Stop confusing your customers: here’s the real story on heat pumps vs gas boilers

Stop confusing your customers: here’s the real story on heat pumps vs gas boilers

If you’re in the business of installing heat pumps, you’ve likely come across the jargon: COP, SCOP, OAT, BTU—the list goes on. I can admit that when I first stepped into this industry, I was confused too. But here’s the reality: your customers don’t care about all the acronyms. They just want to know one thing—will a heat pump keep their home warm, and how does it compare to their old gas boiler?

Let’s break down these terms, compare heat pumps and gas boilers side by side, and give you the facts you need to communicate with your customers clearly. Because at the end of the day, they’re not buying an engineering marvel—they’re buying a warm home.

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Why the jargon? Here’s how I’d explain COP and SCOP

COP (coefficient of performance) explained

• COP measures how efficiently a heat pump works at a specific moment. If a heat pump has a COP of 3, it means it generates 3 times more heat than the electricity it consumes.
• However, COP can fluctuate depending on the outdoor temperature.

SCOP (seasonal coefficient of performance) explained

• SCOP gives a more realistic picture, showing the average efficiency over an entire heating season. An SCOP of 3.5 means that, on average, the heat pump produces 3.5 units of heat for every 1 unit of electricity across the year.
• This figure accounts for all the variations in temperature and performance over the winter, making it a better representation of real-world efficiency.

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Government targets and the gas boiler phase-out

The UK government is serious about moving toward a low-carbon future. Here are some of the key targets and plans that are relevant to your customers:

• Ban on new gas boiler installations in new-build homes by 2025 and a plan to phase out the installation of gas boilers entirely by 2035.
• An aim to install 600,000 heat pumps per year by 2028, making heat pumps a major part of the future heating landscape.

This shift means your customers are going to need alternatives to gas boilers sooner rather than later, and heat pumps are positioned as the most efficient and sustainable option.

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Heat pumps vs gas boilers: a side-by-side comparison

Let’s put all the key points into one place, comparing a typical heat pump against a gas boiler:

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Long-term financial comparison over 20 years with the BUS grant

Now, let's look at a like-for-like cost comparison over 20 years, including the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) grant of £7,500 for heat pumps:

After factoring in the BUS grant, heat pumps become even more competitive in terms of long-term costs, with only a slightly higher total over 20 years, but with significantly greater efficiency and environmental benefits.

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Heat pumps and the environment

Heat pumps aren’t just more efficient—they’re significantly better for the environment:

• They produce zero direct emissions, while gas boilers emit 0.215 kg of CO₂ per kWh of heat produced.
• This means heat pumps are up to 5 times cleaner in terms of CO₂ emissions compared to gas boilers, especially if powered by renewable electricity.

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Addressing common misconceptions

"Aren’t heat pumps more expensive to run because electricity costs more than gas?"

While electricity is more expensive per unit than gas, heat pumps’ efficiency (up to 420%) means they use much less energy overall. The result? Lower running costs over time.

"Isn’t it complicated for customers to switch to heat pumps?"

Yes, there’s a learning curve, but with the right guidance, your customers will quickly adapt. Most importantly, they’ll enjoy lower energy bills, a warmer home, and a clear conscience knowing they’re contributing to a low-carbon future.

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How to communicate this to your customers

Your customers don’t need to be bogged down by technical details. Here’s how you can make it simple:

• Gas Boilers: “For every £1 you spend on gas, you get about 90p worth of heat.”
• Heat Pumps: “For every £1 you spend on electricity, you get around £3 to £4 worth of heat. That’s 3 to 4 times more efficient.”

By focusing on clear, customer-friendly explanations, you help them understand that a heat pump isn’t just another heating option—it’s a smarter, more efficient, and future-proof choice.

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The bottom line: heat pumps are the future

As we move closer to 2025 and beyond, gas boilers will increasingly become a thing of the past. Your customers are going to need guidance, not jargon, to help them make the switch. By breaking down the numbers and explaining COP and SCOP in simple terms, you’ll not only build trust but position yourself as a forward-thinking, customer-focused business.

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Are you ready to lead your customers toward a greener, more efficient future? It’s time to stop confusing them and start guiding them.

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