Heat Pumps

Everything you need to understand air and ground source heat pumps, compare brands, and work out real installation and running costs, without the sales pitch.

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The bigger picture

• Why Aren’t More UK Homeowners Getting Heat Pumps? The Honest Picture

  What the adoption data shows, and why it’s more mixed than the headlines suggest.

• The Future Homes Standard Explained

  Why every new-build home from March 2027 will need a heat pump by default.

• Buying a New-Build Home with a Heat Pump: What to Expect

  How a new-build system differs from a retrofit installation.

Comparing your options

• Compare Heat Pumps & Boilers

  Real costs and savings side by side.

• Best UK Heat Pump Brands Compared (2026)

  Vaillant, Daikin, Mitsubishi and more, judged on reliability and running cost.

• Heat Pump Installers Compared (2026)

  Octopus, British Gas, iHeat, Boxt and more, plus when a local MCS installer is the better choice.

• Ground Source Heat Pumps: A Guide

  When GSHP makes more sense than air source.

• Air-to-Air Heat Pumps UK

  How they differ from air-to-water systems, and whether they’re worth it now the BUS pays £2,500.

• Air Source Heat Pumps: Full Cost & Savings Guide

  Real installation costs by property size, and how the BUS grant changes the numbers.

• Heat Pump or Gas Boiler: Ten Years of Running Costs

  Install, grant, running and servicing costs added up over a decade.

• Heat Pump Warranties Compared

  What manufacturers cover, and the small print that can void it.

• Choosing the Right Heat Pump Installer

  How to judge quality, not just price, before you sign.

Installing and living with one

• How to Prepare Your Home for a Heat Pump

  What to measure and gather before the survey, including your radiators.

• Air Source Heat Pump: Installation Guide

  A guide to what to expect.

• Buffer Tanks for Heat Pumps

  For when a buffer tank may be required.

• Do You Need a Buffer Tank With Your Heat Pump?

  How to tell from your quote whether one is needed, before you pay for it.

• Best Electric Heaters to Supplement a Heat Pump

  For the rooms a heat pump doesn’t quite reach.

• Best Electricity Tariffs for Heat Pump Owners

  Making running costs cheaper.

• What Is Carried Out During a Heat Pump Service?

  What the engineer checks, what the report should show and what it costs.

• Heat Pump Efficiency Tips for Winter

  The settings that keep running costs down when the cold arrives.

• How Loud Is a Heat Pump?

  Working out the noise at your neighbour’s window, and where to site the unit.

• Best Smart Thermostats for Heat Pumps

  Which controls work with a heat pump, and when you are better off without one.

• Will Your Solar Panels Run Your Heat Pump?

  What solar can realistically cover across a UK year, and how to use more of it.

Independent guides for UK homeowners weighing up heat pumps: no installer sales pitch, just what each option involves.