How Long Do Air Source Heat Pumps Last?

In Summary: Heat Pump Lifespan & Picking Long Lasting Units

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So, how long do heat pumps last?

Air source heat pumps (ASHP) last approximately 20-25 years, compared to gas boilers where most brands would suggest their units last 10-15 years. 

Some of the biggest contributors to the lifespan of your unit including: 

• Making sure it’s correctly sized (undersized units have to work incredibly hard)
• Buying a heat pump from a leading brand with a long warranty (5-7 years is ideal)

The best way to prolong the lifespan of your heat pump is to have it regularly maintained, once per year if possible.

And if the time comes that you need to fix or replace it, you’ll need to weigh up the repair costs versus replacement costs. 

Most UK homeowners are eligible for government grants of up to £7,500 for ASHP installations. Essentially, this makes it pointless sinking £1,000+ into repairs, if your air source heat pump is over 10 years old. 

You can use our quick and clickable tool to work out the exact cost of an air source heat pump for your property. 

Average Lifespan Of An Air Source Heat Pump

Installing an air source heat pump is a huge investment; £7,000-£12,000 for an average UK property. Obviously the cost of installation can be offset with a government grant, but it’s still worth investigating how long your unit is likely to last.

With the majority of people looking to replace a gas boiler with a heat pump, it makes sense to compare the two. 

How Long Do Heat Pumps Last vs Gas Boilers?

An average air source heat pump is likely to last around 20-25 years. 

In comparison, many brands suggest their gas boilers would only last up to 15 years. 

Remember, these are very loose timelines. Dozens of variables affect how long both an air source heat pump and a gas boiler last, including: 

• How hard the unit is worked over time, as an undersized boiler or heat pump will have to work much harder than a correctly sized unit
• If the unit is maintained / serviced (and how often); regular servicing is needed for heat pumps and boilers to ensure they work efficiently and reliably 
• The quality of the unit you choose to install, a low quality unit from a no-name brand isn’t likely to last long

Picking Heat Pumps That Last The Longest

The longest lasting heat pumps are generally those from leading brands that come with a long warranty. 

We’ve explained which are the most durable heat pump brands below, and the warranty you need to be aiming for. If you prefer, you can go ahead and use our quick and easy-to-use clickable tool, and get fixed prices for long lasting heat pumps on-screen within 2-minutes.

Heat Pump Warranty

If you’re looking for the most durable heat pumps, you’ll want to choose one with a long warranty. 

A manufacturer offering a long warranty (parts and labour), shows confidence in their product. Afterall, they’re the one that’s going to foot the bill if your heat pump develops faults during the warranty period. 

As an additional bonus, if by chance something goes wrong during the warranty period, any part that is replaced is going to extend the lifespan of your heat pump.

We’d suggest aiming for a 7-year parts and labour warranty. All the units we list on our page covering the best air source heat pumps in the UK, come with a 7-year warranty. You can get quotes on long lasting heat pumps using our clickable tool here. 

Durable & Top Rated ASHP Brands

Alongside a long warranty (7-years if possible), you’ll want to pick a heat pump on offer from a top rated brand. These are the brands that typically offer the longest lasting heat pumps. 

Our favourite brands (listed on on our heat pump brands page) are: 

Want to get prices on long lasting heat pumps? Our clickable tool here takes just a few minutes to complete. Tell us a few basic details about your property and we’ll suggest the most durable heat pump (inclusive of a long warranty).

Does Regular Maintenance Make A Heat Pump Last Longer?

As with gas boilers, regular maintenance of your air source heat pump is going to prolong its life. Not only will regular maintenance add years onto how long your pump lasts, it’s going to maintain efficiency too; heat pumps that aren’t maintained can lose up to 25% efficiency over time.

A heat pump service includes a few basics. Your engineer will ensure there are no partial blockages (leaves etc) that could lead to reduced airflow. Anything that obstructs airflow is going to contribute to a huge drop in efficiency.

They'll also check important components such as your filters (replacing if necessary), any electrical connections, and also refrigerant levels (they need to be F-Gas certified to do this).

Finally, they’ll improve the efficiency of the fan blades by cleaning them, and your unit is good to go for another year; a service once per annum is adequate.

What To Do If Your Heat Pump Develops Faults

If your air source heat pump’s life is coming to an end, it’s time to weigh up the potential repair costs with the overall replacement costs.

Heat Pump Replacement Costs

Our guide to heat pump installation here covers everything you need to know before having a new unit installed. Summarising our guide, expect to pay around £10,000 for a new air source heat pump. 

However, remember that if you’ve not had government funding for a heat pump in the past, you could be eligible for a grant of up to £7,500. Essentially, your installation may only cost £2,500!

Try it for yourself, you can use this heat pump quote page on our website (no email or phone number required) and get fixed prices on-screen within 2-minutes. 

Air Source Heat Pump Repair Costs

Naturally, repairing a heat pump is usually cheaper than a replacement. Small repairs fixing a broken heat pump can cost in the region of £200-£400. Small repairs on a unit that is under 15-years old offer value for money and are worth doing. 

‍As a side note, remember to check your parts and labour warranty, as it might be you can get your heat pump fixed for free.

On the flip side, substantial repairs could cost in excess of £1,000, and this is where the big decision needs to be made. With a government grant funding of up to £7,500 for a new heat pump installation, if the unit in this case was over 10-years old, the most cost effective option long term would be a replacement. 

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