What are domestic hot water heat pumps?

A heat pump works by extracting heat from the environment and using that energy to heat water. In the case of a domestic hot water heat pump, the environment the heat pump extracts heat from is typically the room it is installed – for example, a storage room, boiler room or larder.

They need some electricity to run, but because their heat output is higher than the electricity input, they are highly efficient, low carbon hot water heating systems.

Other heat pumps provide space heating, too, and details of these can be found on our Heat Pump pages.

This guide focuses on heat pumps providing hot water solely for direct use (not space heating).

By installing a heat pump, you could reduce your household carbon emissions, depending on what system you are replacing.

For some households, it can make sense to separate your hot water and space heating systems. One benefit is that the space heating system can be switched off completely during the warmer summer months, and you can still benefit from a low carbon hot water system.

Before installing a heat pump, consider whether you have the internal space for the size of tank that may be required. There are different size and volume options to match your hot water needs.

Some domestic hot water heat pumps also have a backup electric immersion heater, to ensure the hot water reaches the minimum 60C needed to keep a sterile tank and prevent Legionnaires disease.

These products represent the most efficient heat pumps in their category. Our Selection Criteria details the minimum standards the products must meet in order to display on our site, including further information about efficiency.