Our friends over at the Renewable Heating Hub have been busy building an AI platform to help consumers learn more about heat pumps. From the initial stages of enquiry, through to the operational challenges of flow temperatures and buffer tanks, error codes and system cycling, it’s a steep learning curve for all homeowners. And when something goes wrong late at night, on a weekend or during a holiday, getting help can feel impossible.
Most of us are familiar with the Chat AI concept: you can ask a question, clarify and then ask more questions to an AI bot who will never give you a sideways glance should you ask a silly question. So we decided to give the suitably named ‘Wattson’ a try and see how it faired against some of the Flexi-Orb technical experts. And yes, we did ask the odd silly question or two.
It certainly gave us some accurate information, and instead of just answering our questions, it also followed up with offers to go further, such as to calculate running costs based on our own individual circumstances. It then went on to calculate comparisons with our existing heating systems. It knew what the average hot water consumption was for design purposes and it offered advice on finding suitably qualified installers, if we were interested in an expert quote, through their vetted network, even suggesting questions that we should be asking them. We also liked that it reminded us to ‘Always consult a professional for precise system design’.
Wattson is the UK’s first AI-powered assistant dedicated to helping homeowners with heat pumps and renewable heating. Available 24/7 on the Renewable Heating Hub, the designers tell us that it is there when support lines are closed and installers are out of reach – offering fast, accurate, jargon-free guidance in seconds.
It’s been trained using trusted, real-world knowledge from the Renewable Heating Hub and the Homeowners’ Q&A podcast, plus insights from some of the UK’s most experienced heat pump installers. Whether you’re seeing an error code for the first time, confused about your system’s flow temperature, trying to ascertain if weather compensation is activated or trying to work out if your heat pump is performing as it should, Wattson can help you find the answers, without having to wade through pages of technical manuals or scattered internet advice.
When we asked if we could have a pink heat pump, it suggested that maybe we could work with an installer to arrange a custom paint of our unit. It even offered to help us find one and said it was a fun idea!
Founding Editor of the Renewable Heating Hub, Mars, said:
We believe Wattson is more than just a helpful tool. It’s a growing public resource designed to take the pressure off homeowners and give them more confidence in managing their low-carbon systems.
And we’re just getting started. We’re actively reaching out to manufacturers to help us expand Wattson’s knowledge of specific products, so that in time, it can offer smart, top-line troubleshooting advice for different heat pump models. Not to replace tech support, but to give homeowners clear, quick answers when they need them most.
Like all AI models, Wattson is still learning and welcomes feedback to train and refine his knowledge base.
Try Wattson today at renewableheatinghub.co.uk and let us know your thoughts in the comments. We think it’s a great idea!
