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New analysis from Passiv UK suggests that installer preferences for established heat pump brands could be adding up to £2,000 to the cost of installations, potentially slowing the UK's transition away from gas boilers. Passiv has launched a new comparison tool designed to help installers assess the cost implications of different heat pump and controls combinations. The analysis reveals that relying primarily on established heat pump brands could increase installation costs compared with alternative systems that deliver comparable performance when paired with advanced controls.

The findings come as the Government pushes to accelerate heat pump adoption, targeting more than 450,000 installations per year by 2030. However, cost remains one of the biggest barriers to decarbonising home heating, and Passiv argues that the industry risks holding back adoption if heat pumps continue to be positioned as premium products.

William Heinzelmann, Product Director at Passiv UK, believes the market has changed significantly in recent years. "Many installers understandably have trusted brands they work with, but the market has evolved significantly in recent years. There are now a growing number of high-quality heat pump manufacturers offering competitive alternatives to established brands.

According to Heinzelmann, much of the difference in homeowner experience comes not from the heat pump itself, but from the controls used to operate it.

"While many established manufacturers provide their own control systems, these are not always the most advanced solutions available. Advanced controls can optimise to electricity tariffs, integrate with solar generation, participate in demand-side response programmes and continuously adapt to the thermal characteristics of the home. They also simplify commissioning and remove the need to set weather compensation curves.

Passiv says a lower-cost heat pump combined with advanced controls can bring installation costs closer to those of a gas boiler replacement, particularly when the Boiler Upgrade Scheme is taken into account.

For homeowners, smart controls can improve both comfort and efficiency. The Passiv Smart Thermostat's ecoHeat function has been verified by the Energy Saving Trust to improve heat pump efficiency by 17%. Additional savings can be achieved through tariff optimisation, solar integration and participation in demand-side response programmes through Passiv's flexibility service, Greener Grid Payments.

Heinzelmann believes the heat pump market is beginning to follow the same path as electric vehicles, where consumers have become increasingly willing to embrace challenger brands offering strong performance and value.

"We've already seen consumers embrace high-performing challenger brands in sectors such as electric vehicles. If we want heat pumps to become a mainstream replacement for boilers, we need to make them more affordable and accessible.

"The opportunity now is to reset expectations around what a heat pump system should actually cost. Because if we continue to inflate prices through outdated perceptions, we will make it harder to achieve the scale of heat pump adoption that the country needs."

The Passiv Smart Thermostat is compatible with 17 heat pump manufacturers, giving installers greater flexibility when designing systems. Passiv also provides a free web-based monitoring portal that enables installers to remotely monitor and optimise performance across multiple properties, helping to improve oversight and reduce call-backs.

To compare heat pump options and potential installation costs, visit: switch.passivuk.com.

Visitors to InstallerSHOW can also meet the Passiv team at the Wolseley Plumb Centre, Secon, AUX and Ecogenica stands, where they will be displaying their latest analysis on heat pump installation prices.