Why Heat Pump Training Is the Key to Better Heat Pump Performance
Over the past few years, there has been no shortage of headlines questioning whether heat pumps really work in UK homes. Installers who have completed our free heat pump training know the truth is more nuanced. Poorly designed or installed systems underperform, but when done correctly, heat pumps deliver excellent results.
That is why recent research led by the University of Oxford feels less like a surprise and more like long overdue confirmation of what good installers have been saying for years.
Researchers found that when heat pumps are properly designed and adjusted for a home, they deliver lower bills, higher comfort and a much smaller carbon footprint than gas boilers.
This is not new. It is what we have been saying all along.
At Alto Energy, we have been clear for some time that poorly designed heat pumps are giving the technology an unfair reputation. The Oxford findings back this up directly. The research shows that performance problems are not caused by the technology itself, but by shortcuts in design, installation and commissioning.
The study revealed that heat pumps are performing up to 40% more efficiently than in earlier government-backed trials.
That gap does not come from magic hardware. It comes from correct heat loss calculations, correctly sized emitters, sensible flow temperatures and installers who understand how all the parts work together.
Lower bills come from getting the basics right
For homeowners, the difference between an average install and a well designed one is not theoretical. It shows up on the energy bill.
As the article highlights:
“It means households in the study are saving around £224 a year on a well-optimised system, compared to heating the same home with a gas boiler.”
Those savings only happen when the system is designed correctly for the property. Every home behaves differently because construction type, insulation levels, air tightness, existing pipework and radiator sizing all matter. Installers using our MCS Umbrella Scheme don’t have to worry about these details, we handle them for you.
Why training makes the difference
One of the most important messages from the Oxford research is that skills and knowledge matter just as much as the equipment.
As Professor Rosenow explained:
“Of course, it’s not every installation, but it definitely shows that with the right training, we can get pretty good efficiencies in the existing building stock in the UK by installing heat pumps”
The researchers also suggest keeping training standards up to date, checking performance regularly, and giving heat pump users straightforward guidance, so every household gets the most out of their system.
This is exactly why we put such a strong emphasis on training. We provide free training courses for heating engineers, not as a tick box exercise, but to build real understanding. We support and oversee installations, commission and sign off every system, and continue to assist both installers and homeowners after handover.
The goal is simple: to make heat pump installations as easy as possible for plumbers while ensuring the system works perfectly for homeowners.
Designing systems that actually work
Good heat pump performance starts at the design stage, not on installation day. Accurate heat loss calculations and a system designed around the home are essential.
There is no one size fits all approach. Each property needs its own solution, designed around how the home loses heat and how the occupants live in it. When that process is followed properly, the results seen in the Oxford study become repeatable, not exceptional.
For plumbers looking to future proof their skills, the message is clear. Heat pumps work, but only when they are designed, installed and supported by people who understand them. Training is not optional, it is the difference between a system that struggles and one that performs exactly as it should.
Conclusion
If you want to install heat pumps properly, without guesswork or cutting corners, having the right support makes the job much easier.
Our heat pump training course is built for plumbers who want to understand how heat pumps really work in customer homes. Once you have a project, we’ll handle the system design, heat loss calculations and compliance, then support you through the installation, commissioning and sign off.
We also stay involved after installation, helping homeowners use their system correctly. That means less risk for you and better performing heat pumps for your customers.
Learn more and sign up for our training course today.