We were worried about energy prices in the long term and wanted to get off fossil fuels. That was a big motivation. We knew we were eligible for the heat pump grant, and combined with solar panels and a battery it felt like a solid package to reduce our running costs and bills long term.

I had heard of heat pumps, but I was not super aware of what they involved. I had actually got them confused with ground source heat pumps, so I did not realise an air source heat pump could just be a unit outside the house. Once I did my research, I was a lot less scared. I had been worried it would cost more than we could afford and take up more space than we had. But actually, it is not that big, and air source heat pumps are a lot more efficient and future-proof than I thought.

The main thing was the upheaval. The chaos of having work done and not knowing exactly how everything was going to look once it was in place. The engineers who came to do the survey were really good at talking through where things needed to go, but we were not 100% certain how to prepare. Honestly though, they have been great, just getting on with it and telling us what they need as they go. Cost concerns were the other thing. In this day and age, you want to know when it is going to pay for itself. The information Improveasy provided was really clear. It laid out what you could expect, how much you would pay and over what period of time. That made it a lot easier to figure out how to make it work for us.

We found out through Greater Manchester's approved engineers list, and Improveasy was one of them. We did the sensible thing and got several quotes. With Improveasy, we had the best experience in terms of communication, the information we were given and the speed at which it came through. Financially, the quote was in the middle, but it was the one that worked best for us overall. Whenever you have tradespeople in your home, there is always a worry about whether you will be able to communicate with them properly. We have had bad experiences in the past. With Improveasy, everyone spoke to us in a really clear and engaging way. They did not talk down to us, and I felt like I could trust them. That professional experience was a huge part of the decision. Everyone from Improveasy has been genuinely lovely, and that made a big difference.

Quick, way quicker than I ever imagined. From the initial call with Paul, to Dave coming out to do the survey, to the engineers arriving for the installation, it has all moved really fast. That has been really useful, because this kind of project can drag on for ages. Knowing exactly what was happening and when meant we could plan around it properly, arranging for family members to stay elsewhere during the installation week so they were not disrupted. We also looked at Trustpilot and read through other customers' experiences before committing, which was really reassuring.

Yes, I think they have explained everything they need to really well. I was a bit worried we had not done enough to prepare before they started, but they just let us know when they need something and sort it out themselves. No issues at all with how they communicate. It has been really nice.

Absolutely. They asked if they should take their shoes off, they put protective film on the stairs, and they tried to keep things tidy when they left yesterday evening. They asked before moving anything. I have not felt disrespected in my own home at all. It has felt really good.

Worrying about energy prices and bills a lot less, honestly. And just being excited to see how it all works. I am really looking forward to seeing how the solar panels charge the battery, how much we can sell back to the grid, and how we can tie it all together with our electric car. With the heat pump, solar panels, and battery all working together, it feels like we are really taking control of our energy use. It is exciting to see it come together.

Not really, no. The information Improveasy provided covered the technical efficiency of the heat pump and was upfront about the limitations too, which I appreciated. They also explained what to expect from the solar panels and battery storage. Any new technology takes a bit of getting used to. I am a tiny bit worried about accidentally damaging the unit since it is outside, but I know it is built to be out there in the rain. I am expecting a handover at the end where we go through how to look after everything and things like whether to update our home insurance. I feel quite confident going into that. Ultimately, I am really motivated to make it work. It feels like the right thing to do long term, and it is about getting more energy independence and autonomy over our power.

Do your research, and talk to people who have had an air source heat pump installed for a significant period of time, so they can give you their real experience. I would also say that gas boilers are not going to work forever. It is not a system that can be sustained, and at some point we all have to make that change. The more of us that do it, the easier it gets for everyone else, and everyone ultimately benefits. There is a real community importance to making this shift. And beyond that, I think it will make energy price fluctuations less scary for everyone. Having that energy independence, not having to rely on anyone else, is really powerful. With solar panels and a battery on top, you are generating and storing your own energy. You just have the sun.

We found it professional and well communicated, and it has made us feel hopeful about the whole process, which I think is the most important thing. That professional experience really stands out.

Excited to see the effects, and excited about the conversations we are going to have with our neighbours. Everyone on this street loves to give an opinion, so I am sure they will want to talk to us about the heat pump and solar installation!