16kW Heat Pump: Size Guide & Prices

What Size House Needs a 16kW Heat Pump?

(Source: Samsung)

16kW air source heat pumps are typically used in large homes with medium-high hot water and heat demand. They're also suitable for older properties where the insulation might not be up to modern standards, meaning the property has excessive heat loss. 

A typical property suited to a 16kW heat pump is likely to be one that fits in with one or all of the below: 

That said, there is only one way to properly spec a heat pump, and that's by doing a heat loss survey. A heat loss survey calculates heat loss by MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) standards, which is at a design temperature of -3°C. 

Whilst your home might only show heat loss of 8kW-12kW on an average day, it's heat loss in winter that really matters. Having a heat pump that is under spec is going to mean it works overtime, reducing its lifespan and increasing energy bills dramatically.

If your heat loss survey calculation is close to 16kW but doesn't exceed it, a 16kW heat pump will be suitable for your property.

As part of our estimates, we also provide a free heat loss survey. That way, you can ensure you get the most suitably sized unit for your property. 

Get your free estimate and heat loss survey using our heat pump quote tool here.

16kW Heat Pump Installation Costs

If you're looking at large high quality heat pumps, two good options are the Vaillant 15kW aroTHERM and the Samsung R290 16kW.

Expect to pay anywhere in the region of £4,000-£6,000 for the unit only, with installation costs on top. 

For a large 4, 5 or 6 bedroom house, the overall installation cost is likely to be in the region of £15,000. Luckily, that isn't going to be the price you actually pay. 

Most air source heat pump installations are eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme government grant. Using this grant, homeowners will have access to £7,500 in funding. 

With average prices of a 15kW-16kW heat pump being in the region of £15,000, the government grant reduces your installation price to approximately £7,500. 

Not sure if you qualify for the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant? Use our quick and clickable heat pump eligibility checker here. 

Of course, the exact price you pay will be based on how complex the job is. As an example here are a few things that can affect the price: 

Small-medium sized homes need very few upgrades, so the average price paid for an installation is fairly consistent. Large homes need more upgrades, so the overall installation price can vary by £1000s. 

Installing a heat pump involves interior and exterior work. Generally, you’d expect a 16kW installation to take somewhere in the region of 3-5 days to fit.

For more details read our guide to heat pump installation costs here, or, get your free heat pump quote here. 

12kW vs 16kW

Any heat pump in the 12kW-16kW range is designed for large properties. The exact houses they're suited to will be determined by property size and of course, their heat loss. 

Generally speaking, you'd expect to go for a 10kW-12kW unit if you live in a medium sized detached 3-4 bedroom property with reasonable insulation. If you live in an older property (with poor insulation), or a large 4-5 bedroom property, a 16kW is likely to be much more suitable. 

Here's a quick reference table to determine when you'd likely use a 12kW vs 16kW air source heat pump: 

Whilst the size of your property and the type of insulation you have might indicate which heat pump is most suitable, the heat loss calculation is all that matters. 

You’d need to see a heat loss calculation below 12kW at -3°C for a 12kW unit to be suitable. If it’s anything above 12kW, then you’ll need to look at 15kW-16kW units.

Get your heat loss survey as part of our free heat pump quote here. And if you’ve got any questions about sizing or a heat loss survey, speak to a heat pump expert here. 

Should You Upgrade Your Radiators?

Regardless of size, heat pumps run at much lower temperatures than gas boilers. So, radiators need to supply the same heat to a property, but at a lower temperature. To achieve this, heating systems using air source heat pumps use much larger radiators.

The difference in flow temperature is substantial. Whilst a gas boiler will deliver flow temperatures of 65°C or higher, the average heat pump works most efficiently at 35–50°C. 

Gas boilers will boost radiator temperatures to a point of being hot to the touch, whereas when using an air source, they're usually luke-warm. 

You'll likely need radiator upgrades alongside your 16kW heat pump installation if: 

• Your radiators are old, small and inefficient
• Household heat demand is high
• You plan to run your heat pump in high efficiency mode and therefore a low flow temperature of 35–45°C

Upgrading radiators isn't difficult, but it does cost money. An installer can easily switch a small single panel radiator for a large double or triple panel, boosting overall heat output. 

Expect costs for a single radiator upgrade to be in the region of £300-£400. 

Our heat pump prices include 1 free radiator upgrade. You can get your quote here, or, read our radiator / heat pump FAQ here.

Running Costs For 16kW Heat Pumps

Running costs for 15kW-16kW air source heat pumps are directly correlated to your electricity tariff, system efficiency and overall heat demand. Typically, you should expect to pay anywhere from £1,500-£2,000 per year in an average home that's suited to a 16kW unit.

One thing worth investigating when choosing a heat pump, is the Seasonal Coefficient of Performance (SCOP) rating. This indicates how efficient a heat pump is and directly affects running costs.

Most leading brands offering high quality heat pumps offer 15kW-16kW units in the SCOP range of 3.5-4. Put simply, they consume 1kWh of electricity for every 3.5-4kWh of heat they produce; they're 350-450% efficient. 

By comparison, A-rated gas boilers have a SCOP rating of just over 0.9, so they're roughly 90% efficient.

In summary, expect your energy consumption (and therefore, running costs) to be affected by: 

• Quality of insulation
• Flow temperature used
• Electricity tariff
• Size of your radiators
• Hot water and heating demand 

We’ve written a detailed guide to running costs here. 

Installation Requirements

Installing large heat pumps is a lot more complex than installing small units. This means more planning (and cost) is generally involved with fitting a 15kW-16kW unit than there would be for a 5kW-7kW unit.

Electrical

Expect your 16kW unit to run on single phase electricity. This generally means that as part of an installation, upgrades needed might include a new circuit, or a new consumer unit.

Outdoor Space

Heat pumps aren't exactly small. You'll need exterior space that's on a solid base that has good airflow. Expect unit dimensions to be in the region of 1400m x 1000mm x 350mm. It's then going to need a sufficient clear space around it to maximise airflow.

Compatibility

To ensure your heat pump is efficient you may need upgrades to your heating system including: 

• Pipework upgrades
• Bigger radiators
• Hot water cylinder installation

Installers will complete a heat loss survey prior to installation. This allows them to determine what size heat pump you need, as well as if any heating upgrades (such as bigger radiators) are needed.

FAQ

Can a 16kW heat pump heat a large 5-bedroom house?

Yes. 16kW units are suitable for many 4-6 bedroom properties that are 190–290m².

Get a heat loss survey from an installer to confirm this. If the heat loss survey shows sub 16kW heat loss at -3°C, then a 16kW unit is big enough for your home.

Will I need to upgrade my fuse board to run a 16kW heat pump?

Due to many 16kW units being single phase, they may need a dedicated circuit that has a larger breaker capacity. This also means that sometimes, the consumer unit (fuse board) needs to be upgraded.

Are heat pumps noisy?

Modern units are much less noisy than older units. Expect a high quality unit to be approximately 45-55 dB at 1 metre. There are some units (Samsung Quiet HT) that work as low as 35 dB.

Is a 16kW heat pump too big for an average house?

The average house will need a 6kW-12kW heat pump, so 16kW is overkill. 

A heat loss survey showing 5kW heat loss for instance, means a 6kW would be suitable.

Can a 16kW heat pump replace an oil boiler?

Yes, more and more rural homes are switching from oil boilers to large heat pumps. 

If your property is large and poorly insulated, you may need larger radiators and insulation upgrades for a heat pump to maximise efficiency.

How big is a 16kW heat pump?

Size and dimensions depend on the brand and model. But, expect the average heat pump to be approximately 1.4m high, 1m in width and 0.3m-0.4m in depth. 

How much does a 16kW heat pump cost to run?

Heat pumps consume a lot of electricity. Expect a large 16kW heat pump to consume £1,250+ of electricity per year.

Ready to get prices on-screen? Use our heat pump quotation tool here.