'When you first get a heat pump installed,' explains Geoff Shepherd. 'It's hard to come away from that boiler mentality of turning it on in the morning and the temperature going up and down.'
But the 59-year-old retiree from Atherton, Greater Manchester, is glad he made the switch.
'Now I just leave my heat pump on 24/7. It's a constant temperature and feels warm all the time. There's none of those peaks and troughs you get with a gas boiler.
'I'm sat here in shorts and a t-shirt,' he laughs.
A self-confessed early adopter, Keith already had an electric car and had been considering a heat pump for his new-build bungalow for a few years.
But it was when Octopus Energy called him to alert him to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme offering £7,500 off the upfront cost that he decided to invest.
Early adopter of the heat pump, Geoff Shepherd, 59, enjoys having a consistently warm home - and doesn't miss the peaks and troughs of fluctuating temperatures
Octopus Energy informed him that, because he lived in a new build, he was eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme which reduced the upfront cost
The Octopus Energy team conducted a survey before recommending the Octopus Cosy 6 heat pump for Geoff's home. It's ideal for homes with one to four bedrooms, while the Cosy 9 and Cosy 12 are built for larger or older homes.
And installation was easy and stress-free.
- Boiler vs heat pump Octopus Energy survey found that 85 per cent of people said a heat pump costs the same to run or less.
- In total, 94 per cent said the heat produced was equal or more comfortable than their previous boiler.
- A heat pump uses about 4x less energy than even the most efficient boilers.
- You'll slash your heat carbon footprint by around 83 per cent.
- A heat pump can last for 20 years, up to twice as long as a boiler.
'They told me it would take four days, the guys were always keeping me updated,' explains Geoff. 'They also provided me with temporary heating during that time.'
The financial reality
'I wanted a heat pump because it was a commitment from me to reduce my carbon footprint. But I didn't want to spend money unnecessarily,' says Geoff.
'At age 59, I wanted to protect myself from any future price increases, and I didn't want to be scared to put the heating on day and night.'
He expected to be paying a similar price as before, but was fine with that.
'Heat pumps are four times more efficient than gas, but electricity is more expensive,' he explains.
'But if you've just got the heat pump, Octopus Energy has smart tariffs so that you can make it pay for you by using energy when it is at a lower rate.'
In fact, Octopus Energy calculates that just by using the variable Cosy Octopus tariff with a typical heat pump, you could save around £389 on your electricity bill compared to a standard variable tariff.
'But I decided to install solar panels and a battery, as well. I had money just sitting in the bank earning three per cent interest.'
It's been a game-changer for Geoff.
'They say you should break even in about 10 years, but from the sums, I reckon my payback will be about six to seven years,' he says.
'My monthly bill from November to January was just £60, and I hadn't paid any bills from March to September and was actually £500 in credit.'
A warm home, always
Geoff no longer has to worry about timing the boiler to switch on and off during the colder months.
'I just enjoy a constant temperature throughout the day, and I find it's less humid as well,' he explains. 'It’s dead quiet as well, because the unit is outside. I don’t hear the boiler firing up in the middle of the night like before.'
And it's simple to keep track and manage everything from the Octopus Energy app. 'I’ve got a whole ecosystem here, I feel quite smug with myself,' he laughs.
'The app is so easy to use. I was shown how to use it by the guys who installed it, and it’s much easier than other apps.'
A heat pump influencer
When it comes to the benefits of a heat pump, Geoff is always happy to talk to friends about why he believes it's the best option for staying warm, managing costs and being more sustainable.
'I feel like I'm spreading the word,' he says. 'My friends are eager to get themselves a heat pump. A couple are in the process of moving and want to get one installed in their next house.'
The best way to figure out if it's for you is to talk to someone who has one, says Geoff.
'There's quite a bit of negativity about heat pumps,' but there's actually a scheme called Visit a Heat Pump where people invite you round so you can find out more about it. I'm thinking of doing it myself.'
How does a heat pump work?
Efficiently heating your home, an air source heat pump transfers outdoor heat energy indoors using electricity
A heat pump works by extracting heat from the air using an outdoor unit and bringing it into the home, using electricity. Think of it like a reverse fridge, with pressure and a liquid refrigerant to change its state from liquid to gas and back again to transfer heat energy.
When you have an Octopus heat pump installed with Octopus, you'll get all the hardware you need:
- The air source heat pump, which goes outside.
- Cosy Hub controls and up to four Cosy Pods to monitor the temperature and humidity of your home.
- 8-year product warranty with a Cosy heat pump, or 5-years for other brands.