Heat Pumps for Homes in Ireland
· by Dominic Ó Gallachóir
Heat Pump 24/7 Warmth Running Cost Calculator
Heat pumps have a wide range of running costs depending on the house size, insulation level, and more. Use the calculator below to compare the cost of 24/7 warmth from a heat pump to oil and gas boilers. Important: The comparison below is only valid on the basis that you'd be keeping the home warm at all times (e.g. on a thermostat). P.S. Make sure to run a custom electricity price comparison that factors in your heat pump: This can save you hundreds of euro per year compared to a generic price comparison that doesn't specifically factor your heat pump in.
Fetching tariff data…
| Heat Pump | Oil Boiler | |
|---|---|---|
| Delivered Energy | — | — |
| Efficiency | — | — |
| Purchase Energy | — | — |
| Purchase Price [compare] | — | — |
| Total Annual Cost | — | — |
Assumptions & calculation details
The running cost calculator on this page uses a weather-based heating model. Here's what it does and its limitations.
- Heating model. Climate is modelled using Irish typical meterological year data. This drives both the heat demand and efficiency calculations. Heat demand per half-hour = max(0, 15 − T_outside) × (area m² / 1000) × HLI. The COP (coefficient of performance) varies with outdoor temperature: COP = 3.25 + 0.0875 × T. At 10°C outdoor, COP ≈ 4.1; at 0°C, COP ≈ 3.3. This mirrors the model in kilowatt.ie's main tariff comparison tool.
- Electricity price. The heat pump's half-hourly demand is priced on the tariff our comparison engine finds cheapest for a typical Irish household (4,200 kWh/yr; all tariff and meter types compete; urban rates). The table shows the cost of adding the heat pump: the electricity standing charge and PSO levy are excluded because you pay them in every scenario. If the cheapest tariff is dynamic (wholesale pass-through), it is priced on the last 12 months of day-ahead wholesale prices.
- Oil price. €1.66/litre (last checked September 2026). Energy density of heating oil: 9.61 kWh/litre. Boiler efficiency: 75%.
- Gas price. Priced live on the cheapest available gas tariff for the modelled heating load (other loads like cooking are ignored), including carbon tax and the gas standing charge. Computed by the same comparison engine. Boiler efficiency: 75%.
- HLI. The Heat Loss Indicator (W/m²K) is an estimate (not a measure) of your home's heat loss. Lower is better. You can find it on the advisory report associated with your Building Energy Rating (BER), available from the National BER Register
- Limitations. This is an estimate, not a quote. Actual results depend on the specific heat pump model chosen, the quality of installation (flow temperature, pipe sizing, controls), your actual thermostat settings, and weather in the specific year.
How Much Does a Heat Pump Cost To Install in Ireland?
Hardware
A heat pump unit itself typically costs €3,000–€11,000 depending on the brand, features, and power rating. You'll probably also need a special hot water cylinder to go along with the heat pump, costing €1,500–€2,000. Allowing €1,000 for miscellaneous items (pipes, connectors, etc.) brings the total hardware cost to €5,500–€13,000.
Fully installed (before grant)
Heat pump installers need to allow around €4,500–€9,000 for their tradespeople, insurance, vehicles, administration, etc. This brings the fully installed cost of a heat pump to €10,000–€24,000 before grants.
Related costs to budget for
Heat pumps work best in well-insulated houses. You need to achieve a minimum level of insulation to even qualify for the grant. Examples (ex grant):
- €800–€3,000 for attic insulation
- €10,000–€30,000 for external wall insulation
- €7,000–€35,000 for upgraded windows and doors
- €1,500–€3,500 for new radiators (the SEAI grant covers up to €2,000 of this)
Fortunately, you can get a grant towards all the above upgrades. Besides, all of those upgrades are well worth doing in their own right, even if you're not planning to get a heat pump.
Ready for a Firm Quote?
Contact an SEAI-Registered Heat Pump Installer Serving Your County.
Find an Installer ➜Is a Heat Pump Right for Your Home?
With the Irish government offering heat pump grants of up to €12,500, it's no wonder that thousands of Irish people are installing heat pumps each year. But a heat pump is not the right choice for everyone.
The critical question question: how do you heat your home now?
There are two very different ways to run a heating system:
- Run the heat for a few hours in the morning and evening. Your home will be warm while the heating is on. But if it's like most Irish houses without proper insulation, it will be cold again only a few hours after you turn the heating off.
- Set a thermostat to keep your home always warm. This works great in well-insulated homes. Unfortunately, it would cost an arm and a leg to heat most Irish houses this way with oil or gas.
The thing about heat pumps is they're only suited to method 2: the thermostat. This has two important implications:
- There's no point in a heat pump for a poorly-insulated house. No heating system in the world can keep such a house warm 24-7 at a reasonable cost. You can reconsider a heat pump after adding proper insulation. Or get your home insulated and a heat pump installed all in one go with a deep retrofit.
- Comfort first, savings second. Many people don't notice a big change in their energy bills after installing a heat pump… But they do notice a huge difference in thermal comfort. This is because they go from a blast of heat in the evening to an always-warm indoor climate. The higher heat output offsets the heat pump efficiency gains, so the net bill change can be small, but the quality-of-life gain can be enormous.
The financial case
If you're currently keeping your home warm all day around the clock, a heat pump can massively reduce your heating costs *if*:
- The heat pump system is properly designed and installed
- Your house is reasonably well insulated (HLI ≤ 2.5)
- You keep your indoor temperature steady, or close to steady
- You get a good-value electricity tariff
Payback periods
There's huge variation in possible payback periods for heat pumps. On one extreme, the payback period can be as short as 3.5 years if you're currently using electric heaters. At the other extreme, if you have a small, well-insulated house, a highly-efficient gas boiler, and keep your gas connection for cooking anyway, a heat pump might never truly "pay for itself".
It's important not lose sight of the bigger picture. Consider what kind of heating system you'll want to be using 10, 15, and 25 years from now.
Beyond the Cost: Health, Safety & Convenience of Heat Pumps
Safer
Unlike boilers, heat pumps don't burn flammible fuel and emit no carbon monoxide
Cleaner air
Zero fumes: The only thing coming from a heat pump is cool air.
Convenience
No more oil deliveries, no standing charges, no gas bills.
Heat Pump Installation Quote
Get a Quote from an SEAI-Registered Heat Pump Installer Serving Your County.
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