From Breakdown to Breakthrough – How the ZEB Brought Comfort and Control Back to a Home in Transition
About You & Your Home
We live in a three-bedroom townhouse in Whitstable, Kent. It’s just the two of us most of the time, but with lots of grandchildren and family popping in and out, there’s never a dull moment. We like to keep things ready for anything – whether that’s an unexpected visit, a family meal, or a spontaneous sleepover with the grandkids.
We had an air source heat pump, which came with the house when we first moved in, but we’ve never been entirely happy with it. It’s been expensive to run and offers limited control over heating settings. In addition, repair and maintenance costs have been high, as it’s a Swedish system and parts and servicing aren’t always readily available locally. Overall, we’ve not been satisfied with the system.
We started looking for a new heating system because the existing one was going to be very expensive to repair, and it just didn’t feel worth it. Our main motivation was to have better control and peace of mind – something reliable and easy to manage. A secondary factor was wanting to make a more sustainable choice for the long term.
Why You Chose the ZEB
We weren’t keen on the idea of burning fossil fuels to begin with, but our main motivation for switching was to have a more reliable heating system in place after what we’d experienced in the past. The fact that our new system is climate-friendly is a wonderful added bonus!
We first heard about tepeo via a local plumbing company, who mentioned SGS as a heating installer based in Ramsgate, Kent – not too far from us. After speaking with them, SGS surveyed our property and recommended the tepeo ZEB as a good fit for our needs.
We chose the ZEB because it offered more control over our heating, and we wanted something reliable. We had made a space for it in the garage and put up a stud wall to keep a more even and insulated temperature for the ZEB.
Did you consider anything else? If so, what helped you make the final decision?
We were considering the ZEB and another heat pump, but ultimately, we felt the ZEB was the right choice for us and our set-up.
What factors were most important in choosing a low-carbon heating system?
1. Reducing my carbon footprint
This was of course an important factor but not the main driver.
2. Running costs and smart energy use
We really liked the idea that the ZEB could tap into the off-peak window – especially as our previous bills had been so high.
3. Easy installation and minimal disruption
After our challenging experience with the previous system, we were looking for something that could be installed efficiently and with minimal disruption to the house.
4. tepeo’s approach and values
Both SGS and tepeo were professional, helpful, and put us at ease immediately. The survey was thorough and detailed, which gave us confidence that we were in very capable hands.
Getting Set Up
During installation, we found that everyone worked really well as a team. There was a bit of disruption for a few days while the floorboards were lifted, mainly to remove the old system, but once the work was completed, everything was put back neatly, and we were good to go.
Removing the existing heating system was the biggest job, but the team kept going steadily until the work was completed.
Living with the ZEB
We’ve had our ZEB for over 4 weeks now, having experienced our first winter month with it.
The ZEB is performing really well and is easy to understand, even though it’s a new system for us. It’s keeping the house warm – no more layering up in vests!
The radiators actually get hot now, which is a lovely change from before when they never really heated properly.
We also have much better control over the temperature. Features like Away Mode and Boost Charging are fantastic and so easy to use from a mobile device which is very convenient.
I like to check on things occasionally via the app – it’s really reassuring to see what the system is doing and make any adjustments if needed.
Your Thoughts So Far
The biggest benefit has been feeling the house getting warm again without the fear of loss of control over the heating system. We feel we have peace of mind again. It’s also been great to have our upstairs cupboard space back having removed the old system!
We’ve already had three neighbours come by so we could show them how it works. We feel it’s important to let people know what options are available.
And Finally…quick fire round!
What advice would you give to someone who’s thinking about getting a ZEB?
It’s definitely worth exploring if you’re considering a new heating solution. If you’re curious, you can arrange for the team to carry out a survey to see if it’s the right fit for your property. There was no pressure to buy – they really just wanted to see if it would suit our heat requirements and lifestyle.
Anything else you’d like to share?
We chose the Octopus Cosy tariff as it gives us eight hours of low-cost electricity. We’ve had fantastic support from tepeo and SGS as an installer every step of the way, which makes us feel reassured and confident that we can trust their services.