Myth buster: why heat pumps and solar panels are more accessible than ever

Changing the way you heat your home can feel daunting, but once you understand the smart technology and comfort you can achieve, it could be a no-brainer

This year has seen solar panels and heat pumps enjoy an installation boom as homeowners across the UK opt for low-carbon smart tech to heat their homes. But while more people than ever are turning their backs on fossil fuels, some still feel nervous about the idea of swapping their boiler for heat pumps and solar panels.

“We must clear up a few common misconceptions about clean heating,” says Phil Steele, future technologies evangelist at Octopus Energy. “There are so many positives about switching to heat pumps and solar panels, such as more energy independence and potential cost savings, but both are subject to lots of myths about their installation and usage.”

So, to demystify what these technologies are and really can do for millions across the country, here’s our Octopus Energy myth buster to cut through the confusion.

Myth: heat pumps aren’t as good as gas boilers
While a traditional home boiler is on two or three times a day so your house yo-yos between hot and cold, a heat pump can be on all the time helping your house stay comfortably warm. If your gas boiler is reaching the end of its life, a heat pump could be a more environmentally friendly replacement because it is so much more efficient. Typically it will produce three to four times more energy than it takes in whereas a gas boiler produces more or less the same amount of energy that it consumes.

Although the price of electricity is high, pairing a heat pump with a smart tariff such as Cosy Octopus gives you three periods of cheaper electricity each day. Octopus reports that 99.6% of its Cosy heat pumps beat gas on running costs in the year to July. And if your electricity comes from renewable sources, you will be reducing your impact on the environment compared with running a gas boiler.

Myth: heat pumps are too noisy
This is a common misconception. They’re actually similar to a standard kitchen fridge and because the heat pump is sited outside, it’s likely you won’t even hear it. Octopus heat pump customers Philip and Henriette*, from Oxfordshire, say they’ve had no noise issues. “Working with the Octopus surveyor, we found a great spot for ours,” the couple explains. “It runs quietly and doesn’t inconvenience us or our neighbours.”

Myth: heat pumps won’t keep us warm
Steele says: “Octopus did a survey and found that 93% of customers who took part reported that their homes are just as comfortable, or more comfortable, than with their old boiler.” Heat pumps work best when they are on steadily, allowing you to keep your home at an even temperature. Air source heat pumps extract warmth from the air outside, and even work in temperatures as low as -20C – two-thirds of households in Norway, where it’s often freezing, have one.

Myth: heat pumps are disruptive to install
As with any major works, a heat pump installation can’t be done overnight. However, in most homes, it’s fairly simple to have one put in, as Philip and Henriette discovered. The work took just four days, and Philip says: “I was impressed by how well-organised the process was.” Heat pumps can last longer than a normal gas boiler – up to 20 years – and Octopus Cosy heat pumps come with an eight-year product warranty.

Myth: heat pumps are too expensive
To help householders make the switch, the government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme provides grants of up to £7,500 for eligible households replacing a gas boiler, or up to £9,000 if the switch is from heating oil or LPG.

This brings the price of a heat pump down to roughly the cost of replacing an old gas boiler with a new one. The typical Octopus heat pump is £4,459 after the government grant, has an estimated lifespan of 15-20 years and will get remote software updates to keep it smart. It’s an investment in your home and its future, and also cuts your carbon footprint compared with sticking with gas.

Myth: solar panels are complicated to install
According to Octopus solar customer David, from Derbyshire, the process to install his solar panels went “extremely smoothly with absolutely no issue”. He had them fitted after seeing Octopus install panels for a neighbour and is part of a growing trend. “The team were very professional, worked extremely fast to a high standard, and were happy to answer any of our questions,” he says, adding he chose solar “to do something positive to help mitigate the effects of climate change” with green energy.

Myth: solar panels take ages to produce a return
Depending on your location and set up, solar panels pay for themselves in nine to 12 years, according to the Energy Saving Trust. Steele adds: “When you combine solar with a home battery and a smart tariff like Outgoing Octopus, you can accelerate that return by selling excess green power back to the grid when prices are highest.” David is looking to make additional savings by using solar to charge his new electric car. “I hope this will make the pay back even quicker because I’m not paying for fuel,” he says.

Myth: solar panels don’t work with UK weather
“The biggest myth is that solar can’t work in the UK because it’s always cloudy and raining,” says Steele. “In reality, modern daylight-harvesting panels generate clean electricity from daylight alone on typically overcast British days.” Philip, too, says he has been very happy with the performance of his system so far and its ability to generate electricity. “We have also found it very simple to use and monitor via the Octopus App,” he adds.

Myth: solar panels mean I need room for a battery
You don’t have to have a battery for your solar panel installation, but it does help you make the most of them. Whatever energy you generate that isn’t used in the moment can be stored for use at a later time. Steele says: “Without a battery, you end up sending surplus energy back to the grid during the day [when prices are lower] and buying it back in the evening [when prices peak] – a battery keeps that value firmly in your pocket.”

*Surnames not being used at the request of Octopus

Take your first step towards a smarter home at Octopus Energy