Let’s face it: getting a shiny, new, energy-efficient gadget installed in your home often comes with a side-serving of well-meaning (but sometimes wildly misinformed) advice from your nearest and dearest. At Carter Renewables, we’ve heard it all. But when it comes to the humble heat pump, the sheer volume of cautionary tales rivals a Victorian ghost story marathon.
We understand. Switching from the trusty old boiler that’s been in your garage since the 1980s (and makes a sound like a small, distressed pig) is a big deal. So, today we’re tackling the four major sources of heat pump folklore.
1. The Concerned Patriarch: Dad
(A.K.A. The “If-It-Ain’t-Broke-Don’t-Fix-It… It-Will-Cost-You-A-Fortune” Expert)
The Warning: “Don’t bother with those heat pumps, son. They’re just glorified air conditioners. You’ll freeze in winter. Get a proper, powerful boiler. My old one has never let me down!” (It should be noted that ‘never let me down’ usually translates to ‘broke down twice last year, cost £700 to fix, but I’m too proud to admit it.’)
The Carter Renewables Reality Check: While your dad’s wisdom got you through learning to drive (maybe) and how to use a drill, this one’s a myth. A heat pump’s job is to extract warmth from the outside air (even when it’s well below freezing) and pump it into your home. They are designed for heating, not just cooling (unless you get a reversible model, which is a bonus!). They are not glorified air conditioners; they are incredibly clever fridge-freezers running in reverse. We will be highlighting some of our favourite ASHP brands in this blog and Midea are a firm favourite! Tell Dad he can stop hoarding logs, because this system is far more advanced than his trusty chopped wood pile.
2. The Know-It-All (But Never-Has-A-Clue) Neighbour
(A.K.A. The “Heard-It-Down-The-Pub” Oracle)
The Warning: “Oh, you’re getting one of those? Terrible idea. They’re so loud! Sounds like a helicopter taking off in your garden. The wife tried to hang washing out once and had to wear ear defenders. Trust me, mate, you’ll never get a decent night’s sleep.”
The Carter Renewables Reality Check: Your neighbour likely based this advice on a unit installed sometime around the dawn of the internet. Modern heat pumps – like the ones us at Carter Renewables install – are incredibly quiet. For context, they operate at about the same decibel level as a modern fridge or a gentle conversation. You’ll probably hear your neighbour’s enthusiastic Sunday morning mowing long before you hear your heat pump. Tell him to focus on the noise his 1990s diesel car makes, or to check out Vaillant heat pumps instead!
3. The Traditionalist Grandad
(A.K.A. The “Back-In-My-Day-We-Had-Real-Heating” Philosopher)
The Warning: “Heat pumps? Utter nonsense. Our old radiators used to get so hot you could fry an egg on ’em. With these newfangled things, you’ll never feel that proper, blasting heat again. You’ll be sitting around in six jumpers and a woolly hat!”
The Carter Renewables Reality Check: Grandad is right that a boiler blasts out extremely high temperatures, which can feel scorching initially. Heat pumps, however, such as the ones made by Samsung, are designed to work slowly and steadily. They provide a constant, low-level flow of warmth that permeates the whole building, keeping the air temperature consistent and comfortable 24/7. It’s like the difference between a sudden flash fire and a warm, comforting blanket. Say goodbye to that five-minute ‘radiator sprint’ just to thaw your hands!
4. The Family Pet: Dog (Ours is called Buster)
(A.K.A. The “Where-Is-My-Favourite-Lying-Spot-Gone?” Critic)
The Warning (via Whine/Slight Head Tilt): “Woof! (Translation: ‘Where is the nice warm pipework I used to lie against? This whole garden feels different. And where are those exciting oil delivery people who used to spill a little something for me to lick? This ‘renewable’ energy is suspiciously clean!’)”
The Carter Renewables Reality Check: Okay, Buster doesn’t really have a factual warning, but he does have a good point: heat pumps often replace bulky, dirty, or noisy heating elements with clean, discreet units. The biggest challenge you’ll have with the dog is teaching them that the sleek outdoor unit is not a new, complicated water bowl.
The Verdict
Heat pumps have come a long way. They are efficient, quiet, reliable, and are a key part of slashing your energy bills and carbon footprint.
If you’re ready to move beyond the well-intentioned (but technically shaky) advice of your family and neighbours, give Carter Renewables a call. We promise to install a system so quiet, even Buster the dog will approve. (And yes, you can still fry an egg – just do it on your hob, not your radiator.)
Ready to get reliable, clean heat and prove your neighbour wrong?
Contact Carter Renewables today on 01189677033 or admin@carter-electrical.co.uk for a free, no-obligation quote!