Frequently Asked Questions

A typical 4kW residential solar panel system costs £6,000–£8,000 in Cornwall including installation and 0% VAT (saving you 20% on the total cost). A 6kW system costs £8,500–£12,000. Cornwall generates 3,800–4,200 kWh/year from a 4kW system — 19% above the UK average — giving a typical payback of around 8.6 years solar-only, or 7.2 years with battery storage. Annual savings are typically £700–£1,000.

Yes, solar panels generate electricity from daylight, not direct sunshine. They produce less on overcast days — typically 10–25% of peak output — but they still work. The UK gets enough sunlight for solar to be a sound investment, with average systems generating 3,500–4,500 kWh per year depending on location and roof orientation.

The number of panels depends on your electricity usage and available roof space. A typical UK household uses 3,500–4,500 kWh per year, which a 10–12 panel system (4–5kW) can offset. If you're adding an EV charger or battery, you'll want a larger system. We assess your usage and roof during the free survey to recommend the right size.

The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) pays you for excess solar electricity you export to the grid. Best current rates (April 2026): Good Energy at 25p fixed, Octopus Intelligent Flux averaging ~25p (32p peak for battery owners), EDF Empower Export at 18p, and British Gas at 15.1p. We register you for the SEG as part of your installation. With a battery, you can store daytime solar generation and export strategically when rates are highest.

No. Solar panels are mounted on rails attached to your roof battens with hooks that slide under existing tiles. No tiles are removed or drilled through. The mounting system is weatherproof and the panels actually protect the tiles beneath from rain and UV damage. We inspect your roof structure during the survey to confirm it can take the additional weight (around 20kg per panel).

Modern solar panels are warranted for 25–30 years and will continue to produce electricity beyond that. Most panels degrade at around 0.3–0.5% per year, meaning after 25 years they still produce 87–92% of their original output. The panels we install from JA Solar carry 30-year product and performance warranties.

A typical 4kW solar PV system in Cornwall costs around £6,500 with 0% VAT — enough for most 3-bed homes. A 5kWp system is roughly £7,500 solar-only or about £11,500 with a 5kWh battery, and a 6kWp system £8,500-£10,000. Battery storage adds £4,000-£5,000 for a 5kWh unit. We give a fixed written quote within 24 hours of a free survey.

Yes. Cornwall receives roughly 1,290 kWh/m² of annual solar irradiance (PVGIS, Truro/Redruth reference) — around 19% above the UK average and the highest of any English county. A typical 4kWp system here generates about 3,900 kWh a year, saving £650-£950 annually once you factor in self-use plus the Smart Export Guarantee. With a battery and a smart tariff, payback is typically 7-9 years and the panels carry a 25-year performance warranty.

A typical 3-bed Cornwall home needs a 4kWp system — around 10 panels — to cover most daytime demand. A larger 4-5 bed home, or one with a heat pump or EV, is usually better suited to a 5-6kWp system of 12-16 panels. The exact number depends on roof size, pitch and aspect, which we confirm at the free survey.

Most Cornwall homes fall under permitted development, so no planning permission is required. Listed buildings, conservation areas (including parts of Truro, Fowey, Falmouth and St Ives) and properties in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty need planning consent. As a local installer we handle the application for you and advise on panel placement to keep heritage approvals straightforward.

A 4.5kWp south-facing array in Cornwall generates around 4,400-4,500 kWh of solar power a year thanks to the county's high irradiance. East or west-facing roofs still produce roughly 3,500-3,800 kWh, and a split east-west array can suit homes without a south aspect. We model your specific roof at survey so the output figure on your quote reflects your actual property, not a national average.

Solar PV panels generate electricity from daylight, not direct heat or sunshine, so Cornwall's bright, mild climate is ideal. Panels actually perform better at lower temperatures, and Cornwall's coastal position gives long daylight hours. Even on an overcast Cornish day a system still produces around 10-25% of its peak output, which is why annual generation here beats most of the UK.

There is 0% VAT on all domestic solar and battery installations until 31 March 2027 — a saving of roughly £1,000-£3,000 on a full system. The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) pays you for electricity you export, and ECO4 / GBIS funding can cover eligible low-income households via Cornwall Council partner schemes. "Free solar panels" schemes are usually ECO-funded for qualifying households; we can check your eligibility honestly rather than over-promise.

For most Cornwall homes, yes. A 5kWh battery lets you store daytime solar power and use it in the evening instead of buying from the grid, typically lifting self-consumption from around 40% to 70-80%. Paired with a time-of-use tariff you can also charge cheaply overnight. It adds £4,000-£5,000 but materially improves savings, and as it is fitted with the solar it qualifies for 0% VAT.

MCS certification is required to claim the Smart Export Guarantee and proves the install meets the national standard. CCS Heating & Renewables is MCS certified and based in Pool, Redruth (TR15), so we survey, install and service across the whole of Cornwall ourselves — no remote sub-contracting. With 200+ installs and a 5.0/5 rating from 14 reviews, you get genuine local accountability for the life of the system.

Ask for the MCS certificate number and look the company up on the public register at mcscertified.com. MCS certification is granted per technology, so check it covers solar PV and not only heat pumps. It matters beyond quality: a system has to be installed by an MCS-certified installer to be eligible for the Smart Export Guarantee, which is what pays you for the electricity you export. Also ask who applies to the distribution network operator — anything above 16A per phase (3.68kW) needs a G99 application approved before commissioning, not a G98 notification afterwards.

A battery significantly increases the value of your solar panels. Without a battery, you typically use only 30–50% of the solar energy you generate — the rest is exported to the grid at 15–25p/kWh. With a battery, self-consumption rises to 70–90%, meaning you use your own free solar energy instead of paying 24.67p/kWh from the grid. A 9.5kWh battery system costs £4,500–£7,000 installed (at 0% VAT). In Cornwall, battery storage typically pays back in 5–7 years.

Modern lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) home batteries — including Foxstar and Tesla Powerwall — are warranted for 10 years and designed to last 15+ years. LiFePO4 chemistry is the safest, most stable battery chemistry available, with no thermal runaway risk and excellent long-term capacity retention.

Yes, batteries can be retrofitted to any existing solar PV system. We install AC-coupled battery systems (such as the Foxstar or Tesla Powerwall) alongside your current inverter, compatible with any solar system regardless of age. A retrofit typically takes 1 day and we handle all DNO notifications. The 0% VAT rate applies to battery storage installed alongside solar.

Yes — some home batteries including the Tesla Powerwall and certain Foxstar configurations provide backup power during a grid outage, automatically switching to battery power when the grid fails. This is a particularly useful feature for rural properties in Cornwall where power cuts can occur. Not all batteries include backup as standard, so we advise on this when recommending a system.

Foxstar and Tesla Powerwall are our most frequently installed systems. Foxstar offers excellent value, strong UK customer support, and modular capacity. Tesla Powerwall has a sleeker design, excellent software, and strong backup power features. The right choice depends on your budget, whether backup power matters to you, and whether you want to expand capacity in future. We install both and provide impartial advice.

Yes — retrofit battery storage can be added to virtually any existing solar PV system. We typically install an AC-coupled battery alongside your existing inverter. For older systems with a failing inverter, we may recommend replacing it with a hybrid model. A retrofit installation typically takes 1 day and we handle all DNO notifications.

A new gas combi boiler swap typically costs £1,800–£3,000 fully installed. System boilers with a hot water cylinder cost £2,500–£4,000. Prices vary by brand and complexity — moving the boiler location or upgrading pipework adds cost. We fit Worcester Bosch and Vaillant boilers with manufacturer warranties of up to 10–12 years when installed by an accredited installer.

A straightforward combi boiler swap typically takes 1 day. If we're moving the boiler location, converting from a system boiler to combi, or upgrading pipework, it may take 2–3 days. We always confirm the timeline during the initial survey so there are no surprises.

As a general rule, if your boiler is over 10 years old and needs a repair costing more than £400, replacement is usually more cost-effective. Modern boilers are 90%+ efficient compared to 60–80% for older models, meaning lower energy bills. We can advise on the most cost-effective option during a free assessment.

A gas boiler should be serviced annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Annual servicing maintains your manufacturer warranty, ensures safe operation, identifies problems before they become expensive breakdowns, and keeps the boiler running at peak efficiency. Skipping a service can void your warranty and leaves safety checks undone.

A like-for-like gas combi swap is £1,800–£3,000 installed, with most landing at £2,200–£2,500. A system boiler with a hot water cylinder is £2,000–£3,500, and a full system replacement including radiators runs £3,500–£6,000 or more. Our prices include removing the old boiler, a chemical flush, commissioning, the Building Regulations compliance certificate and warranty registration. We survey before quoting rather than price a boiler from a photograph.

Price the heat pump before you decide. Around 47% of Cornish homes have no mains gas, and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme pays £9,000 towards an air source heat pump where the property is heated by oil or LPG with no gas connection — £7,500 otherwise — with that off-gas uplift running to 31 March 2027. The grant goes to the installer and comes off your invoice, and there is no equivalent for a replacement oil boiler, so the two options can land closer together than people expect. We fit both and are OFTEC and Gas Safe registered, so ask us for the comparison.

A home EV charger typically costs £850–£1,300 fully installed. Popular models include the Zappi (which can divert solar energy to your car), Ohme Home Pro, and Easee One. Installation usually takes half a day. The OZEV grant (£500) is £500 per socket since 1 April 2026 and is for flats, renters, landlords and on-street residents — not homeowners with a driveway. If you have solar panels, a smart charger like the Zappi can charge your car using free solar energy during the day.

Yes — and it is one of the most cost-effective EV charging options available. A smart EV charger like the Zappi or Ohme can detect when your solar panels are generating surplus electricity and automatically divert it to charge your car. On a sunny day, this means effectively free car charging. Customers with solar and a smart EV charger typically source 50–70% of their car charging from solar throughout the year.

If you don't have solar panels, an EV-specific off-peak tariff can save significantly on charging costs. Tariffs like Octopus Intelligent and Octopus Go offer rates as low as 7–10p/kWh overnight, compared to the standard rate of 24.67p/kWh (Ofgem Q2 2026). Smart chargers like the Ohme and Zappi integrate directly with these tariffs to schedule charging automatically. If you have solar, a time-of-use tariff combined with smart charging means you can charge cheaply from the grid overnight and from free solar during the day.

Only in specific circumstances. The scheme that paid homeowners closed in March 2022. What remains is the OZEV chargepoint grant at £500 per socket — the rate for every OZEV chargepoint grant since 1 April 2026 — for renters and flat owner-occupiers, for landlords, and for households with no off-street parking through the on-street residential scheme. Businesses claim £500 per socket for up to 40 sockets under the Workplace Charging Scheme. The work must be done and claimed by an OZEV-authorised installer. If you own a house with a driveway, assume no grant and judge the quote on its own merits.

For almost every Cornwall household, yes. At 3.5 miles per kWh — typical for a mid-size EV — a 7.4kW charger returns roughly 25 miles of range per hour against about 10 from a 3kW unit, so a seven-hour off-peak window is the difference between around 175 miles and around 70. 22kW needs a three-phase supply, which is uncommon in Cornish homes outside farms and converted commercial buildings.

Yes. Retrofit underfloor heating uses slim-profile systems (as thin as 15mm) that can be laid over existing floors. It's most practical during a renovation, extension, or kitchen/bathroom refit. We typically install wet (water-based) systems connected to your central heating, which are more efficient than electric mats.

Absolutely. Single-room underfloor heating is one of the most popular retrofits, particularly for kitchen extensions, bathrooms, and conservatories. A single zone is connected to your existing central heating system via a manifold and zone valve. The project typically takes 1–2 days including screeding or overlay installation.

Yes — ceiling cassette air conditioning is one of our most-requested commercial installs in Cornwall. A cassette unit sits flush in a suspended ceiling and throws air in four directions, making it ideal for shops, cafés, offices, salons and holiday-let communal spaces where wall space is limited. We install Mitsubishi Electric, Daikin and Samsung cassettes from around £2,000–£3,500 per unit fitted, including F-Gas certified refrigerant work, condensate management and controls. Cassettes also reverse-cycle, so the same unit provides efficient winter heating at COP 4+.

Yes. A multi-split system runs two to five indoor units — any mix of wall splits, cassettes and concealed ducted units — from a single outdoor condenser, which keeps outdoor space and planning impact to a minimum. It is the most popular whole-house option we fit in Cornwall, typically £3,500–£7,500 installed depending on the number of rooms and pipework runs. Each room gets its own remote and temperature setpoint, and modern outdoor units run at 45–55 dB, quiet enough for most boundary positions under Permitted Development.

Key incentives available in 2026: 0% VAT on solar and battery storage (saves 20%, guaranteed until March 2027); Smart Export Guarantee paying up to 25p/kWh for surplus solar; Boiler Upgrade Scheme (up to £9,000 grant for heat pump installations, runs to March 2028); Warm Homes: Local Grant (up to £30,000 for EPC D–G homeowners with income below £36,000); and ECO4 for qualifying low-income households (runs to December 2026). We help identify and apply for all available funding as part of our service.

MCS certification means the installer meets rigorous industry standards for design, installation quality, and consumer protection. It's required to access the Smart Export Guarantee for solar and is the benchmark for quality across all renewable energy installations. MCS certified installers follow strict quality management processes and their work is independently audited. Always check your installer's MCS certificate number.

Yes. We offer 0% finance options for qualifying customers, allowing you to spread the cost of solar, battery, and other installations over 24–60 months with no interest. Subject to credit approval, finance is arranged through a regulated lender. Ask us for details during your free survey or see our finance page for more information.

For most installations, the timeline is: free home survey (1–2 weeks from enquiry), design and quotation (within 1 week of survey), system order and scheduling (2–4 weeks depending on equipment availability), installation (1–3 days on site). In total, most customers go from first contact to a completed installation within 6–8 weeks.

A hot water cylinder stores domestic hot water ready for use. If you currently have a combi boiler, you do not have a cylinder. Adding a cylinder is worthwhile if you are upgrading to a solar diversion system (the Mixergy cylinder can absorb surplus solar to heat water for free) or improving hot water pressure. We advise on whether your current setup can benefit from a cylinder upgrade during the free survey.

A new unvented hot water cylinder costs £800–£1,500 for the unit, plus installation of typically £400–£700. The Mixergy smart cylinder, which includes solar diversion and AI learning, is our premium recommendation for solar panel owners. Megaflo is our standard recommendation for reliability and mains-pressure hot water.

Cylinder sizing depends on the number of people in your household and peak demand. As a guide: 150 litres for 1–2 people, 200 litres for 3–4 people, 250–300 litres for 5+ people. We calculate the right size based on your household demand as part of our survey.

CCS guide prices are £1,500–£2,800 for a single-room wall-mounted split, £3,500–£7,500 for a multi-split serving two to four rooms, £2,000–£3,500 per ceiling cassette and £4,000–£9,000 per ducted zone. A permanently fixed unit installed in a home is zero-rated for VAT until 31 March 2027; installations in business premises carry 20% VAT.

A ceiling cassette is an indoor air conditioning unit that sits flush in a suspended ceiling, with a square grille that sends air out in several directions. It suits shops, cafés, offices and large open-plan rooms. It needs enough depth in the ceiling void and a route for condensate, either by gravity or with a small pump.

Usually not for a reverse-cycle unit. Since 29 May 2025 an air-to-air unit that is not used solely for cooling can be permitted development under GPDO Part 14 Class G, provided it meets MCS 020 a) including a 37.0 dB(A) noise limit, with one outdoor unit on a terraced or semi-detached house and two on a detached house. Listed buildings, and walls or roofs fronting a highway in a conservation area, need permission.

In a home, usually yes. HMRC's VAT Notice 708/6 says most air conditioning units are air source heat pumps, so a permanently fixed unit installed in residential accommodation is zero-rated until 31 March 2027 and then 5%. Portable units do not qualify, and air conditioning installed in shops and offices is standard-rated.

A home can get £2,500 through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme for an air-to-air heat pump that fully replaces the existing fossil-fuel or electric heating, such as storage or panel heaters. It is for residential properties in England and Wales, excludes new builds other than self-builds, and is claimed by an MCS-certified installer.

Most split systems will not restart their compressor for about three minutes after being switched off, so refrigerant pressures can settle and the compressor is protected. If a unit does not start straight away after you turn it back on, wait a few minutes before treating it as a fault.

It depends on what you need it to do. A reverse-cycle system heats as well as cools, so in a home it can replace electric panel or storage heaters — which is when it can qualify for the £2,500 grant as well as 0% VAT. A cooling-only unit gets neither the grant nor householder permitted development rights.

A complete ground source installation in Cornwall is typically £18,000-£32,000 before grants: £11,500-£16,800 for the heat pump, cylinder, controls and commissioning, plus £6,000-£14,000 for trenched or slinky ground loops or £12,000-£22,000 for vertical boreholes. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme takes £7,500 off, or £9,000 until March 2027 if you are replacing oil or LPG and have no mains gas connection, and installations in homes are zero-rated for VAT until 31 March 2027.

Two, mainly: cost and disruption. The ground array is most of the extra money over an air source system, and it means either trenching roughly 2.5 times your heated floor area or drilling boreholes. On a small garden the trench option disappears and drilling is the only route. Against that, the heat pump sits indoors with no outdoor unit, seasonal efficiency is typically 4.0-4.8 against 3.0-3.5 for air source, and the buried loop long outlives the heat pump itself.

For horizontal collectors, roughly 2.5 times the heated floor area of the house, trenched at about 1.2-1.5 m deep — so a 150 m² house needs something like 375 m² of diggable ground. Slinky coils fit the same collector length into shorter trenches. Where there is no land, vertical boreholes of typically 90-150 m each replace the trenches and take a fraction of the surface area.

It is more efficient and more expensive. Ground temperatures here stay around 9-12°C all year, so a ground source system runs at a seasonal efficiency of about 4.0-4.8 against 3.0-3.5 for air source, with no outdoor unit and no noise assessment. Air source costs roughly half as much to install and fits any property. Since the Boiler Upgrade Scheme now pays the same for both, the decision comes down to available land, disruption and how long you will own the house.

Air source heat pumps on houses are permitted development under Class G of Part 14 of the GPDO as amended on 29 May 2025 — one unit on a terraced or semi-detached house, two on a detached house, up to 1.5 cubic metres, meeting the MCS 020 a) standard including a 37.0 dB(A) limit at a neighbour's window. In a conservation area or the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site the unit cannot go on a wall or roof fronting a highway, or nearer a highway than the house. Listed buildings need permission. Ground source heat pumps have no Part 14 limits.

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme pays £7,500 towards an air source or ground source heat pump, rising to £9,000 until March 2027 where the home is heated by oil or LPG and has no mains gas connection, and £2,500 towards an air-to-air heat pump that fully replaces existing heating. Your MCS certified installer applies and deducts it from the invoice. The loft and cavity insulation precondition was removed in May 2024 and the valid-EPC requirement in April 2026; new builds are excluded unless self-built.