Detached property, hosted by Laura

The installation process is bound to be changing all the time and ours took from October 2024 (expression of interest) to April 2025 (installation). Our project was unexpectedly delayed as Storm Eowyn temporarily disrupted the factory producing and testing Octopus Cosy 9 in N Ireland.  

After the initial Octopus survey, which confirmed we had a suitable property, standout requirements from us were: obtaining an EPC rating as we did not have one (cost paid by Octopus), moving one electric socket and clearing out the cupboard housing our then current hot water tank for easy access. Likewise making sure there was access to our cold water tank and all radiators. Plus outside: clearing the area pinpointed as a suitable location for the heat pump by the survey engineer and obtaining a cover for an existing airbrick there. Finally, we had to change the kitchen plinth heater to one compatible with a heat pump system. As we also took the opportunity to remove our gas supply, we replaced our gas hob with an electric induction one and the engineering team sorted the capping of our gas supply. 

For a few days before installation, we agreed to house an enormous pile of heating kit in our garden shed and on our driveway (covered in tarpaulin). Installation took one week as promised, and it rather took over our lives, but in a positive way! The team were prompt and conscientious and they aimed to keep disruption to a minimum. 

After successful initial testing at installation, as it is summer, our pump so far is only supplying us with hot water. However that is working very efficiently. We have never run out of hot water, despite it only being timed for two one-hour slots daily, those during our "cheap electricity" periods. The app is the best way to control our system and, while it takes some getting used to, there is always the online manual to consult, or the helpline team.