Do heat pumps improve indoor air quality?
As the UK’s weather gets hotter, stormier, and a bit less predictable, our homes are feeling the strain. Many older buildings just aren’t built for it, leaving us with stuffy rooms, damp patches, and even mould.
According to the UK Health Security Agency, we spend a whopping 95% of our lives indoors (and two-thirds of that at home!), so the way we heat, cool, and ventilate really matters.
Air source heat pumps often get credit for boosting indoor air quality, but is that actually true? We spoke with an expert with a passion for making clean air a basic right, so you don't have to second-guess it.
Meet the expert
Georgina McGivern is the Co-Founder and Programme Director of The London Clean Air Initiative, a non-profit organisation dedicated to improving air quality across London.
Since its founding five years ago, Georgina has played a central role in shaping the organisation's strategy and delivering impactful programmes that raise awareness, influence policy, and drive community-led change.
How exactly can a heat pump help clean the air in your home?
We know heat pumps are great for energy efficiency, but do they actually improve the air we breathe?
Georgina: Heat pumps can improve indoor air quality indirectly by circulating and filtering indoor air. Unlike traditional combustion heating, they don’t produce harmful byproducts like carbon monoxide or nitrogen dioxide. Many systems also include basic filtration that traps dust and other airborne particles, reducing pollutants in the air.
Research shows that switching to a heat pump brings big health benefits. In London, gas boilers and cookers are responsible for over 20% of nitrous oxide (NOx) emissions, a key contributor to poor air quality and conditions like asthma. By moving from gas to electricity, we can cut those emissions significantly. Heat pumps not only help stop the problem from getting worse, they also deliver direct, positive health impacts for the people living in those homes.
Source: Cleantech Homes, The Sustainable Markets Initiative
What kind of pollutants or allergens might they help reduce indoors?
Are we talking less dust? Fewer pollen particles? Or something more serious like combustion fumes?
Georgina: Heat pumps can help reduce common airborne particles such as dust, pollen, pet dander, and mold spores, especially when equipped with quality air filters. By reducing particulate matter, they can alleviate allergy and asthma symptoms. They don’t directly remove chemical pollutants or gases, however they do not produce these in the first place, unlike traditional combustion heating such as gas boilers.
PRO TIP: Modern heat pumps also feature easy-to-clean or replace filters, with options like plasma, ionic, and HEPA filters to further neutralise harmful pathogens. Choosing a ductless system can improve efficiency and reduce pollutant build-up, while the absence of combustion fuels eliminates the risks associated with gas leaks. This combination of clean air, stable humidity, and efficient heating and cooling makes heat pumps an excellent choice for households, particularly those with children, asthma sufferers, or anyone sensitive to allergens.
So if heat pumps already come with filters, do I need anything extra?
If you're expecting a heat pump to double as an air purifier, what should you realistically expect?
Georgina: Most heat pumps do come with built-in air filters, but they’re often basic and designed more for protecting the system than purifying air. To significantly improve air quality, you may want to add a dedicated air purifier or ventilation system.
Is switching from a gas boiler to a heat pump better for air quality inside the house?
Many homes still rely on gas, but does ditching the flame-based system make a noticeable difference to indoor air?
Georgina: Yes, switching from a gas boiler to a heat pump typically improves indoor air quality. Gas boilers can release combustion byproducts, even in trace amounts, into the home. Heat pumps operate without combustion, eliminating that source of indoor pollution entirely. This makes a noticeable difference, especially in smaller or tightly sealed homes.
A team of scientists from Turin, Italy, found that replacing domestic gas boilers with heat pumps could cut average annual NOₓ concentrations by up to 1.4 µg/m³, delivering measurable health benefits worth millions in avoided health costs each year. For households in smaller or tightly sealed homes, where pollutants can build up more quickly, that switch can make an especially noticeable difference.
Source: National Centre for Biotechnology Information; "Environmental and Health Impacts of Domestic Hot Water (DHW) Boilers in Urban Areas: A Case Study from Turin"
Can heat pumps reduce the risk of things like carbon monoxide indoors?
Gas and oil heating systems can produce harmful gases, does a heat pump eliminate that risk?
Georgina: Absolutely. Since heat pumps use electricity and not combustion, there’s no risk of carbon monoxide (CO) or other harmful combustion gases being produced. This eliminates a major safety concern associated with gas or oil heating systems.
What role does ventilation play when using a heat pump?
If my home is well-sealed for energy efficiency, do I need to think more about airflow?
Georgina: Ventilation is crucial for good indoor air quality because it removes pollutants, moisture, and odors while introducing fresh air, therefore reducing the risk of health problem, controlling humidity, and preventing mold growth. Heat pumps recirculate indoor air, they don't bring fresh air in, so it is still important to ventilate.
Can using a heat pump actually help with asthma, allergies, or respiratory issues?
Any real-life examples or research to show it makes a difference?
Potentially, yes. Especially with high-quality filters. By reducing allergens like pollen, pet hair, and dust mites, heat pumps can create a cleaner indoor environment.
According to the American Lung Association, fuel-burning appliances release harmful pollutants like nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide, which can trigger asthma, lung disease, and other serious health problems. Their advice? Switch to clean, electric solutions like heat pumps. Heat pumps deliver year-round comfort without releasing indoor pollutants, and they improve air quality with built-in filtration and humidity control. It’s a win for your health, your home, and the planet.
Source: The American Lung Association
How does a heat pump compare to other clean air tech like air purifiers or MVHR systems?
If you care about air quality, is a heat pump enough on its own?
Georgina: A heat pump can play a supporting role, but it’s not a full replacement for dedicated air purification or ventilation systems. MVHR systems actively bring in filtered fresh air and remove stale air, while air purifiers can target fine particulates and some gases. For the best air quality, these systems work well in combination.
Will I need to clean or maintain the heat pump to keep the air clean, too?
Let’s be honest, is this a “set it and forget it” kind of deal, or is some upkeep required?
Georgina: Yes, maintenance is important. Filters need to be cleaned or replaced periodically depending on usage and air quality. Dirty filters not only reduce air quality but also lower the system’s efficiency.
Bottom line: Is improved air quality a reason to choose a heat pump, or just a nice bonus?
We know heat pumps are green and efficient, but should clean air be part of the decision?
Georgina: Improved air quality is definitely a nice bonus. The main benefits are energy efficiency and lower carbon emissions. That said, if you're switching from a combustion-based system, the air quality gains can be significant and meaningful, especially for sensitive individuals.
In London, buildings are responsible for a significant amount of outdoor air pollution. Heat pumps can reduce air pollution by eliminating the combustion emissions associated with traditional heating systems. By using electricity to transfer heat rather than burning fossil fuels, heat pumps avoid releasing harmful pollutants like nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter into the atmosphere, both indoors and outdoors. This means that by switching to a heat pump, you are reducing your impact on local air quality, while also improving it inside your home.
Back to you
So, do heat pumps really help you breathe easier indoors? The answer is a confident yes. Beyond keeping your home at a comfortable temperature, they actively support better indoor air quality by filtering out dust, allergens, and other pollutants, regulating humidity levels, and promoting healthy airflow. Heat pumps are not just efficient, they’re a future-proof way to keep our homes comfortable, breathable, and ready for whatever the UK climate throws at us.
Could a heat pump be right for your home?
Knowledge is power ⚡️
Published on 20th August 2025 by:
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