Field guide · Ireland
Heat pumps in Ireland
A heat pump costs €9,000–€14,000 installed in Ireland for an air to water system, the type fitted in about 90% of homes. The SEAI grant has been up to €14,500 since 6 October 2026, which brings the net cost to about €4,000 or less for most homes replacing oil or gas.
Types of heat pump and what they cost
| Type | Installed cost | Efficiency (COP) | SEAI grant | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air to water | €9,000–€14,000 | 3.0–4.0 | Up to €14,500 | Most Irish homes, with radiators or underfloor heating |
| Ground source | €14,000–€18,000 | 4.0–5.0 | Up to €14,500 | Rural homes with garden space |
| Exhaust air | €7,000–€10,000 | 3.0–3.5 | Up to €14,500 | New builds and compact homes |
| Air to air | €3,000–€5,000 | 3.5–4.5 | Up to €9,500 as main heating | Single rooms, apartments and well-insulated homes |
Installed cost before the grant. COP is the heat produced per unit of electricity used: a COP of 3.5 means 3.5 kWh of heat for every 1 kWh of electricity.
How does a heat pump work?
A heat pump works like a fridge in reverse. It takes heat from the air or the ground outside, compresses it to raise the temperature, and sends it to your radiators, underfloor heating and hot water cylinder.
Because it moves heat instead of burning fuel, it produces 3 to 4 kWh of heat for every 1 kWh of electricity. That is why a heat pump costs €600–€1,000 a year to run in an average 3-bed home, roughly half the cost of oil heating.
Is your home suitable for a heat pump?
Heat pumps work best in well-insulated homes, with a BER of B3 or better. An older home may need attic or wall insulation first, and SEAI sets minimum insulation standards for the grant.
- Space outside for the fan unit, and inside for a hot water cylinder
- Radiators large enough to heat the rooms at a lower water temperature
- Attic and wall insulation that meets the SEAI minimum
- For ground source, a garden large enough for the ground loops
Air to air heat pumps
An air to air heat pump heats the air in a room directly and can cool it in summer. It is the same equipment as an air conditioning unit. It costs €3,000–€5,000 installed for a single room, or €5,000–€8,000 for a multi-room system.
It does not heat your hot water or your radiators. The SEAI grant of up to €9,500 applies only when the system replaces your main fossil fuel or electric storage heating, not for a single unit added alongside a boiler.