When can you trust your Heat Pump installer?

September 6, 2021/1 Comment/in Heat Pumps, Learning centre /by CBJack

What to look for when choosing your heat pump installer…

If you’re considering purchasing and installing a heat pump into your home, then you might have heard a lot of rumours about how much they cost and how efficient they are. There are plenty of stories on forums, Youtube and survey sites about heat pumps that have been installed and aren’t heating up a house efficiently or are costing homeowners a fortune.

On the face of it, you might think that this is a fault of heat pumps themselves. However, almost every case that our installers have found of air source heat pumps that aren’t working are down to an incorrect installation. So, in order to find the best heat pump, you need to find the best installer too.

Why is choosing the right installer important?

If you’re looking to make your heating system more sustainable, then installing an air source heat pump is probably on your list of options to consider. Government grants and initiatives have caused the number of heat pump installations to rise rapidly in the last few years, with 36,000 installed in 2021 and the number set to double in 2022.

Despite this, there is a huge shortfall in the number of trained heat pump installers. Compared to the more than 100,000 gas boiler installers in the UK, there are just 1,900 who are qualified to fit heat pumps. Yet the rapid growth in demand for these systems has meant some companies and individuals have started to offer installation services without adequate training.

This lack of experience and training often leads to faulty installations, the impacts of which can be huge. Not only does it lead to inaccurate rumours about the performance of heat pumps, but can lead to serious problems for homeowners too, including losing their heating and hot water, huge energy bills and the costs of fixing the problem.

In short, choosing trusted, reliable installer means they will guide you step-by-step through the installation process and provide you with:

A heat loss survey: this survey will look at the heating requirements of your house and show where heat is being lost in a building. This will help to determine which renewable heating system is right for your house.
An honest opinion: heat pumps are not the right option for all heating systems in all houses, particularly ones that aren’t insulated or double glazed. A trusted installer will give you their honest opinion on whether they think a heat pump is right for your home or not.
An installation plan: as we mentioned, getting the installation right is key. A heat pump has specific requirements, e.g. being on the outside of your home in a space where there’s free air flow. An installation plan ensures that the heat pump is put in the best place and works most efficiently with your heating system.
Guidance on the right type of air source heat pump: the specific heating requirements of your house will dictate the type of air source heat pump required. It’s not a one-size-fits-all sort of installation, so ensure you go and see any heat pump operating in a show room before you buy.
A quick and high-quality installation: you may think that changing your heating and water system is a big, messy job, but it really shouldn’t be. A good installer will ensure the process is smooth, the job is tidy and that you are never left without hot water or heating for too long, even if the installation takes a few days.

How can you find an MCS accredited installer?

The Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) sets the industry standard for renewable products and installations. So, when you’re choosing an installer, make sure you ask for evidence of their MCS certification. This will ensure that they’ve been fully trained to install your heat pump correctly.

The MCS also offers its own directory of contractors, so you can easily find a qualified air source heat pump installer near you.

What should you ask an air source heat pump installer?

Before you book any consultations with installers, we’d recommend doing a bit of reading and research around the different renewable heating options out there. As well as looking at the different types of heat pumps available (i.e. air source, ground source and different manufacturers) you might want to consider other options, like installing solar panels, for example.

Once you’ve done some research and feel more confident that a heat pump will meet your needs, its time to book some consultations with installers and ask them:

If they offer a heat survey and installation plan: some contractors may get other companies to do this for them, but you should receive both of these documents before any work takes place.
Are they MCS accredited: they should have certification to prove they’ve achieved this industry standard.
If they have a showroom of products: that way you can see any heat pump product in action before you buy.
If they have any customer reviews: whether they’re on Trustpilot or another independent review site, check these reviews to see if they’ve got the experience and level of service you need.

What questions should the installer ask you?

Any installer looking to do a thorough job will have lots of questions to ask you about your heating system and requirements, including:

Which parts of your home need to be heated and how (for example, underfoot heating): this will help to determine the requirements of the system.
If you have a recent heat survey for your home: this should be completed as a standard part of the installation process.
If you need any planning permissions to install your pump: they should also offer to check this for you if you’re unsure.

We offer high-quality heat pump installations

At CB Heating, we have an expert installation planning team and qualified MCS installers who will take you through the heat pump installation process step-by-step. As well as providing a free installation plan as standard, we’ll help you with any planning permission requests or grant applications free of charge.

We have a showroom where you can take a look at your heat pump product before you buy. We are trusted by both industry leaders and customers.

So, if you’ve been searching for ‘air source heat pump installers near me’ with no luck, get in touch with us today to find your ideal renewable heating system.

The Honest Truth About Heat Pumps

August 20, 2021/0 Comments/in Heat Pumps, Learning centre /by CBJack

Find out the honest truth once and for all!

When it comes to heat pumps, there are lots of rumours being spread around. From whether heat pumps are actually reducing our environmental impact, to whether they’re part of a government conspiracy to spend taxpayer money, social media has plenty of criticism to throw at these systems, including Youtube videos like this one.

To put some of these rumours to bed, we decided to take them on directly to help you get to the honest truth about how heat pumps work, how efficient they are and how much they actually cost.

#1 It’s all a government scam

In his video, Roger Bisby claims that £11.8 billion of taxpayers’ money will be paid to heat pump installer companies as an incentive for them to sell more devices. Although it’s difficult to know where this exact figure comes from, even if you take home improvements, upgrading insulation and other projects such as biomass into account, this figure is way out.

As part of their Ten Point Plan, or green industrial revolution, the government is dedicating £3 billion to making homes, schools and hospitals ‘greener, warmer and more efficient’. The Green Homes Grant has also been extended and there’s a pledge to install 600,000 heat pumps by 2028.

Roger says that installing heat pumps will only have a negligible impact compared to keeping gas boilers, as newer models are significantly cleaner and more environmentally friendly. However, in our opinion, even if you can reduce our impact by 1%, that will make a huge amount of difference to the global climate and ensure that we’re doing our bit to bring about sustainable change.

#2 It’s three times more expensive than a gas boiler

This is a claim we hear a lot but the statement fails to take a number of factors into account. Yes if you compare 1KW worth of electricity to the equivalent amount in gas, then there is a disparity in cost. However, a lot of the heat energy generated by heat pumps comes from other sources, such as the air and the ground, meaning you get around three or four times the amount of heat out compared to the amount of electricity you put in.

It is worth noting though that any reputable installer should carry out a heat loss survey to ensure a heat pump is a suitable solution for your house. If you’re house isn’t adequately insulated, for example, then running a heat pump will cost you a fortune. Homes that leak heat should never have a heat pump installed.

Roger also claims that installers are selling more heat pumps by telling people that gas prices are set to skyrocket. However, under the Renewable Energy Consumer Code, we’re not allowed to comment or speculate about prices or tariffs to customers. This means that none of our team, or any from a reputable installer, will try to sell heat pumps to you on this basis.

#3 People are unhappy with their heat pumps

We often come across customers who are unhappy with a previous installer’s work. They often complain that their heat pump has raised their energy bills and isn’t producing enough heat for their home. However, if your heat pump is installed by a trusted company or qualified contractor, then you should be happy with how your heat pump performs.

If a customer ever came to us and said that their house wasn’t warm and their energy costs were high, we would work to solve the problem by:

Running heat loss calculations to see if more heat is being let out of the house than can be produced by the pump. If a house doesn’t have adequate insulation, window glazing, etc. then we would never recommend that a heat pump be installed. In a case where it has, there may be improvements that can be made to the house to ensure the heat pump runs efficiently.
Look at the size and location of the heat pump. In some cases, the heat pump may be too small for the system’s requirements. It also may be installed too far from the house, meaning it can’t deliver heat efficiently or is in a place where it’s being blocked and therefore can’t collect enough heat to function properly.
Consider the size of the radiators. For heat to be distributed efficiently from a heat pump, there needs to be a large enough surface area on the ‘emitters’ or radiators. Even changing a single radiator to a double radiator that’s more efficient can make a huge difference.

To avoid getting into a situation where you’re unhappy with your heat pump system, it’s so important that you do your due diligence. Researching the basics of how heat pumps systems work so you understand the fundamentals and finding an experienced heat pump specialist is key. We never charge for a job until a customer is 100% satisfied, and you shouldn’t settle for anything less than that.

#4 Heat pumps are highly inefficient

Roger claims that heat pumps often lead to a coefficient of performance (COP) of two or three at best. If you look at any new heat pump, they should have a COP of at least three. However, the performance of the whole system, and therefore the device itself will vary depending on system demands, outdoor temperature, the season, etc.

60% of homes in Sweden have heat pumps already installed and there’s a reason why – because they’re highly efficient and less impactful on the environment than other methods.

#5 This heat will be wasted in the summer

Heat pumps aren’t just used to run heating systems, but for hot water too. Even if you have a gas boiler, you’ll only use your heating system for around half a year. Heating hot water can account for up to 20% of a system’s work, and heat pumps have been shown to do this efficiently, whatever the season.

#6 Heat pumps are noisy

Any decent quality heat pump will be quiet. You won’t hear them when you’re standing a metre in front of them and certainly not from inside your house or the next-door neighbour’s garden. Old poor quality pumps will be noisy, especially if they’re not installed correctly.

If you’re worried about the noise a heat pump will create, then go to a business with a showroom to see how they operate. It’s recommended you do this anyway to make sure the heat pump you finally choose is the correct option for your house and to get advice from experts in the showroom.

#7 You shouldn’t install a heat pump if your house is unsuitable

Correct. This is why it’s really important to get a heat pump specialist involved in your installation from the start.

You shouldn’t get a heat pump installed if:

Your house isn’t adequately insulated or glazed, meaning lots of heat is lost easily.
You can’t put a heat pump within ten metres of your house, or if there’s no room to install an alternative system.
You’ve not seen the heat pump that will be installed yourself.

Most importantly, it’s key that you get all your questions answered and complete due diligence with advice from a heat pump specialist.

#8 There are lots of cowboy heat pump installers out there

Roger claims that companies have spent millions to train 15,000 heat pump installers who don’t even understand the basics of heating and plumbing systems. They’re carpenters or shopkeepers who have suddenly decided to change their careers and start ripping out people’s heating systems.

However, the truth is that it’s only qualified heating and plumbing engineers who will be upskilling to become heat pump installers. This is because, to understand the basics of heat pump installation, you have to understand how heating and plumbing systems work.

Currently, there are only 1,900 MCS-certified installers in the UK. We need closer to 27,000 to keep up with demand. That’s why we’re developing initiatives like the HPIN Network to ensure installers have the skills and support their need to do the best job for customers.

We also make sure we do our best for customers by:

Performing a full analysis to ensure that a heat pump is the right solution for their house.
Drawing up an installation plan that minimises disruption and gets the best performance from the heat pump.
Completing an installation as efficiently as possible with an experienced, qualified team of installers.

By doing a good job, we hope to put the rumours about heat pumps to bed and ensure that everyone can understand their benefits, both for households and the environment.

Top 10 Myths About Heat Pumps

June 25, 2020/1 Comment/in Heat Pumps, Learning centre /by [email protected]

Exposing what is true and false about Heat Pumps!

Busting the top 10 myths about heat pumps… This is all good and well if you’re familiar with heat pumps and what they are. So if you are familiar with heat pumps then you can go ahead and skip to the first myth! If you don’t know a lot about heat pumps and what they are then check out our video What on Earth is a Heat Pump.

Myth #1: “Heat pumps are too expensive!”

Are Heat Pumps too expensive? The initial outlay of an air source heat pump isn’t cheap, however with the help of the government you can immediately save £5,000 on upfront costs. Meaning not only are you upgrading your heating system but you are doing so at an incredibly discounted price! And if you’d like to see the pricing for heat pumps then check out here , we don’t hide our prices!

Myth #2: “Air source heat pumps are noisy!”

Are Heat Pumps Noisy? When heat pumps came to the market for the first time they were quite noisy and unappealing. Modern air source heat pumps use the latest in noise reduction technology and energy efficiency enhancement. So to bust this myth, the noise produced by a heat pump is around 40 decibels, which is the equivalent of a whisper.

Myth #3: “Heat pumps are not efficient during cold winters!”

Do Heat Pumps work during cold winters? Its fair to assume that judging by the name, that heat pumps only work when its hot. This however is not the case, despite the name a heat pump doesn’t need hot air to work, in fact all it needs is for the surrounding air to be above -26 degrees. That’s right, even in weather as cold -26 degrees it’ll work. Its no coincidence that a country as cold as Sweden has the highest percentage of heat pumps. It’d be pretty foolish of them to install one in almost every home if they didn’t work in the cold.

Myth #4: “Heat pumps need to stay on all the time!”

Do heat pumps need to stay on all the time? If your house has proper insulation and your Heat Pump is installed correctly. This means you’ll have the ability to turn it on and off whenever you find necessary. The difference is that heat pumps gradually heat your house meaning that you can keep your house at your desired temperature instead of your houses temperature constantly fluctuating.

Myth #5: “Heat pumps only work with underfloor heating!”

Do heat pumps only work with underfloor heating? A heat pump is more efficient if connected to an underfloor heating system. However many houses use heat pumps with radiators as opposed to underfloor heating. In order to ensure that you are getting the most out of your air source heat pump, it is recommended to use large radiators over traditional ones. To see more about underfloor heating and how you can keep your feet cozy Click here.

Myth #6: “A heat pump can only be installed in new buildings!”

A Heat Pump can be installed in any property, from old victorian houses to brand new modern houses. No matter the property a heat pump can be fitted. Usually when it comes to older houses a heat loss report must be carried out and usually improvements on the house’s insulation too.

Myth #7: “Heat pumps take up a lot of space!”

Do heat pumps take up a lot of space? Quite the contrary since most of the components of a heat pump are hidden from view and the actual unit itself is outside. So it takes up just as much space as a regular heating system. In fact compared to biomass it takes up no space at all.

Myth #8: “Heat pumps are used for heating only!”

Are Heat Pumps purely used for heating? Heat pumps can be used for both heating and air conditioning. Heat pumps come equipped with a reversing valve, this means that the process is reversed. When turned, instead of heating it will cool instead. However this only applies to air to air heat pumps, not air to water heat pumps.

Myth #9: “A heat pump needs frequent maintenance work!”

When it comes to a heat pump, the phrase is ‘fit it and forget it’! Since heat pumps don’t burn fossil fuels it means that it won’t randomly stop working and you being left without heating for 4 days. Heat pumps simply need a service every 2 years as opposed to boilers giving constant trouble.

Myth #10: “Heat pumps are money wasters!”

Are Heat Pumps a waste of money? Heat Pumps can provide up to 60% savings on your heating bill. Another important factor to consider when evaluating the cost of an ASHP installation is the amount you can save right now! The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) is a government backed incentive that gives you an immediate £5,000 off your upfront costs. So not only are you upgrading your heating system but you are doing it at a massively discounted price!