INDUSTRY UPDATE NEWS
Major wholesalers are selling falsely certified circulator pumps, according to water solutions company Grundfos. Around one million pumps, which move hot water around homes’ heating systems, are sold in the UK each year. Grundfos says 10% or more have fake CE labels, with an investigation into one provider showing more than 25% with fake CE labels, which are meant to signify that the product has abided by strict eco-design rules. The fake certificates are reportedly applied to the pumps before being exported from China to the UK. A legitimately CE-labelled energy- efficient electronic pump costs roughly £100 while the fakes are around £30. But after-installation savings is where consumers lose out. Grundfos estimates that the average buyer will miss out on £110 savings a year on energy bills because the fakes do not efficiently move hot water around homes. Chris Skeen, Global Product Director at Grundfos, comments: “There have always been non-compliant pumps sold in small pockets of the country, typically in the smaller wholesalers. But what we’re seeing now is a seismic shift. “Grundfos has called on other legitimate manufacturers to talk about the issue and raise public awareness. We need people to understand the scale of this problem and how it is holding back the UK’s attempts to improve energy efficiency.” UK awash with illegal plumbing equipment
Brits say yes to heat pumps T hose who have had heat
their heat pump if they previously used electric heating oil or LPG boilers (80%) or gas boilers (75%); Heat pump users (67%) are more likely to be satisfied with running costs than those using gas boilers (59%); and Heat pump users reported high satisfaction levels overall but lower satisfaction when it comes to ease of use and control. Madeleine Gabriel, Director of Sustainable future at Nesta, said: “It’s time to put to rest outdated ideas that older homes don’t support heat pumps. The rollout of heat pumps across all property types in Britain is proving that the age of your house doesn’t have to be a big factor when deciding whether to get a greener heating system. “Heating homes with fossil fuels like gas contribute as much as 15% of the UK’s carbon emissions and so the switch to heat pumps is crucial for getting to net zero. This is the first time we’ve been able to get a fuller picture of the experiences of people keeping their homes warm with heat pumps, and the high levels of satisfaction are encouraging.”
pumps installed in older houses are just as likely to be satisfied with their heating as those in newer properties, says a major survey. Eunomia, commissioned by the innovation charity Nesta, surveyed more than 2,500 domestic heat pump owners and more than 1,000 domestic gas boiler owners in England, Scotland and Wales, in December 2022. Survey results showed that: 81% who have had heat pumps installed in their current home are as satisfied or more satisfied with heat pumps compared to their previous heating system; and 83% of heat pump owners in Victorian or older properties are as or more satisfied with their heat pumps. The conclusion, said Nesta, is heat pumps are likely to be effective across the range of residential property types in the UK. Survey data also showed that: Satisfaction levels between heat pump and gas boiler users are similar; Heat pump owners are likely to prefer
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