I don't think that anyone was trying to convince people on this thread that they should switch to a heat pump. It was just a question of "are they a waste of money". For some poeple, probably (eg, if you live in Texas, they are probably a waste of money, or if you don't have a suitable house). But that's not to say they are a waste of money for everyone.
I agree, I have wandered off track a bit. Like you say it all depends on your circumstances.
Exactly this.
They're actually still the recommended option for small flats (<100m2 I think??) - there was a report somewhere that analysed the options for different households and those small flats are not particularly cost-effective for heat pumps as they don't really have the room for a hotwater tank etc, and if you're doing direct heating of showers etc you might as well just go for direct-electric space heating as well. But once you get >100m2 then the balance tips back towards heat pumps.
It's a nice idea, but in reality the "vibes" people get from mainstream media are enough to stop them even doing the research, they just decide a heat pump is "not for them" and "it all seems a bit complicated and I don't have time" and don't look any further.
This is a 150yo single-skin building with a heat pump achieving a SCOP of 4.44 : https://skill-builder.uk/heatgeek
Sorry I stand corrected. Just worried if it doesn't work there's no going back.
Why no going back?
It would definitely be a waste of money to pay for a heat pump and then have to pay to have oil heating refitted.
Why wouldn't it work?
Follow the money as they say.
That's completely understandable. Obviously buildings that old come with their own problems, and they tend to be "one-offs" with their own unique peculiarities. I think all you can do in that situation is make sure you deal with someone who has been properly trained and really knows what they're talking about - these things are a bit complicated and the local cowboy can screw up even a bog-standard house let alone one like yours.
