I suspect it depends on the situation but in general you're probably right. You should get a more efficient install though, with any luck, and therefore lower running costs.
You’re spot on with this. The sales people obviously just sit at terminals and if a question hits a no they just move onto the next customer. I had the same with solar. I think you’ll be better off going with a local firm and get it done just as you want.
Yup, for a lot of people that's probably the best option, I agree. However, Octopus are often the first company people contact for a heat pump install, and if they get turned down they never go any further, which is counterproductive if Octopus want to encourage heat pump adoption.
I have microbore piping throughout my 7 year old, bog standard detached house (Taylor Wimpey built)... Had assumed, due to requirement for high flow rates of Heat-pumps, that 10mm diameter pipe would harm COP to the point where an ASHP is not viable. I was wrong !!! install now booked with Octopus... £1600 fully fitted (includes a 20% discount for signing up for Octoplus), the house is a standard 4 bed, 2 floors, 160 sqm, for anyone interested. I have a ton of solar (54 panels) + battery too.
Please don’t think that this comment is an argument, merely a statement of my own experience. 😻 Octopus installed our heat pump/water tank last November. In short, all but one radiators replaced, Daikin heat pump and tank and all associated upgrades. Our house is a ‘70s Wimpy 2/3 bed property with cavity wall insulation and a few layers of insulation in the loft. The whole thing was completed in four days by a very friendly and professional group of six and cost us only £1,250. Since installation our now all electric home plus home EV charging plus heat pump service plan has been covered by a monthly d/d of £25. We still have more than enough credit to cover the rest of the year. This was before Octopus’ own heat pump. Perhaps that might be a reason for installation in some properties? Keep up the interesting work. 👍🏻
Don't get me wrong, I totally applaud Octopus for doing heat pump installs, and when they work it's brilliant. But they're telling a lot of people they can't install a heat pump for them and that leaves the home owner thinking they can't get any sort of heat pump installed. All they need to do is refer those people on to a different installer. I'm really pleased you had a positive experience, and I believe most people do, but there is a large group of people being let down and Octopus can do this one simple thing to help remedy the situation.
Octopus seem to just want installs that are going to be easy service jobs in the future. They didn't want to put the heat pump on a flat garage roof because 'we only do ground-level installs' (despite other identical houses in the neighbourhood having this as a location). They didn't refer me on to any other installers either.
Hi Tim, Yep, been told by Octopus that I can't have a heat pump system fitted by them as I have small bore copper pipe to the ground floor. I'll take up your suggestion of a Heat Geek quote. Thanks for info and the great stuff you regularly provide. Cheers Chris.
@ it looks to me like due diligence is required to get effective heating but most people just want a warm house instantly, Octopus are taking the cream, the easy stuff, they are pushing for net zero but don’t want to get involved in the heavy lifting side of the domestic market.
Tried a year ago told not doing installation in Scotland. Heat geeks also showed me a few installers But they were too busy to quote. I eventually got system installed by Scottish power who subcontract work not ideal. Heat pump now working Andrew Scotland
Yep - referral onward would be sensible. Just be honest that you’re focussing on mass market low hanging fruit… But also… make sure the calculations match reality…
Exactly. It's not an unreasonable thing for them to focus on but don't leave people thinking they can't get a heat pump just because they don't have a simple situation.
I think that they (along with everyone else) are forced to use government approved calculations by MCS. I've heard lots of installers complain that they're overly pessimistic.
@@robinbennett5994overly pessimistic? That’s understatement beyond the realms of even an English gentleman. They quoted 11kW for me, couple of years of gas data show a max requirement (at their design temp) of 4kW. 11kW isn’t just pessimistic, it’s on the wrong planet. If I put 11kW into this house it would end up 35 degrees C *hotter* than it usually is. That not pessimistic, it’s downright dangerous. Over the last 715 days I’ve used more than 3.5kW on just four days, and it’s only been over 2.5kW on 40 days.
If Octopus are the first quote they get and they say they can't do it a lot of people won't bother getting a second quote. It costs Octopus nothing to say "we can't do it but these other installers probably can". They just don't seem to be doing that last bit.
![Kodak Black - Versatile 4 [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/VcP_1Ua__vY/mqdefault.jpg)
Heat Geek seem brilliant and it'll be who I use when I need to switch. But they're significantly more expensive than the Octopus install.
I suspect it depends on the situation but in general you're probably right. You should get a more efficient install though, with any luck, and therefore lower running costs.
You’re spot on with this. The sales people obviously just sit at terminals and if a question hits a no they just move onto the next customer. I had the same with solar.
I think you’ll be better off going with a local firm and get it done just as you want.
Yup, for a lot of people that's probably the best option, I agree. However, Octopus are often the first company people contact for a heat pump install, and if they get turned down they never go any further, which is counterproductive if Octopus want to encourage heat pump adoption.
I have microbore piping throughout my 7 year old, bog standard detached house (Taylor Wimpey built)... Had assumed, due to requirement for high flow rates of Heat-pumps, that 10mm diameter pipe would harm COP to the point where an ASHP is not viable. I was wrong !!! install now booked with Octopus... £1600 fully fitted (includes a 20% discount for signing up for Octoplus), the house is a standard 4 bed, 2 floors, 160 sqm, for anyone interested. I have a ton of solar (54 panels) + battery too.
Wow, that's amazing! I'm really glad it worked out well for you. And what an incredible solar array! I'm super envious.
Please don’t think that this comment is an argument, merely a statement of my own experience. 😻
Octopus installed our heat pump/water tank last November. In short, all but one radiators replaced, Daikin heat pump and tank and all associated upgrades. Our house is a ‘70s Wimpy 2/3 bed property with cavity wall insulation and a few layers of insulation in the loft.
The whole thing was completed in four days by a very friendly and professional group of six and cost us only £1,250. Since installation our now all electric home plus home EV charging plus heat pump service plan has been covered by a monthly d/d of £25. We still have more than enough credit to cover the rest of the year.
This was before Octopus’ own heat pump. Perhaps that might be a reason for installation in some properties?
Keep up the interesting work. 👍🏻
Don't get me wrong, I totally applaud Octopus for doing heat pump installs, and when they work it's brilliant. But they're telling a lot of people they can't install a heat pump for them and that leaves the home owner thinking they can't get any sort of heat pump installed. All they need to do is refer those people on to a different installer. I'm really pleased you had a positive experience, and I believe most people do, but there is a large group of people being let down and Octopus can do this one simple thing to help remedy the situation.
Octopus seem to just want installs that are going to be easy service jobs in the future. They didn't want to put the heat pump on a flat garage roof because 'we only do ground-level installs' (despite other identical houses in the neighbourhood having this as a location).
They didn't refer me on to any other installers either.
Yup, that's a common story I hear. I really hope they do start referring people on to other installers if they can't do it themselves.
Hi Tim, Yep, been told by Octopus that I can't have a heat pump system fitted by them as I have small bore copper pipe to the ground floor. I'll take up your suggestion of a Heat Geek quote. Thanks for info and the great stuff you regularly provide. Cheers Chris.
No problem, I hope Heat Geek can help you. Octopus really should have passed you on to them anyway!
Selective engineers, remember most people just want a warm house and becoming a "geek" isn't part of their life outlook.
I'm not sure what your point is. You don't need to be a geek to get a heat pump.
@ it looks to me like due diligence is required to get effective heating but most people just want a warm house instantly, Octopus are taking the cream, the easy stuff, they are pushing for net zero but don’t want to get involved in the heavy lifting side of the domestic market.
Tried a year ago told not doing installation in Scotland. Heat geeks also showed me a few installers
But they were too busy to quote. I eventually got system installed by Scottish power who subcontract work not ideal. Heat pump now working Andrew Scotland
Ah, well I'm glad you got there in the end. It does require some persistence, for sure!
@ glad I got heat pump house even heat all the time
Yep - referral onward would be sensible. Just be honest that you’re focussing on mass market low hanging fruit…
But also… make sure the calculations match reality…
Exactly. It's not an unreasonable thing for them to focus on but don't leave people thinking they can't get a heat pump just because they don't have a simple situation.
I think that they (along with everyone else) are forced to use government approved calculations by MCS. I've heard lots of installers complain that they're overly pessimistic.
@@robinbennett5994overly pessimistic?
That’s understatement beyond the realms of even an English gentleman.
They quoted 11kW for me, couple of years of gas data show a max requirement (at their design temp) of 4kW.
11kW isn’t just pessimistic, it’s on the wrong planet. If I put 11kW into this house it would end up 35 degrees C *hotter* than it usually is.
That not pessimistic, it’s downright dangerous. Over the last 715 days I’ve used more than 3.5kW on just four days, and it’s only been over 2.5kW on 40 days.
Basically toys out of the pram but do want other babies to enjoy the toys , cheap mindset .
Understand what you are saying,,but won't most people get 3 or 4 quotes anyway?
If Octopus are the first quote they get and they say they can't do it a lot of people won't bother getting a second quote. It costs Octopus nothing to say "we can't do it but these other installers probably can". They just don't seem to be doing that last bit.