Page review status
Written by: HeatWise Home Editorial Team
Reviewed by: Editorial review by HeatWise Home
Review status: Internally reviewed for clarity, source consistency, and calculation assumptions.
Expert review: Not currently externally expert-reviewed.
Last updated: 2026-04-28
Last reviewed: 2026-04-28
Confidence: medium
External expert review: HeatWise Home does not currently publish named external expert reviewers. We are working toward adding independent review from qualified retrofit, heating, or building-energy professionals. Until then, users should treat our calculators and guides as educational planning tools and confirm decisions with official sources and qualified installers.
Medium confidence
Energy prices, grant rules, and installation costs change frequently. The figures on this page are planning ranges, not quotes. Always confirm your current tariff, delivered fuel price, installer scope, and eligibility in the named references linked below.
Age is not the only issue
An older house is not automatically unsuitable. The important questions are how much heat it loses, whether draughts are controlled, whether attic or wall insulation is realistic, and whether radiators can deliver heat at lower temperatures.
A home that has already had sensible fabric upgrades may be a much better candidate than its age suggests.
Example planning sequence
Start with attic insulation and draught checks, then estimate heat pump size and running cost. If the result depends on a very high SCOP, ask the installer to explain exactly how the system will achieve it.
For older homes, radiator upgrades, zoning, controls, and hot water design should be discussed before accepting a quote.
Sources and assumptions
Last checked: 2026-04-28. Confidence: medium.
- Electricity price range: EUR 0.28-0.37 per kWh (SEAI domestic electricity bands DA-DE, incl. VAT and tariff variation).
- Gas price range: EUR 0.10-0.15 per kWh (SEAI domestic natural-gas bands D1-D3).
- Heating oil equivalent range: EUR 0.09-0.15 per kWh equivalent (SEAI domestic fuel comparison kerosene range by appliance efficiency).
- SEAI heat pump grants
Used for: Grant rules and eligibility checks
- SEAI domestic fuel cost comparison + CRU consumer information
Used for: Energy price and market context
- SEAI BER and retrofit guidance
Used for: Efficiency, retrofit, and installer standards
Caveat: prices vary by supplier, tariff, region, standing charge, and usage. Use your live bill and tariff for final decisions.
Read calculator methodologyRequest local quotes or guidance
Send a homeowner question, correction, partnership note, or request for help comparing energy upgrades.
Privacy and referral transparency
- There is no obligation to proceed after you submit this form.
- We do not routinely share your details with third parties.
- Partner introductions only happen where relevant to your request.
- Your data is handled according to our Privacy Policy.
What happens next:
- We review your question or quote request.
- We may reply directly or ask for missing details.
- If a partner introduction is relevant, we explain who the partner is before sharing your details.
- You are under no obligation.
- Your data is handled according to our Privacy Policy.
If we suggest a partner
Where we suggest a partner, we aim to prioritise relevant, reputable providers or installers. We do not recommend proceeding without checking credentials, quotes, warranties, and official grant requirements.