Best Heat Pumps in Ireland (2026)
The best heat pump in Ireland depends on your home, not a league table. But six brands dominate SEAI-registered installations: Daikin, Mitsubishi, Grant, Nibe, Samsung and Vaillant. We ranked them on SCOP (seasonal efficiency), installed cost, warranty length, SEAI grant eligibility, and how easy it is to get parts and service in Ireland.
All six brands below appear on the SEAI approved product list and qualify for the up-to-€12,500 grant when installed by an SEAI-registered contractor.
Last updated May 2026. solarinfo.ie earns revenue from installer sponsorships and quote referrals; manufacturers do not pay for inclusion in this ranking.
Fact-checked by John Rooney, Solar Energy Editor. Editorial policy
Quick Answer
The best heat pumps in Ireland in 2026 are Daikin Altherma 3 (most installed), Mitsubishi Ecodan (best cold-weather performance), Grant Aerona³ (best for rural retrofits, 7-yr warranty), Nibe S2125 (highest SCOP, best for new builds), Samsung EHS Mono (best price), and Vaillant aroTHERM plus (quietest, R-290 refrigerant). All six are SEAI-eligible and qualify for the up-to-€12,500 grant.
Best heat pumps in Ireland: top 6 ranked
| # | Brand & Model | SCOP | Installed Cost | Warranty | Best For | SEAI Grant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daikin Altherma 3 Air to water | 4.6 | €11,000–€15,000 | 5 years (extendable to 7) | Most Irish homes, retrofit and new build | Up to €12,500 |
| 2 | Mitsubishi Ecodan Air to water | 4.4 | €11,500–€15,500 | 5 years parts & labour | Larger homes, cold-weather performance | Up to €12,500 |
| 3 | Grant Aerona³ Air to water | 4.6 | €9,500–€13,500 | 7 years | Rural Ireland, oil boiler replacement | Up to €12,500 |
| 4 | Nibe S2125 / F2120 Air to water (also ground source) | 4.8 | €12,500–€16,500 | 6 years (extendable with annual service) | New builds, smart-home integration | Up to €12,500 |
| 5 | Samsung EHS Mono Air to water | 4.35 | €9,000–€13,000 | 5 years (7 with registration) | Budget-conscious retrofits | Up to €12,500 |
| 6 | Vaillant aroTHERM plus Air to water | 4.7 | €12,000–€15,500 | 5 years (7 with Advance pack) | Quiet operation, urban siting | Up to €12,500 |
Costs are typical fully-installed prices for an air-to-water heat pump sized for a 3–4 bed Irish home (8–12 kW), including indoor unit, hot water cylinder and installation labour. SCOP figures are at 35°C flow temperature, manufacturer-published, and representative of mid-range models in each line-up.
Top heat pump brand reviews
Detailed look at each of the six leading air source heat pump brands available in Ireland.
Daikin Altherma 3
Air to water · SCOP 4.6 · 5 years (extendable to 7)
Daikin Altherma 3 is the heat pump most SEAI-registered installers in Ireland default to. It has a strong SCOP, a mature service network, R-32 refrigerant, and an indoor hydrobox that fits where an oil boiler used to live. The H HT variant runs flow temps up to 70°C, which makes it the safest pick for retrofits where you can't easily upsize radiators.
Mitsubishi Ecodan
Air to water · SCOP 4.4 · 5 years parts & labour
Mitsubishi Ecodan is another widely installed brand on the SEAI approved list. Strong low-ambient performance (rated down to −25°C), quiet operation, and the FTC controller is one of the better installer interfaces. Slightly more expensive than Daikin, but a strong choice for exposed sites and bigger heat demands.
Grant Aerona³
Air to water · SCOP 4.6 · 7 years
Sold and supported by Grant Engineering, headquartered in Birr, Co. Offaly. Grant Aerona³ is widely chosen for rural retrofit projects: competitive price, 7-year warranty, and Grant's existing oil-boiler dealer network means parts and service are easy to come by outside the cities. Pairs naturally with Grant cylinders and the Aerobic UFH range.
Nibe S2125 / F2120
Air to water (also ground source) · SCOP 4.8 · 6 years (extendable with annual service)
Swedish-built, with some of the best published SCOP figures on the market. Nibe heat pumps are common in A-rated new builds where the buyer wants myUplink app control and a polished UI. The S-series inverter compressor modulates well at part load, which is efficient when the house only needs a trickle of heat.
Samsung EHS Mono
Air to water · SCOP 4.35 · 5 years (7 with registration)
One of the most price-competitive SEAI-eligible heat pumps from a major brand. The Samsung EHS Mono outdoor unit is a self-contained monobloc, which simplifies installation versus split designs. Performance is solid for the price; the aftercare network is smaller than Daikin or Mitsubishi.
Vaillant aroTHERM plus
Air to water · SCOP 4.7 · 5 years (7 with Advance pack)
Uses propane (R-290) refrigerant with a lower GWP than R-32, and can hit 75°C flow temps, meaning you may not need to swap radiators. Among the quietest air-source units on the market at low setting (Vaillant publishes a sound power range from the high-20s to mid-40s dB(A) depending on output), which matters in semi-detached and terraced sites where the outdoor unit sits close to a neighbour.
Not sure which brand suits your home?
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Get Free Quotes →How we rank the best heat pumps in Ireland
We don't take payment from manufacturers. Rankings are based on five weighted criteria, applied to the air-to-water models that dominate the Irish residential market. Cost ranges are cross-referenced against quotes submitted to solarinfo.ie by homeowners requesting installer matches, alongside published manufacturer pricing and SEAI grant applications data.
| Criterion | Weight | What we measure |
|---|---|---|
| SCOP (efficiency) | 30% | Seasonal Coefficient of Performance at 35°C flow, published in EU energy labels |
| Installed cost | 20% | Typical fitted price for an 8–12 kW system in Ireland (cylinder & labour included) |
| Warranty & aftercare | 20% | Length of parts/labour warranty, availability of certified service engineers in Ireland |
| SEAI eligibility | 15% | Listed on the SEAI approved product list |
| Real-world fit | 15% | Max flow temperature, low-ambient performance, noise, footprint and refrigerant choice |
“The best heat pump for any individual home is the one specified correctly after a proper heat loss calculation. Brand matters less than installer competence.”
Which heat pump is right for your home?
Retrofit, BER C or D, oil boiler today
Look at Daikin Altherma 3 H HT or Vaillant aroTHERM plus. Both run high flow temperatures so you may avoid radiator upgrades. Grant Aerona³ is a strong rural alternative with a 7-year warranty.
A-rated new build
Nibe S2125 is the efficiency benchmark and pairs neatly with underfloor heating + MVHR. Mitsubishi Ecodan and Daikin Altherma 3 are also widely specced by developers.
Tight budget
Samsung EHS Mono is the cheapest SEAI-eligible option from a major brand. Grant Aerona³ undercuts most European competitors on like-for-like spec.
Exposed or rural site
Mitsubishi Ecodan holds output better at low ambient temperatures. Worth the premium if you're on the west coast or above 200m.
Semi-D or terraced (noise matters)
Vaillant aroTHERM plus is the quietest unit in this list at low setting, which is relevant when the outdoor unit will sit within a few metres of a neighbour's wall.
Big house, high heat demand
Mitsubishi Ecodan and Nibe both scale well into the 14–16 kW range. For very large homes a ground source Nibe may be worth the upfront cost.
SCOP and COP: what the efficiency numbers mean
COP (Coefficient of Performance) is a single-point efficiency reading: heat output divided by electricity input under specific test conditions. SCOP (Seasonal COP) is the average across a heating season and is the more useful number for buyers in Ireland. A SCOP of 4.5 means the heat pump delivers 4.5 kWh of heat for every 1 kWh of electricity it draws over the year, in a temperate climate.
SCOP is reported at a flow temperature, usually 35°C (underfloor heating) or 55°C (radiators). Always compare brands at the same flow temperature. A model with SCOP 4.8 at 35°C may only manage SCOP 3.2 at 55°C, and radiator-fed retrofits will live closer to the lower number.
Manufacturer SCOP is a lab figure. Real-world SCOP depends on installation quality: sizing, weather compensation curve, radiator surface area, and how well the home is insulated. A poorly commissioned premium heat pump will run worse than a well commissioned budget one.
Heat pump cost by house size
Heat pump sizing is driven by your home's heat loss, not its floor area, but as a rough guide:
| Home | Typical kW | Installed cost | Net cost after €12,500 grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-bed apartment / small terrace | 5–7 kW | €8,500–€11,500 | From €1,500 |
| 3-bed semi-detached | 8–10 kW | €10,000–€13,500 | From €1,500 |
| 4-bed detached | 10–12 kW | €12,000–€15,500 | €2,500–€3,000 |
| 5-bed rural / older detached | 12–16 kW | €14,000–€18,500 | €4,500–€6,000 |
Older or poorly insulated homes need a bigger unit and may need insulation upgrades or radiator changes before the heat pump will run efficiently. A heat-loss survey by an SEAI-registered installer is the only reliable sizing method.
SEAI grant on the best heat pump brands
All six brands above qualify for the SEAI heat pump grant of up to €12,500: €6,500 for the heat pump unit, €2,000 for central heating system upgrades, and €4,000 renewable heat bonus when replacing a fossil fuel system. Your home must be built before 2021 and the installer must be SEAI-registered.
See the full SEAI grants guide or check eligibility. For a wider primer, our heat pumps Ireland guide covers types, costs and installation.
FAQ
What is the best heat pump in Ireland?
Daikin Altherma 3 is the most installed heat pump in Ireland and a safe default for retrofit. For highest efficiency in new builds, Nibe S2125. For rural sites and best warranty, Grant Aerona³. For quiet urban siting, Vaillant aroTHERM plus. For tight budgets, Samsung EHS Mono.
Which heat pump has the highest SCOP?
Nibe S2125 (SCOP ~4.8 at 35°C) leads on published SCOP, with Vaillant aroTHERM plus and Daikin Altherma 3 close behind. Real-world efficiency depends as much on installation quality and radiator/underfloor sizing as on the brand.
Are all of these heat pumps SEAI grant eligible?
Yes. Daikin, Mitsubishi, Grant, Nibe, Samsung and Vaillant all have models on the SEAI approved product list. The grant of up to €12,500 applies as long as the installer is SEAI-registered and your home was built before 2021.
How much does the best heat pump in Ireland cost?
€9,000–€16,500 fully installed depending on brand, size, and whether radiator upgrades are needed. After the SEAI grant of up to €12,500, the net cost can be as low as €1,500. Samsung and Grant are the most price-competitive; Nibe and Mitsubishi sit at the top of the range.
What's the difference between Daikin and Mitsubishi heat pumps?
Daikin Altherma is the broader installer network in Ireland and slightly cheaper. Mitsubishi Ecodan typically holds output better at very low ambient temperatures and is preferred for larger or more exposed homes. Both have similar SCOP figures and 5-year warranties.
Is a Grant heat pump as good as Daikin or Mitsubishi?
Yes, on most metrics. Grant Aerona³ has competitive SCOP, a longer 7-year warranty, and Irish manufacturer support from Birr. The trade-off is a smaller European service network if you ever need an obscure spare part.
Should I pick a heat pump brand or let the installer choose?
Tell the installer your priorities (price, efficiency, quietness, warranty) and let them spec a model after a proper heat-loss calculation. The right brand is the one they're certified to install and service. Get multiple quotes to compare.
Which heat pump is quietest?
Vaillant aroTHERM plus is among the quietest at around 33 dB(A) at low setting. Samsung EHS Mono and Nibe S2125 are also notably quiet. Modern air source heat pumps generally produce 40–50 dB at 1 metre, similar to a fridge.
Do these brands work with existing radiators?
Yes. Air-to-water heat pumps work with existing radiators, but for best efficiency radiators may need upsizing because heat pumps run lower flow temperatures (35–45°C) than oil/gas boilers (60–70°C). Daikin Altherma 3 H HT and Vaillant aroTHERM plus can run hotter flow temps if you can't easily upgrade radiators.
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Browse SEAI-registered heat pump installers by county. Compare reviews and request free quotes.
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Sources
- SEAI: Approved Heat Pump Products
- SEAI: Heat Pump Systems Grant
- Manufacturer technical datasheets: Daikin Altherma 3, Mitsubishi Ecodan, Grant Aerona³, Nibe S2125, Samsung EHS Mono, Vaillant aroTHERM plus.
Last updated: May 2026
John Rooney is the founder of Solar Info and has been covering the Irish solar energy market since 2023. He fact-checks all content against official SEAI data and maintains relationships with SEAI-registered installers across Ireland.
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