Master your heat pump
Everything you need to know to keep your home cosy
Traditional gas boilers blast heat like a hairdryer - intense, wasteful and constantly turning on and off. Your new heat pump is much smarter. It’s more like a marathon runner: steady, efficient, and built to last.
Whether you’ve just signed up or you’re already up and running, you’re in the right place. This straight-talking guide will show you how your clever system works, how to tweak it yourself, and how to skip the support queue entirely.
The heat pump basics
Before we look at the tech, let’s get a handle on how this thing actually keeps you warm. Heat pumps might seem a bit mysterious at first, but once you know how they tick, you’ll see just how much smarter they are than a noisy old boiler.
How does a heat pump actually work?
The genius of a heat pump is that it doesn’t need to burn stuff to make heat. Instead, it works like a fridge in reverse. It's incredibly efficient, taking warmth from outside your home (even on chilly days) and bringing it inside to heat your water and radiators.
Wondering how to get the most
out your heat pump?
Once you’re up and running, we know you’re going to love your new heat pump. Before we dive any deeper, our resident heat pump hero, TJ, wanted to share a few quick tips and tricks that everyone should know. He covers:
Keep it on at all times to maintain a steady temperature
Every home is different so you can personalise your schedule to suit your needs
Use a smart tariff (if you can to maximise savings)
Living with it
Now that you’re all set up, it’s time to talk about what it’s actually like living with your heat pump day-to-day. Spoiler: it’s pretty great! But because heat pumps run a little differently than old-school boilers, to help you master the system, TJ wanted to share a few essential tips that will keep your home warm and your bills low.
How hot water works with a heat pump?
Wondering how a heat pump stacks up against your old gas or combi boiler? Say goodbye to cold shower shocks! We cover:
What is a diverter valve?
Personalise your water schedules.
Will you run out of hot water?
How do you heat water for less?
Why do I need a hot water cylinder?
Heat pumps use a water cylinder to store your hot water for taps and showers. We cover:
How long does reheating take?
Is your app showing a low temp?
You’ll never run out of hot water?
What is a heat pump’s flow temperature?
Did you know? Heat pumps are super smart. Your water flow temperature is optimised based on weather conditions
What is weather compensation?
Are lower flow temperatures better?
Do you need some extra warmth?
Own a Daikin or Grant heat pump?
Check out their handy YouTube support videos below for quick, step-by-step guides.
The hardware
Now that your heat pump is up and running, it's time to get straight to the point of the tech behind it. Heat pumps use some different terminology than old-school boilers, but understanding the basics is the secret to feeling confident about your new system.
Heat loss survey explained
We guarantee home comfort levels before we install your heat pump, to make sure you have a nice toasty home, without needing to worry about the dreaded boost button.
Why do we heat loss survey?
What are MCS standards and U-Values?
What is our comfort guarantee?
Understanding the terminology
When it comes to heat pumps, there are (too many!) acronyms. But don’t worry, we’ll keep you in the know:
How they work (in 30 secs)
What is COP vs SPF vs SCOP?
Heat pumps vs boiler efficiency
Look at you, you absolute heat pump pro!
You’ve now got the know-how to run your system like a total boss. Your heat pump is built to do the hard work for you - keeping your home cosy and your bills low while you just sit back and relax.
We’ve always got your back, so if you ever need a refresher, TJ’s videos will be right here waiting. Now go forth, enjoy that lovely constant warmth, and get ready to feel incredibly smug about your energy bills. You’ve earned it.
More questions? We've got you covered:
Before Installation
Want to know more about what to expect during a Heat pump install?
Money saving tips
Want to know more about how to save money with a heat pump?
More questions?
If you even need any extra support or have any questions
Cosy heat pump customers on the Cosy Octopus tariff saved an average of £200 last year compared to using a gas boiler running at 85% efficiency on our standard variable tariff
This figure is based on the actual energy consumption of all Cosy heat pump customers on a Cosy Octopus tariff between 1 July 2025 and 1 July 2026, using tariff rates at the time.
We compared this to the cost of producing the same amount of heat with a gas boiler operating at 85% efficiency, priced using our Flexible Octopus (standard variable) tariff at the same time.
Savings from gas standing charges were included only for customers who had fully removed their gas supply (less than 3% of customers). Actual savings vary depending on system design, tariff choice, home insulation, and energy use.
Our typical heat pump price is £4,459, which is lower than the national average of £5,600
This is the median post-survey price from all of our heat pump quotes after the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme has been applied, between 01/09/2025 and 28/02/2026. The national average is taken from the Boiler Upgrade Scheme statistics: April 2026 – median cost of installation Q4 2025.
Cut carbon emissions by 82% with a heat pump
This is the typical reduction in heating carbon emissions using an electric powered heat pump compared to a gas boiler.
The carbon breakdown
Gas CO2 (tonnes per year) - 2.42
Electricity CO2 (tonnes per year) - 0.43
Carbon saving (tonnes per year) - 1.99
Data sources and assumptions
Gas Energy Usage (kWh) 11500 (Ofgem medium use gas usage (Jun 2026))
Heat Pump Efficiency 312% (typical seasonal coefficient of performance from a fleet of Octopus high temperature heat pumps)
Gas Boiler Efficiency 85% (The typical gas boiler efficiency from a BEIS study)
Gas fuel emissions of (gCO2/kWh) 210 (SAP 10.2)
Electricity fuel emissions of (gCO2/kWh) 136 (SAP 10.2)
Based on these sources, heat pumps typically produce lower operational emissions when heating the home than gas boilers.
For more information, explore our Octopus Cosy heat pump fleet performance dashboard.
We're the largest heat pump installer on the Boiler Upgrade Scheme
Based on Octopus benchmarking against Ofgem reports from 2024, and we've continued to grow since.
Our customers love their heat pumps!
- 93% of people say it's the same or more comfortable than their previous boiler
- 87% say it costs the same to run or less
- 83% say it's the same noise or less than the previous boiler
- 90% say it's just as easy or easier to maintain
We survey all our heat pump customers 3 months post-installation to see how they find their heat pump compared to their previous gas boiler. Survey results are taken from a sample of 2,837 customers:
Comfort: 93% of people say it is the same or more comfortable than their previous boiler.
Running Costs: 87% say it costs the same to run or less.
Noise: 83% say it is the same noise or less than the previous boiler.
Maintenance: 90% say it is just as easy or easier to maintain.
A heat pump is around 4x more efficient than a gas boiler
Heat pumps don't generate heat by burning fuel. Instead, they transfer existing heat into your home. This means they can deliver multiple units of heat for each unit of electricity used.
Based on performance data from a fleet of installed Octopus Cosy heat pumps, typical real-world seasonal performance (SPF or SCOP) is around 3.6. This means around 3–4 kWh of heat is delivered for every 1 kWh of electricity used (an effective efficiency of 300–400%). By comparison, typical UK domestic gas boilers operate at around 85% efficiency, delivering approximately 0.85 kWh of heat per 1 kWh of gas used. On this basis, a heat pump can be around 4× more efficient than a typical gas boiler.
All our heat pumps are independently tested by the Building Research Establishment (BRE), with SCOP values published on the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) product database. Actual efficiency will vary depending on the property, system design, and usage. For more information, explore our Octopus Cosy heat pump fleet performance dashboard.
The UK's most awarded energy supplier
We've won more awards for customer service than anyone else.
Heat pumps give reliable, consistent heating and hot water
The heat pump user survey report by Nesta from May 2023 summarises that "users are highly satisfied with their heat pumps". It states: "People living in England, Scotland and Wales who own their home and use a heat pump to heat it are satisfied that heat pumps are safe, reliable, quiet heat sources that are effective for space heating and producing hot water." Find the full report here.
The Cosy heat pump is quiet
Heat pump sound power levels are verified by an independent, third-party laboratory as part of the testing process for inclusion on the MCS product database. The laboratory verifies the sound power on the A-weighted decibel curve, as A-weighting closely aligns to how humans perceive "loudness".
All heat pumps are measured using EN14511 standards to ensure uniformity across manufacturers and models. Our Cosy 6 heat pump has a verified sound power level lower than many other heat pumps of the same capacity.
Heat pump heating makes the air healthier in your home
Homes with a heat pump emit far less harmful nitrous oxide (NOx) emissions than those with gas boilers and cookers, significantly reducing asthma and other respiratory illnesses. According to the Sustainable Markets Initiative Cleantech Homes report.
A heat pump can add thousands to your property value
Analysis by the Department of Land Economy at the University of Cambridge suggests a 16% value uplift for new-build homes with enough solar and battery storage to eliminate energy bills. A further study of over five million existing properties indicates a 2-3% value increase for existing homes with solar panels or heat pumps (versus like-for-like gas-heated homes), according to the Sustainable Markets Initiative: Cleantech Homes report, 2024.
As of April 2025, the average house price in the UK is £265,497 according to the Land Registry. Therefore, a 2-3% value increase for an average house priced at £265,497 would be between £5,310 and £7,965.
Heat pumps typically last longer than gas boilers
The expected lifespan of a typical gas boiler is 10–15 years. A heat pump typically has a lifespan of 15–20 years, with UK government research indicating an average of around 20 years. Manufacturer Daikin reports similar ranges. Actual lifespan depends on factors such as installation quality, maintenance, usage patterns, and operating conditions.