ASK THE EXPERTS
HEAT PUMPS VS BOILERS
Q Is a heat pump more expensive than a gas boiler?
A It depends if you’re adding to a new or existing property. Expect to pay between £8,000 to £16,000 for an air source heat pump installation on a new build and up to around £28,000 on an existing property — that does include upgrading all the radiators and replacing quite a bit of the pipework.
You’re looking at around £14,000 to £25,000 for installing a ground source heat pump, and possibly more if you need a large borehole collector.
For a standard combi boiler, expect to pay between £1,000-£2,000 depending on the make and model. Installation will cost approximately another £1,000, making the cost all-in £2,000 to £3,000 for a simple gas boiler replacement. David Hilton
LIGHTING DETAILS
Q Spotlights or downlights: What’s the difference?
A The terms spotlights and downlights are often used interchangeably — which can be confusing as they are actually two quite different types of light fitting.
The term spotlight basically refers to a light that gives out a narrow
