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39 questions answered plainly

Straight answers. No small print.

If your question isn't here, call 0800 229 4094. A surveyor rings back within the hour, day or night. Grant rules change. Everything below is accurate as of May 2026.

  • TrustMark
  • BBA
  • RECC
  • IWA
  • Energy Saving Trust
25-yr product · 5-yr install guarantee

Serving the United Kingdom

Category

About OMEGA

Who we are, where we work, and what the free survey actually involves.

  • Who is OMEGA and where do you work?

    OMEGA Energy Solutions is family-run, started by Sean Crisell in 2020. Headquartered in Colchester, with own crews working in every English region and across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The East of England is our densest patch — where most of our 4,200+ installs since 2020 have landed — but we install nationwide. Every person on the job is on our payroll, not a subcontractor. The surveyor who walks your house is the same name on the phone if anything needs fixing in year four. Book a free home energy survey and you'll meet the people who do the work, usually within a week of getting in touch.

  • What does the free home energy survey include?

    A free 45-minute home visit from one of our surveyors. They walk every room, get into the loft, check your heating, your EPC, your usage and your eligibility for grants and funding — all in one go. It runs 45 minutes, not five, because a proper survey is the only honest way to give you fixed-price numbers. Rushed quotes are how homeowners end up with surprise bills mid-job. Book a slot, we'll come round, and you'll have a written plan in your inbox within 48 hours. No charge, no pushy follow-up, and the plan is yours either way.

  • How long does an installation take?

    Loft insulation is typically half a day. Cavity wall is a single day. Solar PV is 1–2 days. Air-source heat pumps take 2–4 days depending on radiator work. External wall insulation is the longest job — 5–10 days depending on the property and access. The exact schedule is in your written plan before any work starts, and we stick to it.

  • How do I know I can trust an OMEGA installer in my home?

    Every OMEGA install is TrustMark-registered, PAS2030-compliant, and where relevant MCS-certified — the same standards required by every UK grant and funding scheme. Every person on site is on our payroll, not a subcontractor. You can verify us yourself: the footer of every page links to our entries on Companies House, the TrustMark register, the MCS register and Trustpilot. Independent checks, not OMEGA-controlled badges.

  • What guarantees do I get?

    Every upgrade we install comes with a 25-year product guarantee and a 5-year installation guarantee — both as standard, both in writing on the day of handover. The product warranty is the manufacturer's standard cover (Knauf, GivEnergy, Mitsubishi etc.); the installation cover is OMEGA's own promise that we come back and fix anything that's our fault, free, no hourly rate. Both are TrustMark-backed, which means they stay valid even if we ever stopped trading. Your home is protected by an independent scheme, not just by us.

  • Will I be pressured by a salesperson?

    No. The surveyor leaves you the written plan and walks away. We never call back unless you ask. Two follow-ups maximum — one to confirm you got the plan, one to ask if you have questions — then silence, forever. It is in writing in your survey pack and it is one of our five named guarantees.

  • What if an upgrade isn't right for my home?

    We tell you. £1.4m of work we declined last year because the maths didn't add up — a heat pump for a poorly insulated home, solar on a heavily shaded roof, EWI where IWI was the better fit. The survey plan still ships in full. We just don't bid for the work that wouldn't pay back. It is one of our five named guarantees and it sits in writing in your survey pack on the day.

  • Do you cover my postcode?

    Yes — we install nationwide. Own crews work every English region and across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with our densest coverage in the East of England where we started. The postcode tool tells you within 10 seconds, or ring 0800 229 4094 and we will confirm survey availability on the call.

  • Are there any hidden fees?

    No. The price you see on the quote is the price you pay. We do not charge for surveys, grant applications, EPC re-rates after installation, or post-install snagging. The only times the number changes are if you ask us to do additional work or if we discover something during install that genuinely requires it — and we will always agree it with you in writing first.

  • Should I get more than one quote?

    Yes — we always recommend it. A second or third quote helps you sense-check the spec, the cost and the installer before committing. Make sure every quote is from a TrustMark-registered, PAS2030-accredited (insulation) or MCS-certified (solar/heat pump) installer. If anyone refuses to put their accreditation numbers on the quote, walk away.

  • What happens if something goes wrong after install?

    Ring the post-install support line — the number is on the back of every commissioning certificate. We aim to have an engineer on site within 48 hours for any heating, hot water or solar issue, and within 5 working days for cosmetic or non-urgent matters. The 5-year workmanship guarantee covers parts and labour at no cost to you.

  • Why does OMEGA refuse some jobs?

    About one in twelve enquiries, we tell the homeowner the work isn't worth doing on their specific property. That might be solar on a roof close to end-of-life, a heat pump on a working three-year-old combi, or external wall insulation on a property where internal would do the same job at less cost. Our reputation depends on saying so on the day. We would rather lose the sale than fit something that doesn't pay back.

Category

Grants and funding

ECO4, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, and SEG — what you qualify for and how we handle the paperwork.

  • Am I eligible for ECO4 funding?

    You'll likely qualify for ECO4 if your household receives a qualifying benefit (Universal Credit, Pension Credit, ESA, Income Support and several others) or if your home is in EPC band D-G and household income sits below ~£31,000 under the LA Flex route. The rules change council to council, and the paperwork puts most homeowners off. So we run the eligibility check on the survey instead. You tell us your postcode, we come back inside 48 hours with what applies to your specific home.

  • How much is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant?

    £7,500 off the cost of an air-source heat pump and £7,500 off a ground-source unit — applied directly to your OMEGA quote, not refunded later. The application is handled end-to-end by us; you don't see a form or a deadline, and you only pay the net price after Ofgem has confirmed the grant. Book a survey and we'll tell you on the day exactly what your final after-grant figure looks like, alongside any ECO4 top-ups you might also qualify for.

  • What is SEG and how does it work with solar?

    The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) is a tariff paid by your electricity supplier for surplus solar power you export to the grid. Rates vary — typically 5–15 p/kWh. We advise on the best SEG tariff to switch to once your panels are commissioned.

  • Who does the grant paperwork?

    We do — all of it. From the initial eligibility check, through the funding application and TrustMark registration, to the post-install lodgement. You sign two documents at the start and one at the end.

  • What is ECO4 LA Flex and how do I qualify?

    LA Flex (Local Authority Flexible Eligibility) is the route into ECO4 for households who do not receive qualifying benefits. There are three routes: Route 1 — household income under £31,000/year; Route 2 — anyone in the home has a health condition exacerbated by living in a cold home (respiratory, cardiovascular, immunosuppression, child under 5, age 65+); Route 3 — EPC E, F or G at the local authority's discretion. We submit the LA Flex application on your behalf with no fee.

  • Which properties qualify for the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme?

    Owner-occupied or privately rented homes in England and Wales with a valid EPC less than 10 years old, no outstanding loft or cavity insulation recommendations on the EPC, and where you are replacing a fossil-fuel system (gas, oil, LPG, electric storage). Replacing an existing heat pump does not qualify. New-build homes do not qualify.

  • Can I combine multiple grants on the same project?

    Often, yes. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (heat pumps) can be combined with ECO4 funding for the loft and cavity insulation needed to make the heat pump work efficiently. Solar PV is zero-VAT-rated until March 2027 and works alongside the SEG export tariff. We sequence and stack everything you qualify for so you get the maximum funded across the whole project.

  • How long does grant approval take?

    ECO4 with qualifying benefits — usually 5-7 working days from survey. ECO4 LA Flex — typically 7-14 working days depending on which local authority you fall under. BUS — applied at quote stage; the £7,500 is deducted before you pay anything. We never ask you to pay full price and chase the rebate.

Category

Insulation

Loft, cavity wall, and external insulation — fitted by our own team.

  • Which insulation types do you fit?

    Loft insulation (mineral wool, 300mm), cavity wall insulation (bonded bead or polystyrene), external wall insulation (EWI) for solid-wall homes, and room-in-roof insulation for converted lofts. We'll recommend the right type based on your property age and construction.

  • Is cavity wall insulation safe? I've heard about damp issues.

    On properties suitable for CWI it is safe and effective — but not every home is suitable. We survey the wall, check the exposure zone, and only proceed if it's the right fit. Where there's any risk of damp we'll recommend EWI or internal insulation instead.

  • How much could loft insulation save me?

    A semi-detached home upgrading from no loft insulation to 300mm typically saves £300–£450 per year on heating (Energy Saving Trust figures). The work is often fully funded under ECO4, so the saving is pure gain.

  • When should I choose multifoil over PIR or mineral wool?

    Multifoil wins when rafter or ceiling depth is tight and you cannot afford to lose headroom — typical room-in-roof retrofits, loft conversions and listed-building rafters. For an open loft with full headroom, mineral wool is cheaper and equally effective. PIR is best for new-build rafters or where the cost-per-mm of thickness matters more than headroom. We will recommend whichever is right for your property — not whichever pays us more.

  • How much does external wall insulation (EWI) cost?

    Typical 2026 EWI cost on a UK semi-detached is £9,500-£14,000 fully fitted, depending on render finish and complexity. ECO4-eligible households often have this fully funded. Self-funded prices include scaffolding, EPS or mineral wool boards, mesh-and-render system, decoration and 25-year material warranty. Planning permission is rarely required outside conservation areas — we'll advise on the survey.

  • Can you insulate suspended timber ground floors?

    Yes. We lift floorboards in a sequence that lets the family stay in the house, fit mineral wool or sheep wool insulation between the joists with mesh nets supporting it, then re-bed and reinstate the floor. Typical install for a 3-bed semi takes 2-3 days and saves £180-£280/year on heating. ECO4 funds it in full for eligible households.

  • What is ProPERLA wall coating and how is it different from paint?

    ProPERLA is a BBA-certified breathable wall coating that reduces water absorption by 96% while still allowing the wall to release moisture vapour outward. Conventional masonry paint is the opposite — it stops both water in and moisture out, which traps damp inside the wall fabric. ProPERLA carries a 25-year material warranty and is the only product we use for coastal or driving-rain exposure properties.

Category

Solar PV and batteries

Panels, inverters, battery storage, and the Smart Export Guarantee.

  • How much can solar panels save me per year?

    Most UK homeowners save £850–£1,150 a year on electricity bills with a 4 kW system, plus another £150–£250 in Smart Export Guarantee payments for the kWh they don't use themselves. The actual figure depends on your roof orientation, shading, household pattern (work-from-home, retired, weekday-empty) and your current tariff. Which is why we never quote a flat number. We'll model your specific home on the survey using your last 12 months of bills and MCS-approved irradiance data, so the savings figure on your quote is yours, not a brochure average.

  • Is a battery worth it alongside solar?

    For most households, yes — a 5 kWh battery typically lifts self-consumption from 35% to 70%+. Payback is usually 6–9 years. We quote with and without a battery so you can see the numbers and decide.

  • What if my roof isn't ideal?

    East–west splits work well in the UK — we lose about 15% versus south-facing, which is often outweighed by matching solar output to when you use electricity. Shading is a bigger issue; we'll flag it on the survey and suggest optimisers or a different bank if needed.

  • Which electricity tariff should I switch to with solar?

    For most homes: Octopus Outgoing Fixed at 15p/kWh on the export side, paired with whatever import tariff is cheapest in your region. If you have a battery, consider Octopus Cosy or Intelligent Octopus (off-peak windows of 7p/kWh) on import. We include a tariff recommendation with every commissioning handover so you can switch on day one.

  • Does fitting solar panels void my roof warranty?

    No, provided the install is MCS-certified and uses non-penetrating mounting kits compatible with your tile or slate type. We use rail-mounted brackets that hook over the rafters under existing tiles — no holes drilled into the roof membrane. Every install includes a roof condition photo report and a separate weatherproofing warranty alongside the 25-year panel warranty.

  • Can I have solar panels on a flat roof?

    Yes — flat roofs use ballasted A-frame mounting systems that sit on top of the membrane without penetration, angled at 10-15° for optimal generation. The mounting weight (typically 35-55 kg/m²) is checked against the roof structural rating during the survey. Output is 5-10% lower than an equivalent pitched south-facing array but still well within payback windows.

Category

Heat pumps

Air-source heat pumps, running costs, and typical upgrade paths.

  • How does an air-source heat pump actually work?

    It extracts heat from outside air using a refrigerant cycle — similar to a fridge running in reverse. Every 1 kW of electricity in delivers 3–4 kW of heat, so running costs are typically 20–35% lower than gas and far lower than oil or LPG.

  • Will I need new radiators with a heat pump?

    Sometimes, but rarely all of them. Heat pumps run at a lower flow temperature (around 45°C) than a gas boiler, so a few radiators may need upsizing to deliver the same heat output. The honest answer depends on your existing radiator sizes versus each room's heat-loss calculation, which we run room-by-room on the design survey. Any radiator changes that are actually needed sit on your fixed-price quote in writing, before we accept the job. There are no mid-install surprises and no “we discovered something” invoices.

  • Can I keep my gas boiler as a backup?

    Yes — a hybrid setup is an option on some properties and the heat pump does 80–90% of the work with the boiler covering the coldest days. Pure heat-pump installs are more efficient but we'll only recommend what suits your home.

  • Will my heat pump need planning permission for noise reasons?

    Most ASHP installs fall under Permitted Development (PD), which requires the outdoor unit to sit at least 1m from the property boundary and meet a 42 dB(A) noise limit at the nearest neighbouring window. We do an MCS-compliant noise calculation on every survey using the exact unit specification and your boundary distances. If PD will not work, we will flag it before quote and recommend a quieter unit or alternative siting.

  • Do heat pumps still work in freezing weather?

    Yes — modern ASHPs operate efficiently down to -15°C. UK design standards size the unit for a -3°C external temperature, with 5-10% headroom. In a typical English winter you will see the unit run a brief defrost cycle every 60-90 minutes during sub-zero periods, which is normal and accounted for in the SCOP rating. The system was sized for the worst few days of the year, not the average.

  • When should I choose ground source over air source?

    Ground source (GSHP) makes sense when you have garden or paddock space for ground loops or a borehole, you are off the gas grid (replacing oil at £1,800-£2,800/year — payback halves), the property is listed or in a conservation area where an outdoor ASHP unit is unacceptable, or you want a 25+ year asset with very long compressor life. For most suburban homes, ASHP is the right answer — same £7,500 BUS grant, 50-70% lower install cost.

Question not answered here?

Call 0800 229 4094, a surveyor rings back within the hour, Mon–Sat. Or book a survey and ask us everything in person.

The plan is yours to keep. Take it to two other installers if you like.

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