All FAQs
48 questions answered across every service
Searchable comprehensive FAQs across solar, battery, EV charging, heat pumps, boilers, air conditioning, and commercial installs. If your question isn't here, call us — we'll add it.
Solar PV
(5 questions) How much do solar panels cost?
A typical 4kW home solar system starts from £4,500 installed. The exact cost depends on your roof size, orientation, and the number of panels needed. We provide a free, no-obligation survey and quote.
How much can I save with solar panels?
Most homeowners save between 50-70% on their electricity bills. With the Smart Export Guarantee, you can also earn money by exporting surplus energy back to the grid.
How long do solar panels last?
Modern solar panels typically last 25-30 years and come with manufacturer warranties of up to 25 years. Performance degrades very slowly — most panels still produce 80%+ of their original output after 25 years.
Will solar panels work on my roof?
Solar panels work on most roof types and orientations. South-facing roofs are ideal, but east and west-facing roofs also perform well. Our 3D roof mapping technology will show you exactly how much energy your roof can generate.
Do I need planning permission for solar panels?
In most cases, residential solar panels fall under permitted development and don't require planning permission. There are some exceptions for listed buildings, conservation areas, and certain roof types. We handle all the paperwork for you.
Home battery storage
(4 questions) Do I need solar panels to have a battery?
No. Battery storage works with or without solar panels. Without solar, you can charge from the grid at cheap overnight rates and use the stored energy during expensive peak hours.
How much can I save with a home battery?
Savings depend on your energy usage and tariff. With a time-of-use tariff, you can save £400-800 per year by shifting your energy use to off-peak hours. Combined with solar, savings can be even higher.
How long do home batteries last?
Most home batteries come with a 10-year warranty and are designed to last 15+ years. They can typically handle 6,000-10,000 charge cycles before any significant degradation.
Will a battery keep my lights on during a power cut?
Yes, if your battery system includes an Emergency Power Supply (EPS) function. Most modern batteries like Tesla and SolarEdge Powerwall offer automatic backup power during outages.
EV chargers
(12 questions) How much does a home EV charger cost?
Home EV chargers start from £799 installed for an Easee One, £899 for Ohme ePod (Octopus Intelligent Go integration), and £1,099 for a Zappi (solar-pairing specialist). All prices are fully installed by our NICEIC certified team including Northern Powergrid DNO notification.
How long does it take to charge an electric car at home?
A standard 7kW home charger will fully charge most electric cars in 4-8 hours. Larger battery cars (Tesla Model S, Mercedes EQS) take 8-12 hours. Smart-tariff charging on Octopus Intelligent Go means most owners only pay 7p/kWh for overnight charging — typically around £8-12 to fully charge a 60 kWh battery.
Can I charge my EV from solar panels?
Yes — and it's our most-recommended setup. The Zappi in Eco+ mode only charges from solar surplus, giving you effectively free fuel through spring, summer and autumn. The Ohme Home Pro and Easee One can also be configured to prioritise solar when paired with a Hub or Harvi sensor.
What EV charger brands do you install?
We install Zappi (best for solar pairing), Ohme (best for Octopus Intelligent Go tariff), Easee (smallest footprint, best for tidy installs), and Andersen A2 (premium aesthetics). Three-phase Project EV chargers are available for properties needing 22kW or multi-vehicle simultaneous charging.
Do I qualify for the OZEV grant as a homeowner?
If you own a standalone single house and just want a charger for your own use, you don't qualify for an OZEV grant any more. The grant is now restricted to landlords (Residential Chargepoint Scheme — £350 per socket), flat owner-occupiers, and businesses (Workplace Charging Scheme — £350 × up to 40 sockets). We'll confirm which scheme applies during your free quote.
Tethered or untethered — which should I choose?
Tethered (attached cable) is more convenient for daily use — just plug in. Untethered (socket only) is tidier and lets you carry a spare cable for occasional public top-ups. Most of our customers go for tethered now. If you have a Type 1 connector (older Mitsubishi, Nissan Leaf gen-1) you'll need untethered with the right cable.
What about my consumer unit — do I need a fuse upgrade?
We assess this during the survey. Most modern consumer units handle a 7kW charger without changes. Older boards (mid-1990s and earlier) sometimes need an upgrade. If the supply fuse is rated below 80A (you can check the sealed cutout) Northern Powergrid will need to upgrade it — we handle that application as part of the install.
Do I need a three-phase supply for fast charging?
Only for 11kW or 22kW charging. Single-phase (the supply 99% of UK homes have) caps at 7.4kW. If you have two cars and want both to fast-charge simultaneously, or you need 22kW for an extended-range commercial vehicle, we can apply to Northern Powergrid for a three-phase upgrade — typically £500-£3,000 cost depending on existing infrastructure.
Is my driveway / garage suitable, or can the charger go elsewhere?
Most setups are fine. We mount on external walls (under eaves where possible to keep weather off), on garage walls, or on freestanding posts. We can run cabling under floors, through walls, or along eaves. Maximum supply run is typically 30m — beyond that we recommend a sub-distribution box. We confirm the best site during your free survey.
What about V2H and V2G — is my charger future-proof?
Most chargers we install are AC-only (one-way charging). True V2H (vehicle-to-home) and V2G (vehicle-to-grid) requires DC bidirectional hardware, which is more expensive and only supported by a small set of vehicles (Nissan Leaf, MG ZS, some Kia/Hyundai models). The Wallbox Quasar 2 and JEDI Charger are our current V2H options — we can install these where the customer's vehicle supports it.
How long does the install take?
A standard single-phase 7kW charger install takes 3-4 hours: install the charger, run the cabling, fit any required RCBO or earth rod, commission the unit, register with Northern Powergrid, set up the app. Three-phase installs or installs requiring fuse upgrades can take a day. We always book a single visit — you won't see us twice.
Do you handle the DNO notification?
Yes — we submit the G98 notification to Northern Powergrid as part of every install. For three-phase or special-circumstance installs (existing solar plus EV charging on the same supply, for example) we submit G99 with a load calculation showing total system load. You never deal with the DNO directly.
Heat pumps
(5 questions) What is Heat Geek training and why does it matter?
Heat Geek training focuses heavily on the parts of a heating system that most affect real-world performance — including heat loss, emitters, controls, flow temperatures and hydronic design. That matters because a heat pump is only as good as the system it is designed into.
What is the BUS grant for heat pumps?
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) currently offers £7,500 towards an eligible air source heat pump installation in England and Wales. Eligibility depends on your property and the scheme rules in force at the time of application, and we can advise you on suitability and the process.
Will a heat pump work with my existing radiators?
Sometimes yes, sometimes changes are needed. The answer depends on your home’s heat loss and whether the existing emitters can deliver enough heat at lower flow temperatures. That is why proper room-by-room assessment matters.
Are heat pumps only for very well insulated homes?
No. Many existing homes can be suitable, but every property is different. The key question is not whether your home is "perfect" on paper — it is whether the system can be designed correctly for the property and any sensible upgrades that may be needed.
Will a heat pump still keep me warm in winter?
Yes — when it has been designed correctly for the home. Good performance comes from proper sizing, emitter selection, controls and commissioning, not from simply fitting a unit and hoping for the best.
Boilers
(5 questions) How much does a new boiler cost?
A new combi boiler installation typically starts from around £2,200 including fitting. The exact price depends on the boiler model, system type, and any additional pipework or upgrades needed. We provide a free, no-obligation quote.
How do I know if my boiler needs replacing?
Common signs include frequent breakdowns, rising energy bills, uneven heating, strange noises, and the boiler being over 10-12 years old. If your boiler has an efficiency rating below A, a modern replacement could cut your gas bills significantly.
What is a hydrogen-ready boiler?
Hydrogen-ready boilers are designed to run on natural gas now but can be converted to use hydrogen fuel in the future if the gas network switches over. It is a way to future-proof your heating without committing to a full system change today.
How long does a boiler installation take?
A straightforward like-for-like boiler swap is usually completed in one day. If the boiler is being relocated or the system needs upgrades, it may take 2 days. We keep disruption to a minimum.
Should I get a boiler or a heat pump?
It depends on your property, budget, and long-term plans. A boiler is a lower upfront cost and works well with existing radiators. A heat pump has higher initial cost but lower running costs and qualifies for the £7,500 BUS grant. We can talk you through both options honestly.
Air conditioning
(5 questions) Can air conditioning heat as well as cool?
Yes. Modern split systems are reversible heat pumps — they provide efficient cooling in summer and supplementary heating in winter, all from one unit. That makes them a practical year-round solution.
How much does home air conditioning cost?
A single-room split system typically starts from around £1,500 installed. Multi-room setups cost more depending on the number of indoor units and the complexity of the installation. We provide a free survey and quote.
How noisy are modern air conditioning units?
Very quiet. Indoor units from brands like Daikin and Mitsubishi operate from as low as 19 dB(A) — quieter than a whisper. Outdoor units are also significantly quieter than older models.
How long does installation take?
A single-room system can usually be installed in one day. Multi-room systems may take 2-3 days depending on the property and the number of units.
Do I need planning permission for air conditioning?
In most cases, domestic air conditioning falls under permitted development rights. There are some restrictions for listed buildings and conservation areas. We advise on this during the survey.
Commercial solar
(4 questions) How quickly will commercial solar pay for itself?
Most commercial solar installations pay for themselves within 3-5 years through energy bill savings and tax incentives. Larger systems and higher energy usage typically see faster payback periods.
Can I claim tax relief on a solar installation?
Yes. Commercial solar installations qualify for capital allowances, allowing businesses to deduct the full cost from taxable profits in the year of installation.
How much roof space do I need for commercial solar?
A typical 50kW commercial system needs around 200m² of roof space. We conduct a free site survey to assess your roof and design a system that maximises your available area.
Will commercial solar panels work on a flat roof?
Yes. Flat roofs are ideal for commercial solar as panels can be mounted at the optimal angle using ballasted frames, without penetrating the roof membrane.
Commercial battery
(4 questions) What is peak shaving?
Peak shaving uses battery storage to reduce your maximum power demand during expensive peak hours. The battery discharges to supplement grid power, lowering your demand charges significantly.
Can commercial batteries provide backup power?
Yes. Commercial battery systems can be configured to provide automatic backup power during grid outages, protecting critical business operations.
How do commercial batteries earn revenue?
Commercial batteries can participate in grid services like frequency response, demand-side flexibility programmes, and energy trading to generate additional income alongside bill savings.
Can a commercial battery work with existing solar?
Yes. Battery storage integrates seamlessly with existing solar installations to store surplus generation and maximise your self-consumption rate.
Workplace EV charging
(4 questions) Do you handle workplace EV charging for multiple sites?
Yes, we manage multi-site installations with centralised billing, load management, and ongoing maintenance. We also handle OZEV workplace charging grant applications.
Can employees be charged for using workplace chargers?
Yes. Our installations include billing integration so you can offer free charging as a perk, charge at cost, or set a commercial rate for staff and visitors.
What is the OZEV workplace charging grant?
The OZEV Workplace Charging Scheme provides funding towards the cost of installing EV charge points at workplaces. We handle the full grant application process on your behalf.
How does load management work?
Smart load management distributes available power across all chargers dynamically, so you can install more charge points without expensive electrical upgrades.
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Our accreditations
Accredited, certified, and backed by independent standards
NICEIC Approved
D124458
Electrical contractor
Gas Safe Register
947841
Gas appliances
Heat Geek Trained
Heat pump design specialists
TrustMark
Government endorsed
Quality scheme
SafeContractor
Approved
H&S accredited
ISO 9001
2015
Quality management
ISO 14001
2015
Environmental management
ISO 45001
2018
OH&S management
PAS 2030
:2019
Retrofit standard
NAPIT
Member
Electrical inspection
F-Gas Certified
Air conditioning refrigerant
NICEIC Approved
D124458
Electrical contractor
Gas Safe Register
947841
Gas appliances
Heat Geek Trained
Heat pump design specialists
TrustMark
Government endorsed
Quality scheme
SafeContractor
Approved
H&S accredited
ISO 9001
2015
Quality management
ISO 14001
2015
Environmental management
ISO 45001
2018
OH&S management
PAS 2030
:2019
Retrofit standard
NAPIT
Member
Electrical inspection
F-Gas Certified
Air conditioning refrigerant
Every accreditation listed is independently verified. We carry the registration numbers — ask for any on request.
Question we haven't covered?
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