The heat pump industry in the UK isn’t just the Wild West – it’s a full-blown gold rush, complete with pioneers, opportunists and outlaws. While the promise of renewable heating is real, the reality is a chaotic landscape where homeowners are often left holding the bag.
After communicating with hundreds of homeowners over the years, one thing is painfully clear: the quality of your heat pump installation depends entirely on who you hire. And in this lawless frontier, the odds aren’t always in your favour, which is why vetting installers is such an important part of the process, and another reason why we’re now connecting our members with the best installers we know to help them improve their chances of getting a high quality installation.
So let’s have a bit of fun and break down the heat pump installation landscape into its key Wild West personas, because understanding these characters is crucial for anyone venturing into this territory and finding the right installer for the job.
The Elite: Sharpshooters
These are the best in the business, the ones who actually know what they’re doing and will get your installation bang on every time. They’re not just installers; they’re system designers, energy efficiency gurus and problem solvers. They understand heat loss calculations, weather compensation, open-loop systems, system volume and how everything should connect and work in your home to ensure you’re comfortable and your bills are kept as low as possible.
These installers are meticulous, detail-oriented and passionate about their craft. They’ll take the time to explain your system, optimise it for your specific needs and ensure it runs efficiently for years to come. They’re the ones who’ll go the extra mile to get it right, even if it means spending extra time on the design or commissioning process.
But here’s the catch: they’re as rare as hen’s teeth. These installers are in such high demand that getting them to your property can feel like winning the lottery.
The Good and Improving: The Honest Ranchers
These are the installers who genuinely want to do a good job but are still figuring things out. These are the guys who’ve worked hard to train up, often with the best training available, and they’re consistently putting in the effort to deliver solid installations. They’re not out to rip anyone off, but their lack of experience can lead to inconsistent results.
The issue with this group is that they’re hit-or-miss. They might deliver a great installation one day and a subpar one the next. They’re the ones who’ll follow the rules but might miss the finer details, like optimising weather compensation curves or properly balancing the system.
The sad truth? Many of these installers are victims of an industry that doesn’t invest enough in ongoing training or support. They’re trying to do the right thing, but they’re often set up to fail. With more experience and mentorship, many of these honest ranchers have the potential to rise through the ranks and become sharpshooters in their own right.
The Gunslingers
Then there are the gunslingers – the installers who mean well but regularly miss the mark. These are the guys who’ve done little or no extra training beyond the basics. They care to a degree, but their skillset can only take them so far. They’re the ones who’ll slap in buffer tanks with fixed flow temperatures because it’s easy and won’t result in callbacks. And if they do get callbacks, they’ll come back to try and fix the issue, but they often lack the knowledge to correct what they’ve put in and improve it.
The result? A heat pump that doesn’t perform as expected, leaving homeowners frustrated and out of pocket. These installers are the ones who give the industry a bad name, even if their intentions aren’t malicious. They’re the embodiment of the Wild West’s unpredictability – sometimes you get lucky, but more often than not, you’re left with a mess to clean up.
The Bandits & Outlaws
At the bottom of the barrel are the bandits – the outlaws who are only in it for the quick buck. These are the installers who slap in poorly designed systems with no regard for efficiency, performance or customer satisfaction. They’re the ones who disappear as soon as the job is done, leaving homeowners with a system that barely works and no way to get hold of them for follow-up support.
These bandits are the scourge of the industry, preying on unsuspecting homeowners and tarnishing the reputation of heat pumps as a whole. They’re the reason why so many people are wary of making the switch to renewable heating. Thankfully, they are in the minority, but there are still too many of them around. If you’ve come across a cowboy, call them out here.
The Sheriffs: MCS, Certification Bodies & Consumer Codes
In any Wild West story, you need sheriffs to keep the peace. In the heat pump industry, that role falls to organisations like the MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme), certification bodies and consumer codes (HIES and RECC). These are the entities tasked with setting standards, ensuring quality and protecting consumers.
But here’s the harsh truth: the sheriffs aren’t doing their job. While the MCS and other bodies have made strides in improving standards, their oversight is often inconsistent and enforcement is weak. Many bandits and gunslingers slip through the cracks, leaving homeowners with little recourse when things go wrong.
The MCS, in particular, has been criticised for being more of a box-ticking exercise than a genuine mark of quality. Certification bodies and consumer codes are no better, often failing to hold installers accountable for shoddy workmanship. The result? A Wild West where the bad guys often get away with it.
Trailblazers
In the Wild West of the heat pump industry, the manufacturers are the trailblazers, forging ahead into uncharted territory with cutting-edge technology and innovative solutions. They’re the ones pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, developing high-temperature heat pumps that can replace boilers, smart controls that optimise performance and systems that integrate with solar panels and battery storage.
These pioneers are not just focused on creating better products; they’re also working to support installers and homeowners through the transition from fossil fuels to renewable heating. But even with their best efforts, the success of this transition often hinges on the quality of the installation – and that’s where the real Wild West chaos begins.
The Homeowner’s Dilemma: Navigating a Lawless Frontier
For homeowners, navigating this landscape can feel like stepping into a lawless frontier. The stakes are high and the consequences of hiring the wrong installer can be costly. But here’s the kicker: even if you do everything right (research your installer, check their credentials and ask for references) you’re still rolling the dice unless you are able to bag a sharpshooter.
The sad reality is that the industry is riddled with incompetence, and until the sheriffs step up and start enforcing the law, homeowners will continue to be at the mercy of cowboys and bandits.
Taming the Wild West
The heat pump industry is still largely in its infancy in the UK, and like any frontier, it’s going through growing pains. But as more homeowners make the switch to renewable heating, the demand for quality installers will only grow. This presents an opportunity for the industry to evolve, to weed out the bandits and gunslingers, and to elevate the standards of installation across the board.
It’s up to all of us (homeowners, installers and regulators) to work together to tame this Wild West. By holding installers accountable, supporting the good guys and pushing for stronger regulation, we can create a landscape where quality and reliability are the norm, not the exception.
Until then, saddle up, do your homework and choose your installer wisely. The future of renewable heating depends on it. And if you’re struggling then contact us here to see if we can connect you with a sharp shooter.
And if you get burned? Don’t stay silent – make a complaint. Call out the cowboys, hold the sheriffs accountable and demand the quality and reliability you deserve. Because until we start demanding better, the Wild West will remain a lawless frontier.
It seems to be a complicated business installing a manufacturers product. Far more involved than a boiler, so should the manufacturers become the Sheriff and have their own band of installers, doing the design for them?