Heat pumps aren't for every home.
We'll never talk you out of an ASHP if it's the right choice. We also won't pretend they suit every UK home. For solid-wall Victorian terraces, top-floor flats, and many off-gas rural homes, radTherm® is the simpler, cleaner answer.
Where ASHPs struggle
Four reasons a heat pump may not fit your home.
Need a fan unit outside
Often noisy. Often a planning conversation with the neighbour.
Want bigger radiators inside
Low-flow systems require larger surface area to push heat in.
Drop efficiency at -5°C
Exactly when you need them most, ASHP COPs plummet.
Need very well-insulated homes
Older terraces and flats can struggle to hold the lower flow temps.
Where radTherm® wins
Four reasons the simpler answer is often the better one.
No external unit
Nothing on the wall outside, nothing in the garden, no planning conversation.
Slim wall-mounted radiators
Smaller and slimmer than traditional radiators, not larger.
Performs identically in any weather
Resistive heating doesn't care about outside temperature.
Works in any home
Solid-wall Victorian terrace, top-floor flat, conservatory: yes, yes, yes.
Side by side
ASHP vs radTherm®, no spin.
| Feature | Air Source Heat Pump | radTherm® |
|---|---|---|
| External equipment | Outdoor fan unit | None, fully internal |
| Indoor radiators | Larger than gas (low-flow) | Slim wall-mounted |
| Cold-weather performance | Drops sharply below 0°C | Identical at any temperature |
| Suits old solid-wall homes | Usually not | Yes |
| Install complexity | Major: outside unit + indoor cylinder + pipework | Per-room electrical fit |
| Annual servicing | Yes | None |
| Noise | Audible fan when running | Silent |