Radiator & Underfloor Heating Upgrades for Heat Pumps
Heat pumps run most efficiently at lower flow temperatures than an oil or gas boiler. Here’s what that means for your radiators and underfloor heating.
Get Your Free Quote →Why Heat Pumps Need Different Heat Emitters
An oil or gas boiler heats water to 70–80⁰C. A heat pump runs most efficiently at 35–45⁰C. To deliver the same heat output at a lower temperature, radiators or underfloor heating often need to be upsized or upgraded — part of what the SEAI Central Heating Upgrade grant covers.
Radiators vs Underfloor Heating
- Typically the more affordable option
- Less disruptive — no floor work required
- Covered by the SEAI Central Heating Upgrade grant
- Most efficient pairing with a heat pump
- Best suited to renovations, extensions, or new floors
- Also covered by the SEAI Central Heating Upgrade grant
SEAI Central Heating Upgrade Grant
This is part of the wider €12,500 SEAI Better Energy Homes grant, alongside the €6,500 heat pump installation grant and €4,000 renewable heat bonus. See the full breakdown on our SEAI Heat Pump Grant page.
Find Out What Your Home Needs
Fill in your details and an SEAI-registered installer will assess whether upgrades are needed, free of charge.
Heating Upgrades FAQ
No. Well-insulated homes with already-oversized radiators sometimes don’t need any changes. An installer assesses this during the site visit.
Yes, this is common — underfloor heating downstairs with upsized radiators upstairs, for example.
Costs vary by home, but the SEAI Central Heating Upgrade grant of up to €2,000 is designed to offset most or all of this cost.