Heat Pumps Now Preferred Over Gas Boilers, Says Octopus Energy

Mayne Gas Heating Ltd
Jul 15
2 min read

A new customer survey from Octopus Energy has revealed that heat pumps are now more popular than gas boilers among UK households. Of those surveyed, 94 percent said their heat pump delivers the same or better comfort than their old gas boiler.

**Mayne Gas Heating Ltd are your Octopus Trusted Partner for Grimsby and surrounding area**

Running Costs Also Match or Beat Gas

The findings go further. A total of 85 percent of heat pump users say their system costs the same or less to run than a traditional gas boiler. This proves that low-carbon technology is not just greener—it can also be economical.

Planning Barriers Are Coming Down

One key reason for slower uptake in the past has been planning restrictions. Up until recently, 41 percent of heat pump installations needed planning permission due to outdated rules requiring units to sit at least one metre from the property boundary.

These rules added an average of £347 and caused up to eight weeks of delays. While this regulation has now been lifted, noise restrictions still remain in force.

What About Noise?

Current rules require heat pumps to be quieter than 37dB at the nearest neighbour’s home. Yet 86 percent of households say their heat pumps are as quiet or quieter than gas boilers.

Octopus Energy argues that simply raising the noise limit by 1dB could cut planning delays in half, enabling faster adoption across the UK.

Local Installers That Understand the Shift

At Mayne Gas Heating Ltd, we are MCS accredited and a Trusted Partner of Octopus Energy, supporting homeowners in Grimsby and the wider North East Lincolnshire region. We provide expert guidance on: