Heat pumps vs boilers for heating engineers

Who want’s to install heat pumps?

Let’s be honest: you’ve heard the noise about heat pumps. They’re complicated, a headache to fit, and don’t work in a UK winter. While the combi swap is your bread and butter, the conversation around heat pumps vs gas boilers in the UK is getting louder. What if getting involved was more profitable than you think, and the tech was far easier to grasp?

The key is knowing a boiler makes heat by burning gas, while a heat pump simply moves existing heat from the outside air into the home. It’s the same core technology as a kitchen fridge, just working in reverse. This simple shift from creating heat to moving it is why any good guide to air source heat pumps must start with efficiency, the numbers could be a game changer for your customers’ energy bills.

You know a top-end boiler is about 94% efficient; for every £1 of gas, 94p becomes heat. By contrast, a heat pump’s performance is measured by its Seasonal Coefficient of Performance (SCOP). Think of it as the new ‘MPG’ for heating. With a typical SCOP of 3 to 4, it delivers £3 to £4 of heat for every £1 of electricity used. That 300-400% efficiency isn’t magic, it’s just smarter engineering.

“But what’s the catch?” Addressing the three big barriers for Gas Engineers

The opportunity is there. But you wouldn’t be a savvy business owner if you weren’t asking, ‘What’s the catch?’. Transitioning from gas to renewables isn’t just a case of buying new tools. We know from speaking to hundreds of engineers that there are three main roadblocks that stop great installers from making the jump to heat pumps and future proofing their business.

The biggest of these, without a doubt, is the paperwork. To offer customers government grants, you need what’s called MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) certification. Think of it as the renewables equivalent of Gas Safe, a quality mark that can involve a mountain of admin as well as huge cost. For many, overcoming MCS certification barriers is the single biggest headache when figuring out how to become a certified heat pump installer in the UK.

Beyond that, there’s the time and cost of new training, plus the challenge of reliably sourcing specialist kit. These are genuine hurdles on the renewable heating installer career path, but they are not insurmountable. In fact, they can be bypassed. Tackling the MCS challenge head-on is the first step, and there’s a faster, lower-risk route to getting on the tools.

How HPIN Direct gets you installing heat pumps

Tackling full MCS certification from a standing start is a massive drain on time, money and resources. That’s precisely why we created HPIN Direct, our MCS umbrella scheme. Think of it like a giant safety net: for your heat pump installations, you operate under our accreditation. We handle the complex quality management, BUS grant applications and compliance paperwork, which lets you get on with the job you’re good at, installing heating systems.

Crucially, this approach unlocks immediate business opportunities. Working under our umbrella means your customers can access government funding like the Boiler Upgrade Scheme from your very first heat pump job. This is what an MCS umbrella scheme is all about: you’re not just getting heat pump training; you’re earning and installing fully compliant systems from day one. All this as a member of the HPIN network – you become competitive instantly, without the admin headache.

HPIN is designed to be your launchpad to growing your business. It lets you build a portfolio of successful heat pump jobs without the heavy upfront risk or paperwork. Once you have a few installations under your belt, you’ll be in a far stronger position to get your own full MCS certification if you choose to.

Your complete installer toolkit: free training and simple heat pump  bundle pricing

Beyond the paperwork, we know the real-world questions are on your mind: ‘Where do I get the right skills without the cost?’ and ‘Where do I reliably source the kit?’. HPIN was built by installers to answer exactly that, providing a complete support package backed by the power of EDF.

Our network gives you everything you need to get on the tools with confidence. This isn’t just theory; it’s practical, on-the-ground support that includes:

• Free, manufacturer-led heat pump training to get you skilled by experts.
• Access to competitively prices heat pump bundle prices from leading manufacturers such as Ideal, Daikin and Vaillant.
• Install a heat pump in your own home so you can experience living with a heat pump first hand with HPIN+

That final point is crucial. We believe the best way to understand and sell a technology is to experience it first-hand. HPIN+ is our commitment to you, proving our confidence in the systems we supply and allowing you to become a true advocate for heat pumps.

With this toolkit of training, heat pump supply, and MCS certification sorted, the path for installers is clear.

From boiler swaps to high value projects: the profit in heat pumps

A straightforward boiler swap is a reliable earner, but its value is fundamentally capped. You know the going rate, and you’re often competing against every other Gas Safe engineer in the area for the same work, which inevitably squeezes your margins.

A heat pump installation not as a like-for-like swap. It’s a whole-system upgrade that often includes radiators, a new hot water cylinder, and advanced controls. Because the scope is larger and requires greater design expertise, the project value is significantly higher.

This positions you away from the crowded market for simple boiler swaps and into a premium service category. By becoming the go-to expert for these comprehensive solutions, you’re future-proofing your business for decades to come.

Your next step: Future-Proof Your Business

You already possess the core skills of a great heating engineer. Now, you can see how to apply them to become the go-to renewables specialist in your area. The journey from the familiar world of gas boilers to the growing market for heat pumps is no longer an obstacle, but a clear business opportunity.

The Heat Pump Installer Network (HPIN) provides the bridge and the benefits of joining us are simple by removing the biggest hurdles.

What are you waiting for? Secure the future of your business and register your interest at www.hpin.co.uk/register

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