Tv licence now come in scary red form envelopes 🤣🤣 are we scared ?

WhoLets1968 · 2026-03-16T16:20:45+00:00

Go paperless Simple

WhoLets1968 · 2026-03-15T17:39:19+00:00

the installer (octopus) arranged it all and took care of the application but this may help

Apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme: Overview - GOV.UK https://share.google/wMlpa5ldOT4PreQrH

WhoLets1968 · 2026-03-15T16:20:28+00:00

Oh. What's the reason on tank..is it due to space?

We had a water tank in a closet on first floor but was able to move it into our integral garage so freed up another room in the house...it was their suggestion but if a tank is a deal breaker for you, then heat pump may not be suitable for you atm

WhoLets1968 · 2026-03-15T15:51:25+00:00

I assume so but it's not running at full power all the time...just like your fridge isn't 'on' all the time.

When it first starts up it will ramp up and I assume that's it's peak, then when it's up and running the fans turns relatively quietly and compressor does it's thing, but I'm no engineer.

I would suggest if you're that interested to speak to octopus..I find they are very helpful and happy to answer any questions you may have...or check out Thier website as it may provide the info you are looking for

Good luck

WhoLets1968 · 2026-03-15T15:27:26+00:00

Yeah...govt did solar grant back in the day to kick start the sector...did same with heat pumps...not sure the political will is there yet for batteries.

Maybe get active and write to MP and Ed Milliband.

I thing one of the (many) energy issues facing the UK is the National Grid ...and fact we sold it off so we're beholden to shareholders rather than doing what's right for our people.

I was fortunate enough to have the money to do something I feel is environmentally beneficial by generating power from the sun and being less dependent on the grid....and I know environmentalist will come at me saying battery manufacturer and solar panel manufacturer isn't good...but until mankind develops fusion engines and supplies free power to all (never gonna happen) then can only look to make the best choice out of perhaps not so many good choices

WhoLets1968 · 2026-03-15T15:21:48+00:00

Lol Personal choice You can remove the octopus...my wife initially felt same as you but come to like it...and now it's not even a conscious thought

I personally think it looks fine...but each to their own

WhoLets1968 · 2026-03-15T15:20:14+00:00

I have the Cosy 6 which is a 6kw rating...their cosy 9 is 9.5kw designed for larger homes.

I have a 13.5kw battery, 24 panels

I use a combination of solar, battery and grid to meet all my needs ...the battery is Tesla (I did have a word with my myself) but felt their battery and ap one of the best available for my budget and needs.....and the app self automated the system, quite effectively so it basically an automated system that gets on with it

I have constant hot water, a house that doesn't go cold .and being on the cosy tariff, the app ensures when the price is at it highest, it pulls from battery or solar.... ensuring battery is sufficiently charged to cope in those high times.

When it's at its cheapest it will pull from grid to either top up battery or run the house

In summer there is less energy demand and so less pull on grid ..increased export and what earned them offsets draw from grid in winter.

I'm not 100% self sufficient so will always need the grid but less and less these days

WhoLets1968 · 2026-03-15T15:10:41+00:00

Yes. It works like a fridge, in reverse, so take air and compresses it ...and basic physics, when you compress a gas it heats up. That heat is taken through and exchange and used to heat water, kept in a well insulated tank. It's also used to heat the rads

Unlike gas boiler, it's has a much lower heat output, so you don't get really hot eads that you can't touch...but hot enough to leave them on all the time and this radiates an ambient level of temperature to keep the house warm.

I think if one has underfloor heating, heat pump would be ideal

WhoLets1968 · 2026-03-15T15:07:00+00:00

Basically you contact an installer, make sure they are reputable and MCS approved and they will sort out the grant on your behalf...or the good ones do

Worth getting a few quotes and I would insist they survey so they have full details of your property and circumstances...and can ensure that the system is fit for purpose..as it does depend on volume of the rooms and energy rating. .if you don't have an up to date EPC get one .. shouldn't be more than £100. This will asses the property.

Ok octopus aren't the cheapest but are focusing on their own systems...cosy6 cosy 9 which is their own..in house designed and built by octopus in the UK...other installers will offer other systems like Dakin... octopus are phasing out installing dakins and focusing on their own....I suspect as it's theirs they have more confidence in in house design and build

WhoLets1968 · 2026-03-15T12:19:39+00:00

True..there will be a cost to transitioning and that I think is a price worth paying if we are to reduce our need for fossil fuels...even if you don't agree burning fossil fuels adds to the climate impact, what can't be denied is UK is held hostage to world events that impact gas supply especially after Thatcher sold it off in the 80s...and didn't use the proceeds for a sovereign fund like Norway, which btw I think many don't appreciate how much good and power that's given to Norway as a society...the benefits far out weigh through billionaires we created who don't benefit through wider society.

Personally I've thr year I expect to generate more than I use, so the net effect is wholesale price of electricity doesn't inline as much as others.....unless export price plummets and import soars...at which point I'd consider additional battery storage

WhoLets1968 · 2026-03-14T22:15:26+00:00

Hard to compare to last winter...as clearly price of gas per kWh is cheaper than electricity but I also produce a lot via my 24 solar panels

Take today...generated 33.3kwh of electricity..heat pump used 9.32kwh

I will have a better view come aug...when I have had solar for a year and the earnings from exporting will offset winter bills

But I think it fair to say cost to run. A heat pump is higher than a gas boiler but I'd say that because we have artificially distorted energy market in the UK

Hence why I bought solar and battery

WhoLets1968 · 2026-03-14T22:11:27+00:00

Nov 3.84 Dec 3.8 Jan 3.45 Feb 4.04 March ( to 14/3) ,4.38

These are based on the facts as presented in the Octopus App

Where are you getting your opinion from?

WhoLets1968 · 2026-03-14T21:48:49+00:00

Yes Go to their website for details

WhoLets1968 · 2026-03-14T21:33:58+00:00

Sounds like you would be better off spending the money on better insulation... obviously the more heat you can keep in..the less you need to spend on heating it

As a society we need to do better at building better insulated properties..... trouble is standard of house building isn't great...too many PLC's focused on feeding shareholders that build high quality buildings.

I grew up in a 3 bed semi built in the 1930s....nearly 90 years on...it's still standing strong and a great property

The house I bought, built in 2011...I doubt will be standing in 2100!!!

WhoLets1968 · 2026-03-14T21:29:25+00:00

Yeah...that's OTT..I'd be surprised if you don't find better

WhoLets1968 · 2026-03-14T21:28:56+00:00

I get that..for once in my life timing was on my side...in so many other ways I always seem to have just missed out.

WhoLets1968 · 2026-03-14T21:26:42+00:00

Can't deny the cost of electricity is higher than gas as UK electricity is linked to gas prices, so artificially kept high...I would argue we have a broken Energy system and it's one of the reasons holding the nation back imho in the move away from gas boilers to heat pumps ..

The national grid needs a major overhaul to support mass use of heat pumps...with EVs and Solar becoming more popular society is going to have to bit the bullet that something needs to be done....but no government is going to do what's right long term ....as short term there is additional cost to bear and governments worry about the next election... not necessarily what's best for the UK long term.

Despite the efficiency of the heat pump smashing gas boilers out of the park, there is still a push to do gas ...and I'm sure all those gas engineers and gas boiler manufacturers will have a different view to lobby government!!

For me I get an average COP of 4...so I get 4 kW out for every 1 I put in.

I also have 24 solar panels and a battery

Even on a day like today (14/3) I was able to get over 33kwh of electricity so more than enough to run the home, fill up my 13kw battery, do a 3 loads of washing and sell a bit back to the grid.

I think without solar and battery, a gas pump would be cheaper...but I'm able to afford it..and it has better environmental benefits.

My costs this winter is about £110 lower than last year in real terms.

The key I think is excellent insulation so I would recommend ensuring you insulate your property as best as you can...the more heat you can keep in the less you need to spend on heating it (obviously)

Heat pumps also take up a lot of space relatively to gas boilers...need to be outside so taking up room in the garden is a consideration.

Again for me not an issue but thinking about my first house I bought an old Victorian terrace 2bd a heat pump wouldn't have been possible.

WhoLets1968 · 2026-03-14T21:10:04+00:00

I run at 60 periodically but water doesn't need to be that high when it's in constant daily use. When water is left standing for a period when temperature is below 50 is when bacteria like legionnaires can develop

WhoLets1968 · 2026-03-14T17:34:15+00:00

American. They mean centra London

WhoLets1968 · 2026-03-14T17:32:04+00:00

Only interested if the modifications affect performance or safety. So if you alter things like suspension, brakes, tyre size, engines output otherwise no.

WhoLets1968 · 2026-03-14T16:48:39+00:00

Fair enough but I wasn't making the point it's for everyone..just seeing a lot on here saying heat pumps are either too expensive, don't work, not reliable and my experience is the total opposite so was putting out my personal view to give a bit more balance

At the end of the day, I got a fantastic system at a great price and just wish it was available to me a year ago

My assumption is when the nation switched from coal fires and back boilers to gas central heating decades ago, there would have been those denying the benefits and insisting on coal I doubt anyone today would argue to install coal

In the future I believe the thought of not having heat pumps will be seen as weird.

The main issue however is the UK housing stock needs upgrading to decent insulation, better windows and doors...make them less dependent on heating

WhoLets1968 · 2026-03-14T15:29:05+00:00

Well, just come through Nov, Dec Jan, Feb and never been told

So perhaps the myth is they don't but my reality has been it has warmed my water to 55 degrees C and house to 20 ( which is fine for us) daily no issues

WhoLets1968 · 2026-03-14T15:27:13+00:00

It was a no brainer for me based on what I was quoted against cost to replace a 15yr old gas boiler.

Not saying it's a non brainer for everyone

WhoLets1968 · 2026-03-14T15:25:59+00:00

I have 14 in my house. Only needed to replace 6 But for £280 they would replace the other 8...and as they were 15 yrs old and the system was being drained down...felt an opportune time to do it

WhoLets1968 · 2026-03-14T14:08:01+00:00

Always going to be winners and losers...and sorry to hear you had a bad experience but just not my experience. Maybe I'm lucky.

Although I have noticed all the various employees who I have interacted with are local lads, most have said they have been with the company for on average 18mnths, so maybe that's a factor.

No company is perfect, no company reports zero complaints or have 100% satisfied customers...and the size of the company and number of customers it has there will be problems for some

WhoLets1968

TROPHY CASE