NIBE Air Source Heat Pumps (Reviewed)

In Summary: Our NIBE Heat Pump Review

Below we’ll review NIBE heat pumps in detail. In summary: 

• NIBE is a high quality brand that has received Quiet Mark Certification as well as awards from: Built It, Energy Saving Awards, Energy Awards and HVR
• Online reviews are reasonable, with a 4.1 star rating on Trustpilot
• Their product range focuses on the S2125 / F2050 and between the two, there’s a suitable unit for most residential properties
• As standard, their 2-year warranty is considered low in the industry, but is upped to 7-years when using a certified NIBE installer
• Expect their heat pumps to cost £11,000+, discounted to £3,500+ when accounting for the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant
• Whilst their warranty is only 7-years, heat pumps typically last 15-years or longer

To get prices on heat pumps with a long warranty that also qualify for the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant, use our clickable form here.

(Detailed) NIBE Heat Pump Review

Is NIBE A Good Brand?

NIBE is considered a high quality brand in the heat pump space and not just for air source units. 

They've received awards such as:

• Quiet Mark Certification
• 2022 Build It: Their S2125 won "Best Heating System or Product", thanks to it's high flow temperature of 75°C (although you would never run the heat pump at a 75 degree flow temp, as the lower the better) and having an efficiency rating of up to 500%
• 2024 Energy Saving Awards: Here, NIBE got the "Energy Saving Product of The Year" award, which was given to their S735
• 2024 Energy Awards: Their S1256 ground source heat pump won the "Technology of The Year" award for heating and cooling
• 2024 HVR: Again, NIBE's S735 won, grabbing the award for "Heat Pump of The Year"

Online Reviews of NIBE

Whilst industry awards are great, whenever spending thousands on a product, you’ll want to find out what paying customers have to say. And that’s not just about a company’s product, but also their after-sales care including servicing and general support. 

The best way to find reviews for most companies operating in the UK, is to head over to Trustpilot. As you can see, the reviews of NIBE are reasonable, with an overall rating of 4.1 / 5 stars.

However, the balance of 5 star and 1 star reviews is slightly sub par compared to other leading brands in the space. 

Only 58% of NIBE customer reviews are 5 stars and 24% are 1 star.

By comparison, another leading brand (Vaillant), has a lower 3.8 star rating. However, a massive 78% of reviews are 5 stars, with just 7% being 1 star. 

You can get prices on heat pumps with high review ratings by using our configuration tool here. 

Product Range

In our review of the NIBE product range, we’ll cover the S2125 and F2050, as well as a couple of accessories that NIBE currently offers.

S2125

The NIBE S2125 is a high temperature air source heat pump, being able to give a supply temperature of up to 75°C. And it's able to supply up to 65°C of flow temperature, even when the outdoor temperature is -25°C! That said, it's more of a marketing statement than anything else; as high temperature heat pumps should not be run at 70 degrees as it will be very low in efficiency.

NIBE supplies the S2125 as a 8kW or 12kW unit, both operating at a low noise level of 49dB. Heat pumps can be noisy, and anything under 55dB is on the lower end.

This unit can be controlled using a built in WiFi connection; you'll be able to adjust and track your energy remotely.

According to NIBE, you'll get SCOP (Seasonal Coefficient of Performance) ratings of 5.00 / 3.70 when operating at flow temperatures of 35 / 55°C (based on an average outdoor climate). So, for every 1kWh of electricity consumed, the S2125 will produce 3.7-5kWh of heat; it's 370-500% efficient!

For more details, see NIBE's spec sheet here. 

Alternatively, get prices on air source heat pumps with a SCOP of 5 and higher using our interactive tool here.

F2050

The NIBE F2050 focuses on being eco friendly, using a R32 refrigerant. How eco-friendly a refrigerant is, is based on a GWP (Global Warming Potential) rating; the lower the better. 

Older heat pumps tend to use R410A refrigerant which has a GWP of 2,088. R32 is much lower, sitting at just 675! Albeit this is still much higher than R290.

Taking a look at the SCOP ratings given an average climate, they're similar to the S2125, the 10kW unit will operate at 4.59 with a flow temperature of 35 °C. However, this drops considerably (to 3.36) when operating at a flow temperature of 55 °C.

Performance wise, you won't be left in the lurch during cold weather. Even with a low outdoor temperature of  –20°C, the F2050 will deliver a flow temperature of up to 58°C. This is huge, given low quality heat pumps are only able to hit flow temperatures of 55-60°C even during average temperatures, meaning your house could be cold during winter months.

Whilst the F2050 can hit high flow temperatures, its low operating costs come when operating at low flow temperatures. 

You’ll want to plan suitable radiator upgrades to get the most out of this air source heat pump, or stick with the S2125.

With a low noise level of 53dB and being available in 6kW, 10kW, 12kW and 16kW outputs, there's a NIBE F2050 for most residential properties. 

Get prices on air source heat pumps that match or exceed NIBE's quality, warranty and SCOP levels by using our clickable tool here.

Indoor Modules / Controllers

Alongside the S2125 and the F2050, NIBE produces some additional products to help you make the most out of your system. 

For instance, the VVM S320 is an indoor module, enabling you to create a much more efficient system overall. The unit includes the likes of a filling valve, a heat pump that's self regulating, a manometer and a water heater.

It can be incorporated into any system that uses a NIBE air source heat pump.

There's then the SMO S40, designed to control systems, particularly those using multiple modules. 

These aren't always installed alongside a NIBE heat pump, but the SMO 20 usually is. And that's because it's NIBE's basic air source heat pump controller. Using myUplink, you'll be able to control all aspects of your heat pump from the SMO 20.

Warranty

NIBE heat pumps typically come with a 24-month warranty as standard. This is incredibly low, with the majority of the best heat pumps being offered with a base warranty of 5-years or longer. 

However, using a NIBE installer, this can usually be extended to 7-years. 

Our advice? Don’t have a heat pump installed with a warranty lower than 5-years; there are plenty of options out there. 

As an example, this popular Vaillant air source heat pump comes with a 7-year warranty. 

To find air source heat pumps that not only are suitable for your property, but that come with a long warranty, use our clickable heat pump tool here. 

The Cost of A NIBE Heat Pump

The cost of installing a Nibe heat pump is likely to set you back somewhere in the region of £11,000-13,000, depending on the complexity, which is a lot more than a gas boiler!

This is for a basic installation. Some properties will need new radiators throughout and this could add on £1000s to the cost. And that’s because newer and bigger radiators (which are much more efficient), work best with air source heat pumps.

However, there is a government grant that can help to reduce the cost of installation. Thanks to the government's Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant, most households in the UK will be eligible for £7,500 in funding. 

Not sure if you qualify for the £7,500 grant? Use our heat pump grant eligibility checker here. 

And to get a better breakdown of prices including installation, read our guide to heat pump installation costs here. 

How Long Will A NIBE Heat Pump Last?

Heat pumps typically last in excess of 15-years. However, you’ll want to ensure that you buy a heat pump with a long warranty. 

‍

Some heat pump brands offer a warranty as low as 2-years, which indicates a lack of confidence in their product’s longevity. Whilst NIBE only offers 2-years as a basic warranty, they do offer up to 7-years when using one of their certified installers. 

If you plan to get a NIBE heat pump installed, make sure it’s by one of these certified installers!

Get prices on air source heat pumps with a long warranty using our clickable tool here.