Replacing Storage Heaters with an Air to Air Heat Pump

If you have night storage heaters, you'll know the pattern. The house is warm in the morning when you're rushing out, and cold by early evening when you get home and want to sit down. Turn the input up to compensate and the bill goes up, and the heat still arrives at the wrong time.

Storage heaters convert one unit of electricity into one unit of heat. A Haier heat pump converts one unit of electricity into roughly three and a half units of heat, and delivers it when you switch it on.

The efficiency difference

A storage heater is 100% efficient at turning electricity into heat, but that's where it stops: one in, one out. A heat pump uses electricity to move heat from the outside air, delivering around 3.6 units of heat per unit of electricity across a heating season, based on Haier's seasonal efficiency ratings.

In practice, for the same warmth in a room you buy roughly a third of the electricity. At the October–December 2026 cap of 26.32p per kWh, heat pump heat costs about 7.3p per kWh. Storage heater heat costs whatever your off-peak rate is, per kWh, plus the heat released in the hours you're out or asleep.

A word on Economy 7 tariffs

This is worth checking before you switch. Storage heaters rely on a cheap overnight rate, which usually comes with a higher daytime rate. A heat pump mostly runs during the day and evening, so once the storage heaters go, an Economy 7 tariff may no longer suit you. Look at your bill and compare a standard single-rate tariff before and after. If your hot water is heated overnight by an immersion, factor that in too. We're happy to go through it with you at survey.

Heat when you want it

• On demand: switch on and the room is warm in minutes, rather than depending on what charged up last night.
• Proper thermostats: each unit holds the temperature you set, room by room.
• Timers and app control: have the living room warm for when you get home.
• Cooling in summer: something no storage heater can do.

Flats, bungalows and houses

Storage heaters are common in flats, bungalows and older rural homes. For a single main room, a split system does the job. For several rooms, a multi-split runs up to five indoor units from one outdoor unit. In flats, the outdoor unit position and any freeholder or management-company permission need sorting before we fit. We'll flag that at the start.

What happens to the old heaters?

Some customers remove them altogether, and others keep one or two in rooms without an indoor unit. Storage heaters are heavy, often containing clay or concrete bricks, so allow for removal and disposal if you're taking them out. We'll talk it through when we survey.

See the heating costs compared page for a side-by-side of every heating type.

Haier systems, certified installers

We install Haier exclusively. Keeping to one brand means our engineers know the range inside out, we hold the right spares, and costs stay down. Haier systems come with a 6-year warranty as standard when installed by a certified engineer. Our engineers are F-Gas certified, the business is REFCOM registered, and electrical work is carried out to Part P standard. We're based in Buckingham, MK18, and cover Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire and the surrounding area.

Heat pump installers near you

Milton Keynes Buckingham Bletchley Newport Pagnell Aylesbury Bicester Northampton Oxford

See the full list of areas we cover, or check recent installations for real examples of our work.

More heating guides

Air to air heat pumps Home office heating Garden room heating Whole house heating Bungalow heating Oil & LPG alternatives Conservatory heating Loft conversion heating Extension heating Garage conversion heating Annexe heating Heating costs compared

Common questions

Is a heat pump cheaper to run than storage heaters?

Usually, yes. A heat pump delivers roughly 3.6 units of heat per unit of electricity, while a storage heater delivers one. At the October to December 2026 price cap, heat pump heat costs about 7.3p per kWh, while storage heater heat costs your off-peak unit rate per kWh plus any heat released when you do not need it.

Should I stay on Economy 7 after removing storage heaters?

Possibly not. A heat pump mostly runs in the day and evening, and Economy 7 day rates are usually higher than standard single rates. Compare tariffs before and after the switch, and allow for any overnight immersion hot water.

Can a heat pump replace storage heaters in a flat?

Often yes, but the outdoor unit position and any freeholder or management company permission need confirming first.

How many storage heaters can one system replace?

A single split heats one room. A Haier multi-split runs between two and five indoor units from one outdoor unit, which covers most flats and bungalows.

Does it qualify for 0% VAT?

Qualifying residential installations currently benefit from 0% VAT until 31 March 2027. We confirm the VAT treatment on your written quote.