Yes, but success depends on preparation.

Heat pumps are most efficient when they run at low temperatures. If your home is poorly insulated, the low-temperature heat may not be enough to keep you warm on the coldest days.

Insulation First: The best practice is to upgrade insulation (loft, walls, floor) before installation. This reduces the heat loss, allowing a smaller, more efficient heat pump to be installed.

Larger Radiators: You may need to install larger radiators (or underfloor heating) to emit enough heat at the lower flow temperatures approx 45 degrees to 5 degrees used by the heat pump, compared to a traditional boiler approx 70 degrees.

Modern air source heat pumps are very quiet.

It is as quiet as a modern dishwashing machine.
The noise level is measured in decibels (dB) and is generally comparable to a refrigerator or a standard dishwasher.

Newer models typically operate between 40 dB and 50 dB at 1 meter distance.

Installation must comply with Permitted Development Rights and local planning rules, which often specify noise limits, especially concerning neighbours. Proper positioning away from main windows or boundaries is key to ensuring quiet operation.

Heat pumps are rated by their Coefficient of Performance (CoP), which indicates their efficiency.

A typical heat pump achieves a seasonal CoP of 3.0 to 5.5, meaning for every 1 kWh of electricity it consumes, it delivers 3 to 5.5 kWh of heat energy to your home.

Compared to a gas boiler (which is capped at approx 0.9, the heat pump is extremely efficient in terms of energy output.

The total electricity used depends on your home's size and how well it is insulated, but running costs are often significantly lower than oil or direct electric heating, and competitive with modern gas boilers.

The current BUS grant offers a fixed non-repayable sum to help cover the cost of installing an air source or ground source heat pump.

Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP): You can get £7,500 towards the cost and installation.

Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHP) and Water Source Heat Pumps: You can get £7,500 towards the cost and installation.

Eligibility for the property: The grant is only available for properties in England and Wales that:

Have a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).

Do not require recommendations for loft or cavity wall insulation (these must be installed first).

Are replacing an existing fossil fuel heating system (oil, gas, or electric resistance) or installing a first-time system.

No. The application process must be handled by an MCS-certified installer.

You, the homeowner, first get a quote from an installer.

The installer then applies to Ofgem (the scheme administrator) for a grant voucher on your behalf.

You must then give consent to Ofgem for the installer to act on your behalf.

The grant amount is then deducted from your final bill, meaning you only pay the discounted price to the installer.

Once your installer has secured the grant voucher from Ofgem:

For Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP): The voucher is usually valid for three months (90 days).

For Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHP): The voucher is usually valid for six months (180 days).

This period gives you time to finalise the contract, plan the works, and commence the installation. If the voucher expires, the installer will need to reapply, and you risk the grant funding being unavailable or reduced at that time.