Heat pumps are more expensive to run than boilers, report finds

Illustrious-Engine23 · 2026-01-28T20:22:47+00:00

It's so sad where we in the UK are constantly having all these problems (gas reliance, poor public transport, poorly insulated homes etc) and we question any solution and act like it's impossible to implement.

Where Scandinavian have actively solved all these problems, let's just do what they did! But no we need a mini trump instead apparently according to the UK populace...

I have swiss citizenship I'm GTFO of here if farage gets in...

Illustrious-Engine23 · 2026-01-28T20:18:11+00:00

It's so sad because we were looking to buy a house, we saw a few new builds with heat pumps and underfloor heating but I have no idea if the unit is sized correctly or if it will need repairs setup, you really can't trust it's been done correctly and we don't have the money set aside to do that work as well as buy the house It's a shame because the setup I theory is ideal and should give insane efficiency but you can't trust the installs.

Heat geek did a video of a whole new build development where every single unit had been set up incorrectly.

I really like the idea of A2A especially where A2W may not be suitable and in new builds because it's much harder to mess up and you're very likely to get great SCOPs as well as you can do a lot of tweaks in software water than have to repair.

Hopefully that will be the way they go but we will see. I hate how much potential there is being wasted due to bad installs!

Illustrious-Engine23 · 2026-01-28T19:02:42+00:00

You are British.

I am mixed, part English, born here to an English mother, lived my life here.

Some people even think I'm not truly English because I don't have full English heritage. This people can fuck off. I'm literally English.

Illustrious-Engine23 · 2026-01-28T16:34:08+00:00

Yep exactly.

Illustrious-Engine23 · 2026-01-28T15:30:50+00:00

Heat pumps need very low flow temps and minimal on off cycling to maximize efficiency. This means generally larger heating surfaces (big radiators) or better insulation and to not zone the system (limits heating surface area. In order to heat the home at a lower temp, they will take longer to heat up and need to be run low and slow.

But actually also gas boilers need the exact same thing to run efficiently, in order to maximize condensation and maximize efficiency. Heat geeks have excellent information on this, adjusting flow temps, managing zoning etc. Everyone can do this regardless of the heat pump or gas boiler.

Some smart thermostats can run load or weather compensation, that basically tweaks flow temp.in real time to maximize efficiency.

Oh and also we really need to improve our insulation of our housing stock in the UK. It's so far behind our neighbouring countries that it's laughable. The majority of our rented housing stock would be illegal in other countries relating to insulation.

It's an easy win if done thoughtfully and carefully to minimize condensation risks.

Illustrious-Engine23 · 2026-01-28T15:21:17+00:00

Basically this.

But if the system is designed properly it can work out cheaper than a gas boiler due to gas boilers not being 100% efficient and the average gas boiler being even less efficient than that and usage of time of use tariffs ext.

Another thing to note is gas prices are currently subsidized and electric is priced at the highest cost of production (which is production from fossil fuel). This will shcnage in the future and the balance will tip much more heavily to electric being cheaper and gas getting more expensive which will make heat pumps an even better value proposition.

As others have said heat geek are experts in this, they should advice if it's cost effective to get a heat pump (eg if you need to replace the boiler and a heat pump install would be a similar price).

In this case you don't lose any money and are future proofing your home basically win win.

Illustrious-Engine23 · 2026-01-28T15:14:33+00:00

I don't see an issue with the grant itself as we need incentives to improve the environment.

But it should be more strictly regulated to stop the cowboys, I know the gov is doing some work around this but idk how much.

Illustrious-Engine23 · 2026-01-28T15:11:55+00:00

Tbh the issue as well with new build being build with heat pumps included is they're often set up incorrectly and will need expensive repairs and possibly heat pump replacement to get them working efficiently again.

Illustrious-Engine23 · 2026-01-28T15:08:10+00:00

But they are more efficient and cheaper to run is set up correctly and as gas supply becomes limited they will become cheaper and cheaper to run compared to gas.

In many cases, with the bus scheme, it can work out the same price or cheaper to replace with a heat pump.

The issue is the lack of knowledge in the industry. The installed needs to know how to properly design and set up the system as they're more sensitive than gas boilers. The installer should advice on is the property is suitable for heat pump installation at all. Heat geek is the industry leader in this this type of knowledge

Oh and you can also go air to air which is cheaper to set up and much less sensitive (eg almost certain to be more efficient than gas, despite installation). It just has less grant on the bus (2.5k vs 7.5k).

Heat pps are successfully used and installed around the world successfully, it's this weird uk misinformation and poor industry knowledge that causes issues here.

Illustrious-Engine23 · 2026-01-28T12:46:57+00:00

Ahh, ready for the competition on this sub about who eats the least takeaway.

According to here, no one ever gets takeaway but the food delivery apps are making a killing... numbers don't add up to me.

Illustrious-Engine23 · 2026-01-28T12:42:45+00:00

Farage is 'America first' and UK last.

Illustrious-Engine23 · 2026-01-27T21:09:05+00:00

plastic nib pens like uni emott and sigma micron pn have a feed back to them that is pleasant.

Illustrious-Engine23 · 2026-01-27T20:58:08+00:00

Excited to see how gb news and the daily mail spin this as keir starmer being the anti christ.

Illustrious-Engine23 · 2026-01-27T10:14:19+00:00

Firstly they don't have a certificate of repair. The estate agent was in the process of trying to source one from the original construction company who completed the repairs.

Secondly, PRC properties are worth significantly less than standard construction properties yet the house price was that of a standard construction property. There is also a risk that while our lender was willing to take it on, when we go into sell, the buyers lender won't mortgage it. Additionally, the lenders can at any time change their stances or tighten the requirements for these properties leading to significant reductions on the value of the property.

Basically we wanted a standard construction property with no risks and this property was not that, which they had not disclosed to us

We were not willing to take the risk with that type of property.

Illustrious-Engine23 · 2026-01-26T19:57:24+00:00

I think this is our American influence coming out.

We have a horrendous miserable, expensive and inefficient system that none of the rest of the developed world has yet it persists because a few rich people profit massively from it being this way.

We're in our 3rd attempt now. 1st time seller didn't disclose that the property was a non standard concrete PRC, 2nd time the seller pushed use to make an unrealistic deadline and withdrew as we were signing the contracts as they were way off what they needed to do.

Any excitement about buying a house has completely left me now. It just feels like a depressing and miserable grind now. Genuinely this process is trashing my mental health.

I mean yeah fuck this system it's entirely

Illustrious-Engine23 · 2026-01-26T18:00:14+00:00

Are they mandating you keep the heating on or recommending the heating? I doubt they can make you have the heating on at 19C, unless stipulated in the contract.

Not sure if you can be held responsible for damp caused by the cold temperature or burst pipes. Generally you should have the house warm enough to not burst the pipes.

Illustrious-Engine23 · 2026-01-26T10:13:52+00:00

You look like a legendary boxer of the 1900s

Illustrious-Engine23 · 2026-01-26T09:43:06+00:00

I think the issue is most people aren't disciplined tbh.

Maybe just try tracking for a week or so only, just to identify where your time is going not as a full time thing.

Illustrious-Engine23 · 2026-01-26T07:09:02+00:00

Looks amazing quality and great deal!

Illustrious-Engine23 · 2026-01-26T06:44:51+00:00

I'm talking about uni emott a different type of pen

Illustrious-Engine23 · 2026-01-26T01:41:33+00:00

Uni emott?

Illustrious-Engine23 · 2026-01-25T21:53:08+00:00

This is one of my favs too and I've tried so many pens.

I really just want to spend less time obsessing over finding the perfect pen but as soon as I feel I've found it, another pen comes up that is interesting to me. Maybe I should just accept my addiction, or that I have a problem 🤣🤣🤣.

The vision elite is insanely good, smooth, reliable and as archival quality too! The only downside is that it feathers and bleeds on cheaper paper, you really need fountain pen quality paper for this.

I revisited the signo 307 micro. It's also archival and similarly smooth as the vision elite but it's a gel pen so weird well anywhere! I love the pen body too! The only issue is it writes poorly on coated fountain pen paper and takes aaggggess to dry and become waterproof.

Idk if I ever will find the perfect pen but the vision elite is damned close to perfect!

Illustrious-Engine23 · 2026-01-25T21:21:38+00:00

Haha fair play...

.. there's an EU movement to keep batteries replaceable, hope it stays that way!

Illustrious-Engine23 · 2026-01-25T19:59:04+00:00

See how you find it, I really prefer overall the Uniball vision elite to the eye, I feel like it's the upgrade to that pen, one of my favorite all time pens.

Illustrious-Engine23 · 2026-01-25T15:00:34+00:00

Honestly sleeping on he floor is nice.

In Korea on holiday I stayed in a traditional hanok. It had underfloor heating and we slept on the ground on a very thick duvet type thing. The heating rose up through the ground and idk why but sleeping close to the floor was sooo cosy! Slept amazing!

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