With consumer demand for air source heat pumps rocketing as levels surge by 316%, Andy Royle, managing director and co-founder of double-qualified sales lead provider Leads 2 Trade, says the air source heat pump (ASHP) market is no longer a niche sector but a mainstream heating solution.
The growth potential of the air source heat pump market has been mooted for the last few years, but whether that potential has been reached is very much open to debate.
From homeowners remaining unconvinced by them due to cost or their effectiveness in older or poorly insulated properties, to poor take up from initiatives like the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), forecasts have tended to be on the optimistic side.
Unprecedented developments in consumer demand, however, suggest that is changing. While ASHP-related Google search impressions have increased by 875% year on year, a 316% increase in consumers actively seeking ASHP installation quotes through our platforms compared to the previous year provides the most compelling evidence about the market’s upward trajectory.
What’s particularly encouraging is the quality of these leads. These aren’t speculative or enquiries – they’re submissions coming from serious buyers who want to upgrade to an ASHP as a viable alternative to traditional heating systems, largely driven by increasing awareness of the government’s enhanced Boiler Upgrade Scheme, energy costs and growing environmental concerns.
However, there’s a gap in the market that needs addressing. While consumer demand continues to surge, we’re seeing a shortage of MCS-certified installers capable of meeting this demand and the timing couldn’t be better for heating engineers looking to diversify their business and enter the ASHP market.
There is a big difference between interest and demand; this isn’t just a statistical spike; it represents a significant shift in how homeowners are approaching their heating solutions – and ASHPs.