The short answer
We hear the same handful of myths at almost every survey. Here’s the honest answer to each one.
#1 Myth: Heat pumps don't work in cold UK winters.
Modern air source heat pumps, including the Compress 5800i AW we install, are designed to keep working efficiently in outside temperatures well below freezing, down to around -15°C, which is colder than most North East mornings ever get. Performance dips slightly on the very coldest days, the same way any heating system’s efficiency shifts with conditions, but it won’t leave you without heat.
#2 Myth: Heat pumps leave some rooms cold
Cold rooms are almost always a sign of a system that wasn’t designed properly for the property, not a limitation of the technology itself. We do a room-by-room heat loss calculation at survey specifically so the output matches what each room actually needs, rather than fitting a generic system and hoping it copes.
#3 Myth: They're always more expensive to run than a gas boiler.
Not necessarily. It depends on your electricity and gas prices and, just as much, on how well the system’s been sized and set up. A correctly designed, well-insulated installation running at an optimised flow temperature will often run more cheaply than an ageing gas boiler. A poorly designed one won’t, which is why the survey and setup matter so much.
#4 Myth: They're too noisy to have near the house.
UK regulations cap outdoor unit noise at 42dB at your nearest window, about the same as a fridge humming in the kitchen, and quieter than most gas or oil boilers. Sensible siting, which we agree with you on before installation, keeps it a background hum rather than a nuisance.
#5 Myth: Old houses can't have one
Older, less-insulated homes can absolutely run a heat pump well. It just sometimes means upgrading a few radiators to run at a lower flow temperature, or considering a hybrid system that pairs the heat pump with your existing boiler for the coldest days. We’ll tell you honestly at survey if your home needs any of that, rather than oversell a system that isn’t ready for it.