Straight answers about heat pumps, solar and grants
Including the parts most installers skip — what the grants actually pay, what the running costs actually are, and when the answer is that it is not worth it.
Every figure is checked against Ofgem and GOV.UK, and each article says when it was last reviewed.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme, explained
England and Wales pay £7,500 towards replacing a fossil-fuel boiler with a heat pump. Here is what the scheme actually covers in 2026, and the rule change most…
How does an air source heat pump work?
An air source heat pump works like a fridge in reverse: a refrigerant soaks up heat from the outdoor air, an electric compressor raises its…
Do heat pumps work in cold weather?
Yes. Air source heat pumps keep working well below freezing: in the government-funded Electrification of Heat trial, they were still producing a…
Are heat pumps noisy?
Not usually, if the unit is sited properly. A modern air source heat pump makes a low hum from its fan and compressor, and in England it only counts…
What size heat pump do I need?
The right size is the smallest heat pump that can cover your home’s calculated heat loss on a cold “design day” — a figure in kilowatts worked out…
Air source vs ground source heat pump: which is right for you?
For most homes, and especially for Manchester terraces and semis, an air source heat pump is the practical choice: it costs about half as much to…
Heat pump pros and cons: are they worth it in the UK?
Heat pumps are worth it for many homes in England and Wales, but not for every home. The biggest advantages are efficiency, lower carbon emissions,…
Do I need new radiators for a heat pump?
Usually some, rarely all. How to tell which rooms fall short at heat pump temperatures, and the options besides replacing them…
How much does a heat pump cost in Manchester?
What the government’s own figures say a heat pump costs, what the £7,500 grant does to that number, and why two houses on the same street…
Can a terraced house have a heat pump?
Yes, in most cases. How the 2025 planning change helped terraces, where the outdoor unit goes, noise and neighbours, and the £7,500 grant…
Heat pump vs gas boiler running costs
Most articles on this question are written by people selling heat pumps. Here is the actual arithmetic at current prices, including the scenarios where a heat pump costs …
Are solar panels worth it in the UK?
Britain is not sunny, and solar still works here. But the payback period is longer than the adverts suggest, and the export tariff you choose matters as much as the panel…
The health and safety training an install team should have
A good installation is not only about the kit on the wall or the panels on the roof. It is about the people putting them there, and whether they have been trained to do i…
Home battery fire safety: what actually protects you
Lithium-ion fires are the question homeowners ask us most often about battery storage, and it is a fair question. Here is what the risk actually is, which rules genuinely…
Not sure which applies to you?
Tell us your postcode and how your home is heated now, and we will tell you which grants you qualify for — including if the answer is none.