Renewable Heating Hub Homeowners' Q&A

Most homeowners spend weeks researching which heat pump to buy. But what if the machine itself isn’t the biggest factor determining comfort, efficiency and running costs? In this episode of the award-winning Homeowners’ Q&A Podcast, we're joined by Liam Knowles from The Heating People to investigate one of the most overlooked stages of a heat pump installation: commissioning. We explore what p...

Are cheap heat pump installations storing up problems for homeowners? As more companies promise faster, cheaper and “minimal disruption” heat pump installations, many homeowners are left wondering what they’re really giving up in return for a lower upfront price. In this episode of the award-winning Homeowners’ Q&A Podcast, we're joined by Sean Hogan from Aventus Eco to examine one of the bigg...

Why do some heat pump systems deliver outstanding performance while others leave homeowners frustrated, cold and facing higher energy bills? In this episode of the Homeowners’ Q&A Podcast, we sit down with Mark Hall to tackle one of the biggest challenges facing the UK heat pump market: installer competency. From three-day training courses and heat loss calculations to radiator sizing, buffer...

Your heat pump's controller might be the dumbest piece of tech in your house. In this episode of the Homeowners' Q&A Podcast, we sit down with Graham Hendra, now working as a heat pump developer at Haier, who has just returned from meetings in China where the question of controller intelligence was front and centre. He's candid about what the industry is getting wrong, why heat pump uptake in...

Home battery sales in the UK have doubled in two years. Every solar company has added one to their quote. Every energy supplier has a deal. But is anyone actually explaining what you need to know before you spend thousands of pounds on a box of cells bolted to your wall? In this episode of the award-winning Homeowners' Q&A Podcast, James Clark from Elite Services Group offers an honest, unfilt...

The heat pump industry has a marketing problem. And it's not just the big energy companies getting their adverts banned by the ASA... it's happening in installer proposals, manufacturer brochures and kitchen table conversations every single day. In this episode of Homeowners' Q&A, we sit down with Simon Wardle of Ultimate Renewable Supplies for a frank conversation about the misleading claims...

In this episode of Homeowners' Q&A, we sit down with Simon Baseden of AAC Group for a frank, expert-led conversation covering everything homeowners need to understand about A2A systems. From the fundamentals of how A2A differs from traditional air conditioning, to the realities of weather compensation, zoning, defrost cycles and hot water provision, Simon answers the questions your forums have...

In this episode we challenge one of the biggest assumptions in the UK retrofit and heat pump space: Should insulation always come first, or is ‘fabric fifth’ actually more realistic (and better) for the average home? Natasha Ackroyd, Rhiannon de Wreede, Danny Murphy, Richard Burrows & Graeme Ross take an unfiltered look at the realities homeowners face: budgets, sequencing, installer messaging...

In this episode we're joined Barry Sharp, John Wood & Richard Williams. We dive into the big question that every UK homeowner is asking: how do you find a heat pump installer you can truly trust with your home, your comfort and your money? Check out our new book The Ultimate Guide to Heat Pumps. Buy now: https://renewableheatinghub.co.uk/the-ultimate-guide-to-heat-pumps-a-comprehensive-resourc...

Ideal Heating’s installer cashback warranty scheme... is it a fair model or homeowner rip-off? And with Rachel Reeves signalling turbulence around future heat pump subsidies, what does this mean for homeowners, manufacturers and installers? In this episode, I’m joined by Patrick Wheeler (Vito Energy) and Barry Sharp (Renewable Heat) for an honest breakdown of: – Why Ideal is incentivising SHORTER...

Who can UK homeowners really trust with a heat pump installation? In this heavyweight episode of the Homeowners’ Q&A Podcast, five of the biggest players in the industry sit down together for the first time: James Law (British Gas), Thomas Root (Octopus Energy), Aadil Qureshi (Heat Geek), Clayton Brown (EDF) and Matt Isherwood (Aira). We dig into guarantees, high-temperature systems, Zero Disr...

In this episode of the award-winning Homeowners’ Q&A Podcast, we’re joined by Ian Edgeworth, Nigel Day and Richard Burrows. Together they explain why the majority of system inefficiencies can be traced back to poor design, wrong flow rates and bad commissioning. Check out our new book The Ultimate Guide to Heat Pumps. Buy now: https://renewableheatinghub.co.uk/the-ultimate-guide-to-heat-pumps-...

Heat loss calculations can make or break your heat pump installation. In this episode of the Homeowners Q&A Podcast, we’re joined by Rich Cartwright, Dan Cadd, Simon Murray and Mario Dodić to expose the truth behind one of the most misunderstood parts of system design. We dig into why heat losses vary so wildly between installers, how assumptions can ruin your efficiency and what homeowners ca...

Confused by HeatGeek’s ZeroDisrupt? You’re not alone. In this episode of the Homeowners’ Q&A Podcast, we're joined by Leah Robson, Mark Hall, Simon Wardle and James Clark to unpack what ZeroDisrupt really means for homeowners. Does “cheaper, faster and less disruptive” mean cutting corners or could it finally make heat pumps accessible to the masses? Our guests debate cost vs. quality, flow te...

In this episode we're joined by Ashley Stokes from Renewable Store and Mark Denman from Custom Renewables to unpack what makes premium heat pumps different from the mainstream models dominating the UK market. If you’ve ever wondered whether high-end heat pumps justify their price tag, or if a cheaper install can really deliver the same comfort and reliability, this is the conversation you don’t wa...

In this episode of the Homeowners’ Q&A Podcast, Mars sits down with Richard Burrows (Pirate Heating Supplies) to talk about the struggles facing heat pump installers in the UK: from financial pressures and MCS red tape to homeowner expectations. If you’ve ever wondered why some heat pump installs fail, why prices vary so much or what’s really happening behind the scenes, this episode is essent...

It’s one of the great domestic debates: one partner turns it up, the other sneaks it down. But there’s real science behind the “thermostat wars.” In this episode of the Homeowners’ Q&A Podcast, we explore why men and women experience heat differently and what that means for heat pump design, running costs and comfort in the modern, energy-efficient home. We’re joined by Briony Price, Kirsten C...

When a heat pump fails, the cracks in the system (both the installation and the wider industry) become brutally clear. Mars sits down with Richard Burrows (Pirate Heating Supplies) to pick apart a system that never worked optimally, explore why so many UK installs fall short and what happens when your system fails. Pirate Heating Supplies: https://pirateheatingsupplies.com Mid Wales Plumbing &...

What does a real heat pump service look like? Why are prices all over the place? And will AI and remote monitoring replace boots on the ground? In this Homeowners’ Q&A Podcast we are joined by Tom Owen, Nigel Day and Simon Basden. Together, they explore the future of servicing, the value of preventative maintenance, and how homeowners can avoid being ripped off. Thank you to Panasonic for spon...

What does a quality heat pump installation actually look like and how can homeowners spot the difference between a top-class job and a future headache? In this episode, we’re joined by Simon Wardle, Barry Sharp, Ian Trott and Mark Hall for a frank discussion about best practices, common mistakes and what really matters when it comes to system design, buffer tanks, commissioning and long-term perfo...

Every heat pump owner has faced that dreaded moment: the error code flashes, the heating stops and you’re left wondering whether to call your installer or if it’s something you can fix yourself. In this episode of the Homeowners’ Q&A podcast, we break down the essential troubleshooting tools every homeowner should keep on hand: from radiator keys and pressure gauges to magnetic filters, therma...

In this episode of the Homeowners’ Q&A Podcast, we break down the importance of collecting, reading and understanding your heat pump data. Joined by Sarah Prutton, Henri Castelyn, Richard Burrows and Michael Crook, we strip away the jargon and get straight to what matters for homeowners. Thank you to Panasonic for sponsoring this episode: https://www.aircon.panasonic.eu/GB_en/ Check out our ne...

Cut through the heat-pump jargon. In this episode, we decode the terms that confuse homeowners most, COP vs SCOP, ΔT, weather & load compensation, buffer tanks vs volumisers vs low loss headers, short cycling, defrost cycles and kW vs kWh, and show how they impact comfort, bills and real-world performance. With insights from James Moran, Ian Edgeworth, Patrick Wheeler, Simon Wardle & Max W...

Think heat pump installation is a “man’s job”? Think again. We sit down with three women in the renewable heating industry: Briony Price, Vicky Shore and Jo Haddon to dismantle stereotypes, share real-life installation stories and reveal what it’s really like to be a female heat pump installer in the UK. Thank you to Mitsubishi Electric for sponsoring this episode: https://les.mitsubishielectric.c...

Discover the lifestyle changes that can dramatically boost your heat pump’s efficiency and lifespan. Nathan Tranter, Rhiannon de Wreede, Graham Hendra, Simon Baseden and Karl Richardson share first-hand experiences, expert tips and surprising insights into what it really takes to get the best out of your system day to day. Thank you to Panasonic for sponsoring this episode: https://www.aircon.pana...