A hybrid system pairs an air source heat pump with the boiler you already have. The heat pump runs for most of the year. The boiler steps in on the coldest days. This guide sets out what that involves, what it suits, and what the survey has to establish first.
A hybrid system pairs an air source heat pump with a conventional boiler. The heat pump runs for most of the year; the boiler takes over on the coldest days.
The two units work together through an intelligent controller that monitors outdoor temperature and indoor demand. When conditions are mild, the heat pump handles everything. As the outdoor temperature drops, the controller brings the boiler in to assist or take over.
The heat pump extracts warmth from outdoor air down to sub-zero. An intelligent controller switches between heat pump and boiler based on outdoor temperature.
Scotland's climate is well suited to air source heat pumps because winter temperatures rarely fall below -10°C. The controller uses a bivalent point to switch between heat pump only and hybrid mode.
Hybrid systems suit homes with existing radiators, adequate insulation, and a working boiler. A survey confirms whether your property can support the system.
The key suitability factors are an existing boiler that is still serviceable, a wet radiator system already in place, and insulation levels that allow the heat pump to operate efficiently.
Costs depend on your electricity tariff, property size, and insulation. The heat pump handles most of the load; the boiler runs on the coldest days.
A heat pump typically delivers three to four units of heat for every unit of electricity it consumes, which means that for most of the heating season your running costs are driven by electricity rather than gas or oil.
Not always. Existing radiators can remain if correctly sized for lower flow temperatures. The survey checks each room's heat loss and radiator output.
Heat pumps operate at lower flow temperatures than boilers. The survey calculates the heat loss for every room and compares it against the output of each existing radiator at the heat pump's flow temperature.
A full heat pump system replaces the boiler entirely. A hybrid keeps the boiler as backup for the coldest days.
A full heat pump system removes the boiler and relies on the heat pump for all heating and hot water. A hybrid system keeps the existing boiler in place as both a backup and a peak-load supplement.
Installation takes two to four days after the survey is complete and components are delivered. The survey takes two to three hours.
The process begins with the survey, which takes two to three hours. After the survey, a proposal is prepared and, if you proceed, components are ordered. Installation itself takes two to four days.
The survey measures heat loss for every room, checks radiator sizes, inspects insulation and pipework, and confirms electrical capacity.
The survey is the most important step in the process. It establishes whether a hybrid system is viable for your property and what work is needed.
If any of these apply to your property, we will say so during the survey. We do not install systems that will not perform.
A hybrid heating system is not the right fit for every property. Homes with no existing boiler, very poor insulation, no space for the outdoor unit, or an electrical supply that cannot support the load are not suitable.
Fill in the form and we will call you within one working day to arrange a survey. The survey takes two to three hours and is the first step — nothing is installed until it is complete.