In the meetings and conversations I have with heat pump engineers, installation companies and others around the UK, a theme is emerging: people who are unable to get an Octopus installation drop off the journey completely and stop considering getting a heat pump altogether. This is completely anecdotal and it would be good for the relevant entities and associations to do some research on this. If you’ve experienced what I describe below, please leave a comment. From what I’ve been able to establish, there seems to be a few things going on that’s causing this to happen: A Customer Gets Told The ..read more

Our ancient ancestors huddled around flickering flames, desperately fending off the cold with whatever they could burn. Fast-forward to the Victorian era, where sooty chimneys spewed black plumes as coal-fired furnaces roared, promising warmth but choking the air. The 20th century saw the rise of fossil fuel boilers, a seemingly cleaner solution that nonetheless contributed to a warming planet. Air conditioners blasted to escape summers that felt like Dante’s Inferno. The tale of home heating is less a cosy fireplace scene and more a cautionary story of human ingenuity battling unintended cons ..read more

I think I can help clarify some common misconceptions about heat pumps with a thought experiment for those who struggle to understand how they work. A main point of confusion is that people often mix up temperature with heat. Heat refers to energy, not temperature. Some argue that heat pumps, which are primarily vapor compression systems (though other types exist), are not effective at raising the internal temperature of a building to higher levels, such as 24°C, which might be necessary for the elderly. Imagine a large, open-sided tent set up in a cold area. Picture a few people entering the ..read more

Heat pumps are touted as a sustainable solution for home heating, but transitioning from traditional boiler systems can introduce significant challenges. In our case, the switch to a heat pump was far from seamless. Initially thought to be a moderately well-installed system, it turned out our ASHP was only about 60% effective. This discovery unfolded over years of trial and error, coupled with numerous conversation with professionals and with other homeowners on the Renewable Heating Hub Forums, highlighting a significant potential for improvement. Realising the complexity of the issue, we eng ..read more

As the UK sees a surge in the adoption of heat pumps as a sustainable heating solution, the concern over subpar installations has equally risen, leaving homeowners in search of reliable guidance. Enter Bodge Buster, a book designed to turn the tide against the flood of substandard heat pump installations. It aims to unravel the complexities surrounding heat pump installations, providing readers with essential questions, actionable advice and insights to protect their investments from frequent missteps. Homeowners now have the chance to win a copy of Bodge Buster. This guide empowers readers to ..read more

Water Heating Efficiency Calculator – Heat Pump versus Solar Diverter/Immersion Water Heating Efficiency Calculator: Heat Pump versus Solar Diverter/Immersion Heat Pump COP: Hot Water Cylinder Volume (L): Desired Temperature Rise (°C): Calculate ..read more

We had the unique opportunity to sit down with Liverpool’s manager, Jürgen Klopp, for an insightful conversation that transcended the boundaries of football and ventured into renewable heating. As Klopp prepares for his final months at the helm of one of the most storied clubs in football history, he shares his distinctive perspective on the shift from traditional heating methods to innovative, eco-friendly alternatives like heat pumps, using football analogies that illuminate the similarities between managing a top-flight football team and navigating the complexities of renewable heating tec ..read more

I’ve been in air conditioning and heat pumps for 34 years as of this week. For 25 of those years, I did tech support, but I hung up my spurs three years ago. Eventually, the stupid questions wear you down, and for your own sanity, you must give it up. The industry suffers from three problems from the tech support engineer’s point of view: Mobile phones are too cheap, so it’s easier to call and ask a silly question than to look in the manual or try to work it out yourself. The instructions that come with the kit are awful and impossible to follow. The software in the kit is appalling and not i ..read more

My interest in DIY heat pump installations began when I converted my old garage into a workshop. As a keen and experienced ‘DIYer,’ I wanted the satisfaction of doing the entire project myself—including heating this previously damp and dark space. I chose to install a mini-split air conditioner in heating mode because I could keep it completely separate from the house, it was relatively cheap, and I have previous experience with these systems. The practical side of the installation was straightforward, especially compared to understanding the permitted development and planning application aspe ..read more

Achieving the highest efficiency from your heat pump requires attention to your radiators. When set correctly, the pump will run more smoothly, with less noise and reduced ‘short cycling,’ leading to greater comfort due to more even temperature control in your rooms. I would also recommend setting your air source heat pump to ‘Weather Compensation‘ and adjusting your ‘Leaving Water Temperature’ (LWT) to a moderate setting, starting with 35 degrees Celsius for the central area of the ‘slope.’ More guidance on setting ‘LWT’ can be found elsewhere; this article focuses exclusively on the ‘Lockshi ..read more