Why Devon’s Off-Gas Villages Are Actually Perfect for Heat Pumps

For many years, in Devons's smaller villages, many property owners have to heavily depend on heating oil to warm their homes through the winters, which can be long. Particularly around the villages of Crediton, Honiton, and Okehampton, hundreds and hundreds of properties are totally off the mains gas grid. For rural homes, oil heating was really seen as the only practical solution, however, this is not the case now due to the increase in fuel costs and the rapid and significant improvements in renewable energy. According to heating engineers in the area, rural parts of Devon are some of the best places across the UK to install an air source heat pump, specifically for homes that are completely dependent on oil-fired boilers.

Why So Many Homes in Mid and East Devon Are Off-Gas

There are a lot of villages situated in Mid Devon and rural East Devon that have not been connected to the national gas network, unlike bigger towns and cities. The villages of Crediton, Lapford, Copplestone, Honiton, Ottery St Mary and Okehampton still depend on solid fuel heating, electric storage heaters, LPG heating systems and oil boilers.

There are roughly 1.7 million properties in the UK, according to government energy statistics that are still off the gas network and homes in the area of rural South West England have nearing the most elevated concentrations of oil-heated properties in the UK.

Geography is one of the most important reasons that this is the case for the county of Devon. The housing can be very spread out and there is a much lower population density which makes the installation of any kind of infrastructure extremely pricey, which has meant that the majority of houses still rely on oil deliveries as they have done for many years.

Why Oil Heating Is Becoming Increasingly Expensive

Prices of oil have changed dramatically recently, and there has been a sharp rise in the global market. Although prices may fluctuate, there are many property owners who will be facing much higher heating bills in comparison to customers who can use mains gas. According to recent estimates within the industry, some households that are off-grid are spending between £2000 and £3500 each year in order to heat a bigger rural home with oil, especially if the property is older and built of stone. There are several downsides to being an oil rather than a gas customer, including having to keep an eye on the tank level, organise fuel delivery, pay for the oil on delivery and maintain the external storage tanks. There are more and more property owners who are now thinking about renewable options.

Why Heat Pumps Make More Financial Sense in Rural Devon

There are arguments that believe that heat pumps may be the best option for urban sustainability, but there are also now installers that think they are a good idea in villages that are off-gas. The main reason for this is that a heat pump will mean much bigger savings compared to oil heating or gas boilers.  The efficiency of a heat pump is in the region of 300-400% according to government figures which in simple terms means that for every unit of electricity used, three to four units of heat can be generated. This can have a huge impact on property owners in the villages around Crediton, Honiton, and Okehampton that are off grid. There are other considerations related to heating costs including modern insulation improvements, solar panels, smart heating controls and underfloor heating systems so any savings that can be made will help homeowners to manage their finances.

Devon’s Climate Is Surprisingly Suitable for Heat Pumps

Heat pumps can struggle in rural areas that may be colder. If you look at the average temperature in mid and east Devon, the temperature is much milder than northern parts of the UK and this makes a big difference to the efficiency of a heat pump. The performance of a heat pump will be greatly improved by a milder climate, which according to the Met Office, Devon certainly has!

Lets Make Your Home Greener Together

New-build eco homes regularly install heat pumps, although the villages without access to the gas network are choosing this technology more and more in this day and age. There are still many homes that would benefit from the government aid for renewable heating options, better efficiency and much reduced running costs. If you are a property owner in Devon, considering the rising price of oil and the helpful grants from the authorities, choosing to switch from oil to a heat pump is not only a decision that is hugely beneficial for the environment, but will be a game-changer for your finances!