PLUMBING & DRAINAGE
EFFICIENCY GAINS GROUND O
After being talked about for years, interest in, and demand for, renewable heating is taking hold.
ver the past 12 months, the shift in home heating towards electrification has become much more visible on the ground. Policy developments
such as the Future Homes Standard, updates to permitted development rights for heat pumps, and continued backing for incentives like the Boiler Upgrade Scheme are all reinforcing the movement towards low-carbon technologies. At the same time, rising energy costs and ongoing global instability are pushing homeowners to look more closely at how their homes are heated and powered.
What has been less certain for the merchant sector, however, is how quickly this shift is taking hold with installers at the customer level. In early 2025, City Plumbing aimed to better understand just that. Through its Taking the Temperature research, it surveyed 500 plumbers and heating installers to understand current thinking, levels of training and appetite for learning, as well as the barriers to diversifying into renewables. What it found was just how seriously the trade is taking the transition. Over half (58%) of plumbers and heating installers said they had already trained in heat pumps, with a further 34% planning to do so by the end of 2026.
Translating demand
Chief commercial officer Hemal Morjaria, says that, with just 8% not already trained or planning to be, it’s clear that installers recognise home heating is changing and are keen to position themselves for future demand.
“In fact, the drivers for upskilling are both commercial and practical. Over a third (37%) expect customer demand for heat pumps, in particular, to increase, while 34% see renewables as a way to stand out in a competitive market. The research also showed that progress is not uniform across the UK. Wales, the East Midlands, the North West and Scotland all reported over 70% of installers already trained in heat pumps, giving them a strong installer base.
PIPE FREEZE TURNS 60
Arctic Hayes’ UK business unit director, Lee Parsons, explores the benefits of its iconic Pipe Freeze product.
P 40
ipe Freeze kits create a temporary, solid ice plug within a pipe so you can isolate sections of the system without the need to drain it. This ice plug can withstand pressure, allowing plumbers to work on the pipes without the risk of thawing and leaks. The result? Speedier, more manageable repairs and increasingly important, an eco- friendly solution.
Our Pipe Freeze kits in particular can reduce job time by an average of 85%, based on a two-hour drain down and refill. There is no need to locate a stop-cock or service valves and it also reduces the potential for water spillage and property damage.
There are three different types of kit in the range - ‘Aero’, ‘Professional’ and ‘Electric’ – and each caters for a range of pipe sizes and applications, so choosing the right one for the job at hand is really easy.
Plus, any product which contains everything you need to get the job done, help cut time and can be explained in seconds, has a great chance of making its way out of the merchant’s stock room and into the customers’ van. Well-informed trade counter staff can be a catalyst for sales growth and we have produced informative videos, technical website pages and interactive tools that quickly and easily explain what products are used for, and how to choose
He continues: “Since completing our research, demand from homeowners has changed over the last year. Rising energy costs and, most recently, the conflict in the Middle East, have made energy efficiency and resilience more immediate concerns. Solar PV, battery storage and heat pumps are increasingly being considered together as part of a broader approach to energy use. At the same time, policy changes and funding support are helping remove some barriers to adoption, making low-carbon systems more accessible.”
At branch level, Morjaria says the company is seeing this translate into increasing engagement. “Trade days, roadshows and training sessions
Morjaria says it is encouraging that areas with lower current training levels often show the strongest intent to catch up. That suggests the gap is closing, but it also highlights the importance of maintaining access to training in these areas.
Despite strong engagement, there are still factors slowing progress. Cost of training remains a key barrier, cited by 28% of installers, while a lack of local courses (24%), difficulty in taking time off work (24%) and too much competition (20%) were also reasons against training in renewables. A fifth (20%) said they haven’t trained or plan to train as they will retire soon.
the right kit for the job in hand. The website also has plenty of additional resources including FAQs, instructional videos and a “Find Your Freeze” selector tool. These tools help users pick the most appropriate kit for the job based on pipe size and application. Equally, informative POS is a great way to encourage purchases of high margin, fast moving product lines. An intelligently designed display can profoundly amplify product visibility.
Opportunity
Our research shows that only a third of installers across the UK are typically using pipe freeze, which represents a significant opportunity for merchants. This untapped potential lies in introducing them to the advantages of pipe freeze.
As plumbers and installers discover the time and cost savings, they are more likely to transition from traditional methods. This means merchants stand to benefit from not only the
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net June 2026
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