Heat pump + solar guides for UK homeowners in 2026

Pick a guide

Each guide answers a specific practical question about the UK heat-pump install process. Read the one that matches your current stage — or all of them if you’re still figuring out the order.

• Applying for the BUS grant

  BUS grant application walkthrough

  How the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant actually flows from installer through Ofgem to your invoice. Timeline, paperwork, what can go wrong.

  Read the guide

• Preparing for an installer visit

  MCS heat pump site visit: what to expect

  Step-by-step of what happens during an MCS-certified installer's 60–120 minute survey. Heat-loss calc, emitter check, outdoor siting, MCS 020 noise, electrical.

  Read the guide

• Insulation + retrofit planning

  Fabric-first retrofit before a heat pump

  Which insulation measures matter before a heat pump install, ranked by ROI for heat-pump readiness. UK 2026 costs, grants, and the right order.

  Read the guide

• Cylinder + hot-water planning

  Hot water planning for a heat pump install

  Cylinder sizing, immersion strategy, cycling vs continuous, the weekly Legionella cycle — the hot-water side of a UK heat-pump install.

  Read the guide

• Post-install optimisation

  Setting up a heat pump smart tariff

  Schedule, weather compensation, app integration — how to actually run a heat pump on a UK smart tariff for lowest running cost.

  Read the guide

• Understanding running costs

  Heat pump vs gas running costs

  Worked examples of UK heat pump running cost in 2026 by house size, tariff, and insulation level — vs a modern gas boiler.

  Read the guide

• Efficiency basics

  SCOP, COP, SPF explained

  The three efficiency metrics for UK heat pumps — when each is used, typical 2026 numbers, what to look for in an installer quote.

  Read the guide

• Siting + planning rules

  MCS 020 noise rules explained

  What MCS 020 is, the 42 dB(A) limit, how the calculation works, and how to fix a failing siting before you commission.

  Read the guide

• Economics + payback

  Heat pump payback period UK

  Three worked payback scenarios — gas, oil, LPG replacement — with the £7,500 BUS grant + smart tariff factored in.

  Read the guide

Looking for technology comparisons instead?

Guides cover the PROCESS of installing a heat pump or solar system. If you’re still deciding between technologies (heat pump vs gas boiler, air-to-water vs air-to-air, Daikin vs Mitsubishi etc.), the comparison pages at /compare work through those decisions side by side.

More guides

More homeowner guides land here as we write them. If there’s a specific stage of the heat-pump or solar install process you’d like covered, let us know via the contact link.