pump:chic is an online platform that helps homeowners considering a heat pump experience what it would be like to live with one before making the switch. The company offers augmented reality tools to visualize equipment in a home, audio samples to hear the sound, and guidance to simulate heat pump heating with an existing boiler. It also features AR models of real heat pump products from manufacturers like Ebac.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Homeowners considering a heat pump face a significant barrier: they have no way to experience what the technology looks, sounds, and feels like in their own home before committing to a costly installation. This uncertainty makes it difficult to choose the right system and reduces confidence in the decision to switch from a gas boiler.
Solution
pump:chic provides a free, web-based "test drive" that lets homeowners experience a heat pump in their own space. Using augmented reality on a smartphone or tablet, users can place realistic 3D models of heat pump equipment in their home, repositioning and resizing them to see how they would fit. The platform also offers audio recordings of a heat pump running at full capacity, with guidance on setting the correct volume, and instructions for adjusting a condensing combi boiler's flow temperature to simulate the gentle, continuous warmth of heat pump heating. This multi-sensory approach demystifies the technology and helps users make more informed decisions about installation, with additional resources and manufacturer-specific AR models available.
Target Audience
Primary users are UK homeowners who are curious about or actively considering switching from a gas boiler to a heat pump, as well as heat pump manufacturers and installers looking to showcase their products to potential customers.
Features
- Augmented reality tool that places 3D models of heat pump equipment in a user's home, with touch controls for repositioning, rotating, and resizing
- Audio library with heat pump sound recordings and instructions for setting the correct volume to simulate real-world conditions
- Step-by-step guide for adjusting a condensing combi boiler's flow temperature to mimic heat pump heating, including safety warnings about hot water tanks
- AR models of real heat pump products from manufacturers like Ebac, with links to contact them directly
- Integration with social media platforms for sharing photos and videos of the AR experience
- Links to external resources including Nesta's boiler optimization guide, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, and a home suitability tool