Heat Pumps in Ireland: the 2026 decision guide

What a heat pump changes

A boiler creates high-temperature heat by burning fuel. A heat pump moves heat and usually works most efficiently with lower water temperatures over longer running periods. That makes the house fabric, emitter sizes, controls, hot-water design and commissioning part of one system decision.

Air-to-water is the most common Irish domestic route. Ground-to-water and water-to-water can work where site conditions support them. Air-to-air systems distribute warm air and generally do not provide domestic hot water. The correct choice depends on heat loss, available space, distribution system and budget.

Current SEAI support

SEAI's current individual-grant page lists support of up to €12,500 for qualifying air-to-water, ground-to-water, exhaust-air-to-water and water-to-water projects, with different support for apartments and air-to-air systems. The maximum can combine heat-pump, central-heating and renewable-heat support; eligibility depends on the existing system and applicant cohort. A €200 technical-assessment grant is also listed. Check the live SEAI heat-pump page before contracting work.

Five questions before requesting quotations

1. Is the dwelling heat-pump ready? For many pre-2007 homes, SEAI requires a technical assessment unless a valid BER shows a Heat Loss Indicator at or below the applicable threshold.
2. What design heat loss is being used? Ask for room-by-room figures, not only the property's floor area.
3. Can existing radiators deliver enough heat? Lower flow temperatures may require larger emitters or other changes.
4. What is included? Compare heat pump, cylinder, buffer, emitters, electrical work, controls, oil-tank removal, commissioning and making-good.
5. Who supports the system later? Establish the service route, response area, warranty conditions and access to parts before choosing a brand.

Heat-pump costs are system costs

A headline unit price is not a usable project budget. The total can include fabric improvements, technical assessment, electrical upgrades, cylinder and pipework changes, emitters and controls. Use the cost-and-grant checklist below alongside the broader retrofit cost guide.

Installation is only the beginning

Good commissioning establishes flow temperatures, weather compensation, hot-water schedules and control settings. Owners then need to understand normal operating noise, filters, outdoor-unit clearance, pressure readings and when to call a technician. See the annual servicing guide and Cork provider-selection checklist.

Heat pump or boiler?

The answer is not universally “heat pump.” A well-designed heat pump can suit a low-heat-loss home and remove fossil-fuel deliveries. A like-for-like boiler replacement has lower initial disruption but retains fuel exposure and does not solve poor fabric or distribution design. Compare the full cases in heat pump versus oil boiler.

Heat-pump guide map