Post by @edavies@functional.cafe

2026-09-12 20:06 UTC

@jpnp@mas.to I think the grants, loans, etc, for heat pumps are actively discouraging them in that they're pushing up the prices for any installation which doesn't fall into their fairly narrow bureaucratic requirements and mostly go to pay for the bureaucracy and to line the installer's pockets rather than actually reduce the price for the end uses. I'd be interested to know the prices of installations in places where there's less government involvement, though.

Replies (1)

@jpnp@mas.to 2026-09-12 22:05

@edavies@functional.cafe Converting a house to a heat pump is usually quite a lot of work. For an air-to-water system, just the unit itself is more than the full installed cost of a gas boiler. In addition most installs need a new hot water tank and significant pipework alterations. Many will need upgrades to radiators. Unlike with EVs there's not a clear fuel benefit over gas. HPs being much more efficient, is counterbalanced by the relative cost of electricity. The vast majority are not prepared to pay £10k+ for a system which involves a disruptive install and then may only save a small amount in running cost. I don't have any comparable data, but from what I've seen, I don't think UK installs are more expensive than in France or Germany.

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