Home Heat Pump Guide

Heat Pump vs Infrared Heating Panels: Which Is Better?

If you are searching for an alternative to your gas boiler, two very different technologies will appear on your radar: heat pumps and infrared heating panels. One is a whole-house central heating system. The other is a room-by-room electric heating solution. They solve the same problem — keeping your home warm — but they go about it in completely different ways.

This guide compares both systems honestly, covering costs, efficiency, comfort, and the situations where each one genuinely makes sense for UK homeowners.

How Each System Works

Heat Pumps

A heat pump extracts warmth from the outside air (or ground) and concentrates it to heat water that flows through your radiators or underfloor heating. For every unit of electricity it consumes, a well-installed heat pump delivers between 2.5 and 4 units of heat. This makes it fundamentally more efficient than any system that converts electricity directly into warmth.

Heat pumps provide central heating and hot water from a single system, replacing your boiler entirely.

Infrared Heating Panels

Infrared panels are flat, slim electric heaters mounted on walls or ceilings. Instead of heating the air in a room (as a conventional radiator does), they emit infrared radiation that heats objects and people directly — similar to how the sun warms you on a cold day even when the air temperature is low.

Each panel heats only the room it is in. There is no central system, no pipework, and no hot water cylinder.

Installation Cost Comparison

Heat Pump Installation Costs

A typical air source heat pump installation in the UK costs between £10,000 and £16,000, depending on the property. This includes the outdoor unit, a hot water cylinder, new controls, and any necessary modifications to your heating distribution system. After the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant of £7,500, you are looking at a net cost of roughly £4,000 to £8,500.

Infrared Panel Installation Costs

A single infrared panel typically costs between £150 and £600, depending on wattage and quality. A three-bedroom semi-detached house might need 8 to 12 panels to heat every room, costing £2,000 to £5,000 for the panels themselves. Installation by an electrician adds another £500 to £1,500, bringing the total to roughly £2,500 to £6,500.

Infrared panels do not provide hot water. If you are removing a gas boiler, you will also need an electric immersion heater or a separate hot water heat pump, adding £500 to £2,000.

The Upfront Verdict

Infrared panels are cheaper upfront, particularly before the BUS grant is applied. After the grant, the gap narrows considerably. In some cases, a heat pump with the grant can be comparable to a full infrared panel installation plus a hot water solution.

Running Cost Comparison

This is where the comparison becomes decisive.

Heat Pump Running Costs

With a seasonal coefficient of performance (SCOP) of 3.0, a heat pump delivering 12,000 kWh of heat per year uses approximately 4,000 kWh of electricity. At the current Ofgem cap rate of 24.50p/kWh, that is roughly £980 per year for heating.

You can see our full breakdown of heat pump running costs for more detail.

Infrared Panel Running Costs

Infrared panels convert electricity to heat at close to 100% efficiency — but that is still a coefficient of performance of just 1.0, compared to the heat pump's 3.0. To deliver 12,000 kWh of heat, infrared panels consume approximately 12,000 kWh of electricity. At 24.50p/kWh, that is roughly £2,940 per year.

Infrared panel advocates argue that you need less total heat because infrared warms you directly rather than heating the air. There is some truth to this — you might set the thermostat a degree or two lower. But even accounting for a generous 20% reduction in demand, running costs would still be around £2,350 per year — more than double the heat pump figure.

Hot Water Costs

A heat pump heats your hot water efficiently with the same COP advantage. An immersion heater uses electricity at a 1:1 ratio, adding roughly £300 to £500 per year to infrared panel running costs.

Long-Term Cost Over 15 Years

Let us project the full costs over 15 years, assuming 3% annual energy price inflation:

Heat Pump Total Cost

  • Installation (after grant): £6,000
  • Running costs over 15 years: approximately £18,600
  • Maintenance (annual service): approximately £2,250
  • Total: approximately £26,850

Infrared Panel Total Cost

  • Installation (panels + hot water): £5,000
  • Running costs over 15 years: approximately £55,800
  • Panel replacements (10-year lifespan): approximately £2,500
  • Total: approximately £63,300

Over 15 years, the heat pump saves approximately £36,000 compared to infrared panels. The running cost difference is so large that it overwhelms any upfront saving.

Comfort and Practicality

Heat Distribution

A heat pump provides even, whole-house heating through radiators or underfloor heating. Every room benefits from consistent background warmth. Infrared panels heat individual rooms, which can create uneven temperatures — hallways, bathrooms, and transitional spaces are often left cold unless you install panels there too.

Responsiveness

Infrared panels heat up instantly and can be controlled room by room, which is genuinely useful if you only use certain rooms at certain times. Heat pumps are slower to respond but maintain steady temperatures efficiently over longer periods.

Maintenance

Infrared panels have no moving parts and require almost zero maintenance. Heat pumps need an annual service costing £100 to £200, though they are still relatively low-maintenance compared to gas boilers.

Hot Water

Heat pumps provide domestic hot water efficiently. Infrared panels cannot heat water at all, requiring a separate solution.

When Infrared Panels Make Sense

Despite the running cost disadvantage, there are specific situations where infrared panels are a reasonable choice:

  • Very small, well-insulated properties: A one-bedroom flat with excellent insulation has low heat demand, reducing the running cost penalty
  • Supplementary heating: Adding one or two panels to rarely-used rooms rather than extending your central heating
  • Properties where heat pump installation is impossible: Some flats, listed buildings, or properties with no outdoor space cannot accommodate a heat pump
  • Extremely tight budgets: When you cannot afford a heat pump installation even with the grant, and your current boiler has failed
  • Holiday homes or second properties: Low occupancy means lower annual running costs, and instant heat-on-demand is practical

When a Heat Pump Is the Better Choice

For the vast majority of UK homes, a heat pump is the superior option:

  • Primary residences: The running cost advantage compounds year after year
  • Houses with garden space: Easy to accommodate the outdoor unit
  • Properties needing hot water too: One system handles both
  • Homes eligible for the BUS grant: The £7,500 grant dramatically reduces the upfront cost gap
  • Anyone planning to stay long-term: Payback occurs within a few years against infrared panels

Use our suitability checker to see whether your home is a good candidate for a heat pump.

Environmental Comparison

Both systems run on electricity, so their carbon footprint depends on the UK electricity grid's carbon intensity. However, the heat pump uses roughly one-third of the electricity for the same amount of heat. This means a heat pump produces roughly one-third of the carbon emissions of infrared panels per unit of warmth delivered.

As the grid continues to decarbonise, both systems improve — but the heat pump always maintains its 3:1 efficiency advantage.

Common Myths About Infrared Panels

"Infrared panels are more efficient than heat pumps"

Infrared panels are nearly 100% efficient at converting electricity to heat, but that is a 1:1 ratio. Heat pumps achieve 300% efficiency because they move heat rather than creating it. The heat pump wins on efficiency by a wide margin.

"Infrared panels cost less to run because they heat you directly"

The direct heating effect does reduce perceived heat demand slightly, but not enough to overcome the threefold efficiency difference. Running costs for infrared panels remain significantly higher.

"Infrared panels are maintenance-free forever"

Panels themselves last 10 to 20 years, but thermostats, wiring, and controllers may need attention. Heat pumps require annual servicing but last 20 to 25 years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are infrared panels cheaper than a heat pump?

To buy and install, yes — infrared panels cost less upfront. However, running costs are roughly three times higher, making them far more expensive over the lifetime of the system. After the BUS grant, a heat pump's upfront cost gap shrinks significantly.

Can I heat a whole house with infrared panels?

Technically yes, but it requires multiple panels in every room and results in high electricity bills. It also does not provide hot water. For whole-house heating, a heat pump is more practical and economical.

Do infrared panels work in poorly insulated homes?

Infrared panels are less affected by draughts than convection heaters because they heat objects directly. However, in a poorly insulated home, the overall heat demand is high, and electricity costs will be substantial. Improving insulation benefits both systems.

Can I use infrared panels alongside a heat pump?

Yes. Some homeowners use infrared panels as supplementary heating in rarely-used rooms — a home office or spare bedroom — while the heat pump handles the rest of the house and hot water. This can be a cost-effective hybrid approach.

Do infrared panels qualify for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant?

No. The BUS grant applies only to heat pumps and biomass boilers. Infrared panels receive no government subsidy.

Which is better for flats?

For flats where an air source heat pump cannot be installed externally, infrared panels may be one of the few low-carbon options available. However, some flats can accommodate air source heat pumps with landlord or freeholder permission, and shared ground-loop systems are becoming more common in new developments.