As the UK accelerates its shift away from gas boilers, two electric heating technologies have emerged as the leading alternatives: heat pumps and infrared heating. Both are low carbon, both run on electricity, and both are being championed as the future of home and commercial heating.

But they work in very different ways, suit very different properties, and come with very different costs and practicalities. This guide gives you a straight forward, honest comparison.

How Heat Pumps Work

A heat pump extracts heat energy from outside air (air source) or the ground (ground source) and transfers it into your home via a refrigerant cycle. Heat pumps don't generate heat directly; they move it. This efficiency is measured as a Coefficient of Performance (COP). A heat pump with a COP of 3 delivers 3 units of heat for every 1 unit of electricity consumed.

What Heat Pumps Require

• A well-insulated property (ideally EPC rating C or above)

• Underfloor heating or large format radiators

• Outdoor space for the external unit or land for ground loops

• Professional installation taking several days

• Access to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant (currently £7,500 for air source)

How Infrared Heating Works

Infrared heating panels emit radiant heat the same principle as warmth from sunlight. Rather than heating the air, infrared heats objects, surfaces, and people directly. Panels are fully electric, require no pipework or water circuits, and can be installed in hours.

What Infrared Heating Requires

• Standard electrical supply

• Wall or ceiling mounting space

• A competent electrician

• No outdoor space or groundworks

Key Comparisons

Installation Cost

Heat pump installation costs £8,000–£15,000 for air source, or £15,000–£35,000 for ground source before grants, with significant disruption. Infrared installation is far simpler, less expensive, and typically completed in a single day.

Running Costs and Efficiency

Heat pumps offer a theoretical COP of 2.5–4, but this drops in cold weather when heating demand is highest. Infrared converts close to 100% of electricity into usable radiant heat. Paired with solar PV, infrared running costs can be dramatically reduced — making it the more practical choice for properties with solar panels.

Suitability

Heat pumps suit: well-insulated modern homes (EPC C+), properties with underfloor heating, and those committed to a significant upfront investment.

Infrared suits: properties of any age, intermittently used spaces, commercial and agricultural buildings, listed buildings, and any property with solar PV.

Response Time

Heat pumps run continuously at low output and respond slowly to changes in demand. Infrared heats instantly with no warm up period.

Maintenance

Heat pumps require annual F-Gas servicing at £100–£200 per year. Infrared panels have no moving parts, no refrigerant, no water, and no servicing requirements. Infrared Group panels carry a 30-year design life.

The Environmental Comparison

Both systems are low-carbon relative to gas and become cleaner as the UK grid decarbonises. Infrared combined with on-site solar PV can deliver effectively zero-carbon heating during daylight hours.

Can You Use Both?

Yes. A hybrid approach works well in larger properties — a heat pump for base-load heating in main living areas, with infrared in outbuildings or intermittently used rooms.

Talk to an Infrared Specialist

Infrared Group Ltd designs, supplies, and installs bespoke infrared heating systems for homes, businesses, schools, and commercial properties across the UK.

Call us free on 0333 090 7160 or visit infraredgroup.co.uk for a free survey and no-obligation quote.