MPs are hearing that gas engineers are hesitant to undergo retraining to become heat pump installers
Gas engineers are hesitant to switch careers and become heat pump installers due to the intricate nature of the installation process and concerns about system malfunctions, a professional in the gas engineering field informed MPs.
In a meeting with the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee, Mark Crowther, a member of the Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers, highlighted that engineers are apprehensive about transitioning to heat pump installation because their current work in gas engineering provides more stability.
According to Crowther, engineers are prioritizing maintaining their gas engineering certification as it allows them to consistently earn good income by servicing condensing boilers and completing landlord certifications.
He noted that whereas installing two condensing boilers in a day can bring in money, installing heat pumps requires more time for speculative work such as site visits and design, which may not be as financially beneficial.
Furthermore, Mr. Crowther emphasized that engineers view heat pump installation as risky due to frequent callbacks for malfunctioning systems and the overall complexity of the process.
He pointed out that many professionals in the industry have shared stories of returning to installations that were not functioning properly, leading to concerns about negative customer reviews.
Heat pumps operate on electricity and utilize a reverse refrigeration process to extract heat from the air or ground for indoor heating, in contrast to traditional boilers that rely on natural gas or heating oil. The government aims to have 600,000 heat pump installations by 2028 as part of its strategy to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Increased Expertise Needed for Heat Pump Installation
Crowther also highlighted that installers require more specialized skills when working with heat pumps, as they must conduct more assessments and make accommodations for new equipment during the installation process.
He explained that installers need to account for buffer tanks, domestic hot water tanks, and other factors that may differ from conventional installations like combi systems.
Crowther expressed skepticism about the demand for gas engineers to transition into heat pump installation, but acknowledged the presence of “green enthusiasts” who are eager to pursue training in this area.
