boilers are on the way out. As part of its Climate Action Plan, the Irish Government has already banned oil boilers from new builds (as of 2022) and will outlaw gas boilers from new builds from 2025.

Just as fossil fuel boilers are going the way of the dinosaur, heat pumps are the technology of tomorrow. More than 100,000 Irish homes already have a heat pump (including a whopping 86% of all new dwellings built last year) and a further 250,000 Irish homes that currently have oil boilers are “heat pump-ready”, in other words they need minimal changes for the heat pump to work efficiently.

So, why should you be thinking about replacing your oil or gas boiler with a heat pump?

The short answer is: you’ll probably be better off. In terms of energy efficiency alone, heat pumps blow traditional boilers (even the newest, most efficient gas boilers) out of the water. They offer unrivalled efficiency and A-rated performance, delivering consistent heating and hot water for far less energy than a boiler.

Heat pumps are the most environmentally friendly way to heat your home because they use mostly renewable energy (i.e. outside air), so they help to reduce your carbon emissions for more sustainable living. Of course, they also don’t use fossil fuels, or indeed fuel of any kind, so you’ll never receive another oil or gas bill again!

Additionally, heat pumps are zero-emission so there’s the added bonus of improved air quality outside your home as there will no longer be any fumes emitted by a boiler system.

Heat pumps are also good for your household budget. They consume less energy, so your running costs are lower than oil/gas, and they improve your property’s BER rating which increases the value of your home. Thanks to a range of grants and subsidies available, heat pumps are also much more affordable.

Take a virtual tour of our Daikin House to learn more about our heat pump technology

View Daikin House

SEAI funding options

For many Irish homeowners, that last point is the clincher. SEAI is facilitating Ireland’s transition towards sustainable energy, offering grant options for people who want to undertake a complete home energy upgrade (through the One Stop Shop service) or who want to carry out individual energy upgrades over time (e.g. heat pump, solar PV, insulation).

With SEAI, you can get a grant of up to €10,500 for a heat pump (via One Stop Shop) and individual insulation grants of up to €8,000.

To get the ball rolling, start with your local heat pump installer. They will run through your options and explain what’s involved. Daikin heat pumps are compatible with most original radiators, but homeowners are always advised to get radiators surveyed and (where needed) upgraded to ensure optimal indoor comfort.

Your local installer will carry out any renovation work that’s needed, install the heat pump, and show you how to get the most out of the system. Typically, they will also manage the SEAI grant application, so you don’t need to worry about paperwork. Going forward, your local installer will also be your first port of call for maintenance and troubleshooting.

Once it’s installed, though, there’s very little to worry about. As well as being the most efficient way of heating (and cooling) your home, Daikin heat pumps are simple to operate and maintain.

In any case, any practical concerns you might have about installing a heat pump will likely be eased by that first conversation with your local installer.

Whether you are planning ahead or reacting to a breakdown, replacing a boiler is an opportunity to future-proof your home. You need to think long term and choose a heating solution that will provide steady, reliable comfort for years to come. As thousands of Irish homeowners have already discovered, that solution is a heat pump.