27 September 2024
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One year after it launched its Heat Pump Possible with Kevin McCloud - calling on homeowners and installers to share their heat pump installs to help showcase the potential behind the low-carbon heating technology – Vaillant has joined forces with the architecture expert and TV presenter once again. This time, to catch up with two installers involved in the original challenge and explore their views on how the heat pump market has changed since mid-2023.
Watch the full interview here.
Speaking to Kevin, Managing Director of Vaillant Group, UK and Ireland, Henrik Hansen, said: “Our aim was to uncover the truth behind installing heat pumps across a wide variety of homes around the UK, answering common queries about the practicalities of installing and living heat pumps, and to prove how heat pumps can be easier to install and run than many installers and homeowners may have previously believed.
“There is still a way to go to reach the number of installs per year, but the heat pump industry has certainly seen positive growth over the past year. It is great to be able to meet with installers we talked to as part of the first project to get an ‘on-the-ground’ view of what has been happening out in the market.”
Reflecting across the year
As two of the original Heat Pump Possible heating installers - and owners of Vaillant aroTHERM plus heat pumps in their own homes - Luke Sheppard, and his business partner from Optimus Heating, Simon Murray, were well placed to share their experience of the market and how it had progressed one year on, with Kevin.
Talking as heat pump owners, the cost savings have been very noticeable, and something they find valuable to share with customers. For example, since the aroTHERM plus was installed, Luke and his partner Isabel, have benefited from increased comfort levels together with a 40% saving on their energy bills.
Luke adds: “My bills have dropped from when we had our gas boiler; so far this year, we’ve spent £370 on our energy to run the air source heat pump that heats our three-bed semi-detached house and gives us hot water all year round.”
Simon actually felt an 82% drop in his monthly energy bill after replacing an older heat pump with a Vaillant aroTHERM plus. He said: “I went from an older heat pump paired with a boiler that was costing me £500 a month to run, to an aroTHERM plus costing about £90 a month, which I am delighted with.”
As installers, they are well-placed to share their experience of fitting heat pumps into a host of property types with Kevin, including Simon’s 18th-century cottage and Luke’s semi-detached home built in the 1960s.
Offering his top tip for other installers looking to help customers integrate a heat pump into their home, Luke said: “A real basic design tip is to look for volume in your system.”
Simon adds to this, explaining the importance of keeping things simple. He said: “The less things on that system, the better. Go back to basics. The right pipework, and the right emitters – that’s all you need, and the heat pump will do its job.”
“With new technology being overwhelming for some customers, it’s important for installers to simplify the process,” comments Luke.
“What I’ve learnt is that you need to be very pro-active with the customer, talking to them to really understand what their needs are so you can develop a system that works for them.”
Another integral part of moving the industry even further forward is ensuring that installers are well-equipped with answering the many questions customers may have, which is why both Luke and Simon are investing time into training and upskilling installers.
“We’re trying to pass on the knowledge as we need to collaborate to bring the market up to speed. We are networking with other installers to bring their skillset up to date in order for them to jump on board with all the benefits heat pumps offer,” adds Simon.
The full interview can be viewed here. Or for more information about Vaillant’s aroTHERM plus heat pumps, the Heat Pump Possible campaign and training opportunities, visit professional.vaillant.co.uk
