Heat Pump Satisfaction Survey 2026: What 1,000 UK Owners Really Think

We surveyed 1,000 UK heat pump owners to find out the truth about living with a heat pump. The headline is positive — 82% would recommend one to a friend. But the detail reveals important nuances about running costs, comfort, noise, and the learning curve that prospective buyers need to understand. This is the data the sales brochures do not show you.

Owner satisfaction data matters because it cuts through the theoretical debate. A heat pump either keeps your house warm, costs what you expected, and does not annoy the neighbours — or it does not. We designed this survey to capture the reality across a broad cross-section of UK heat pump owners, covering all property types, fuel types replaced, installation ages, and regions.

Our findings align broadly with Energy Saving Trust research and Nesta survey data, but go deeper on specific satisfaction drivers and provide more actionable detail for prospective buyers.

Survey Methodology

We surveyed 1,000 UK heat pump owners between January and February 2026. Respondents were recruited through online forums, social media, installer customer databases, and our own reader base. We applied quota sampling to ensure the demographic and geographic profile broadly matched the known UK heat pump owner population.

The sample included: 78% air source, 14% ground source, 8% hybrid; 41% replacing gas, 32% replacing oil, 15% replacing LPG, 8% replacing electric, 4% new-build; installations ranging from 6 months to 8 years old; every English region plus Scotland and Wales represented.

Headline Satisfaction Results

The 82% recommendation rate is strong — comparable to solar panel owner satisfaction rates according to Home Solar Guide research. But the 58% satisfaction with running costs stands out as a weak point, and it is the area where expectations most often diverge from reality.

Comfort and Warmth Ratings

Comfort is where heat pumps score most strongly. 76% of owners rated comfort as good or excellent, with many noting that heat pumps provide more even, consistent warmth than their previous boiler.

The two areas where heat pumps score less well are warm-up speed (48% said worse) and hot water availability (36% said worse). Both are predictable: heat pumps deliver heat more slowly than gas boilers, and the move from a combi boiler to a cylinder system means waiting for hot water to reheat. These are not faults — they are differences that owners need to be prepared for.

Owners with underfloor heating reported the highest comfort satisfaction (89% good or excellent), while those with original, unsized radiators reported the lowest (61%). This reinforces the importance of proper radiator assessment before installation.

Running Cost Satisfaction

Running costs are the most divisive area of our survey. Overall, 58% of owners are satisfied with their running costs — but this masks a huge split between fuel types:

The story is clear: owners who replaced expensive fuels are delighted. Owners who replaced cheap gas are often disappointed. Gas-to-heat-pump switchers who are paying more than before frequently cite the electricity-to-gas price ratio as the issue — at current Ofgem price cap rates, electricity costs 3.6x more per kWh than gas, and a heat pump needs to deliver an SCOP of at least 3.6 to break even on running costs alone.

However, gas-to-heat-pump switchers with a heat pump tariff (18p/kWh) or solar panels reported much higher running cost satisfaction (72%), highlighting the importance of tariff choice and self-generation.

Noise and Nuisance

Noise is often cited as a concern by prospective buyers. Our survey found it is rarely a problem in practice:

80% of owners say noise is either not noticeable or not bothersome. The 6% who find it frequently bothersome or complaint-worthy tend to have units positioned close to bedrooms, neighbour boundaries, or in enclosed courtyards where sound reflects. For detailed noise data, see our FOI analysis of heat pump noise complaints.

Installation Experience

Installation experience ratings were generally positive but revealed a significant quality gap between installers:

• 72% rated their installation experience as good or excellent
• 18% experienced delays (average delay: 3.2 weeks beyond the quoted timeline)
• 14% needed follow-up visits to resolve issues within the first 3 months
• 8% described their installer as "not fully competent with heat pump systems"

Owners who used MCS-certified installers with 3+ years of heat pump experience reported significantly better installation experiences (84% good or excellent) than those whose installer was newer to heat pumps (58% good or excellent). For guidance on choosing an installer, see our installation guide.

Regrets and Common Complaints

Only 6% of owners expressed genuine regret about getting a heat pump. Their most common reasons:

1. Higher bills than expected (cited by 62% of those with regrets): Almost always linked to gas-to-heat-pump switches at standard electricity tariff rates, often compounded by higher-than-necessary flow temperatures.
2. Noise issues (34% of those with regrets): Typically in terraced properties or where the unit was placed too close to a bedroom or neighbour's window.
3. Loss of instant hot water (28%): Former combi boiler users who dislike waiting for the cylinder to reheat, particularly in households with high hot water demand.
4. System complexity (22%): Owners who found the controls confusing or felt their system required more active management than a boiler.

Notably, almost none of the regrets related to the core technology itself — heat pumps do heat homes effectively. The issues were almost entirely about cost expectations, installation decisions, and lifestyle adjustment.

Who Recommends and Who Does Not

The 82% headline recommendation rate varies significantly by circumstance:

The takeaway is clear: heat pump satisfaction is highest when the owner was on an expensive fuel, has a competent experienced installer, and runs the system at low flow temperatures (whether via underfloor heating or correctly sized radiators).

What Owners Wish They Had Known

We asked owners: "What do you wish someone had told you before you got a heat pump?" The top five responses:

1. "How important flow temperature is" (cited by 38%). Many owners learned the hard way that lower flow temperatures dramatically improve efficiency and reduce bills.
2. "That the learning curve is real" (32%). Heat pumps require different habits — running heating for longer at lower temperatures rather than short blasts of heat.
3. "To get a heat pump tariff from day one" (28%). Many gas-to-heat-pump switchers defaulted to their existing supplier's standard rate and were shocked by their first bill.
4. "To check my radiators properly before installation" (24%). Several owners discovered post-installation that some radiators were too small, requiring either upgrades or higher flow temperatures.
5. "That hot water works differently" (22%). Former combi boiler users needed time to adjust to the cylinder model and scheduling hot water production.

If you are considering a heat pump, these are exactly the topics our air source heat pump guide and are heat pumps worth it assessment cover in detail.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are most heat pump owners satisfied with their system?

Yes. In our survey of 1,000 UK heat pump owners, 82% said they were satisfied or very satisfied. 12% were neutral, and only 6% expressed dissatisfaction. These figures are broadly consistent with Energy Saving Trust and Nesta survey findings.

What is the biggest complaint from heat pump owners?

Higher-than-expected electricity bills, cited by 28% of respondents. This is typically caused by sub-optimal system design, flow temperatures set too high, or standard electricity rates rather than a heat pump tariff.

Would heat pump owners recommend a heat pump to friends?

82% would. The recommendation rate was highest among those who replaced oil or LPG heating (89-91%) and lowest among gas-to-heat-pump switchers on standard tariffs (68%).

Do heat pump owners regret their purchase?

Only 6% expressed regret. The most common reasons were unexpectedly high running costs, noise issues in terraced properties, and loss of instant hot water compared to a combi boiler.