Welcome back to Piped Up – and this time we're covering the government's crackdown on late payments, the rise of plug-in solar panels, and why hydrogen is officially off the table for home heating. Plus, we've got another round of Callum's fault finding quiz, Rob shares the most common heating mistake costing homeowners money, and a question for the audience about press guns. We kick things off with some genuinely good news for tradespeople – the UK government is finally cracking down on big businesses making late payments. Late payments are costing the economy around £11 billion a year and linked to roughly 50,000 business closures. The new rules include a 60-day cap on payment terms, mandatory interest on late payments set above the Bank of England's base rate, and stronger powers to fine repeat offenders. There are concerns that 60 days could just become the new norm where it should probably be 30. We discuss whether this goes far enough, how the interest penalties actually work, and why smaller businesses still end up chasing invoices while bigger companies take their time. From there, we get into plug-in solar – a new government-approved option that's already popular across Europe, especially in Germany. These systems allow you to literally plug a solar panel into your standard three-pin plug, with the big appeal being that it's simple, affordable, and rent-friendly. One example being thrown around suggests a £400 panel could pay for itself within 4 years, though more realistic estimates put it closer to 5 to 7 years. We discuss the importance of warranty periods, whether the payback calculations are realistic, and how plug-in solar could work for renters, g or anyone looking for a low-commitment way to reduce their energy bills. Then we tackle the big one – hydrogen is off the table for home heating. The government has officially scaled back its hydrogen ambitions, saying it's just not likely to be used widely for home heating. The focus is shifting towards electrification, with hydrogen likely being reserved for heavy industry or niche uses. We discuss why this decision makes sense from a cost and practicality standpoint, the safety concerns around hydrogen, and what this means for the thousands of engineers who were told hydrogen was the future. We also touch on an online discussion around a massive natural hydrogen reserve in Mali, the challenges of transporting and using it, and whether future governments could reverse course on hydrogen policy. On the lighter side, we dive into another round of Callum's "Find The Fault" quiz – where James and Rob work together to diagnose heating system issues from cryptic clues. From trapped air and sludge build-up to short cycling boilers and faulty zone valves, we work through 5 scenarios and rack up the points. It's a proper test of real-world plumbing knowledge, and we reckon installers watching will be shouting the answers at the screen. We also get into some future tech speculation – from self-driving cars launching in the UK this year, to humanoid robots, AI-powered surgery pods, and the next generation of domestic tech. We discuss how energy costs need to come down for any of this to work at scale, whether fusion reactors will ever become a reality, and how quickly society adapts to change that once seemed impossible. Rob answers a customer question about the most common heating mistake he sees – drying clothes on radiators. Everyone does it, but it massively reduces heat output by blocking airflow and convection. We're actually running lab tests to quantify exactly how much heat output is lost and how much it costs homeowners in extra heating bills. The solution? Magnetic towel bars that sit above the radiator, allowing you to dry your towels or clothes without blocking the heat. We show off the new product launching soon – adjustable, available in multiple finishes, and a simple fix that could save you money. We wrap up with a question for the audience: What's your preferred choice of press guns? REMS, Novopress, Milwaukee? What do you use, why do you prefer it, and how does it perform in tight spaces? Let us know in the comments! Whether you're an installer navigating late payments and industry changes, a homeowner trying to cut your energy bills, or just here for the trade banter and practical tips – this episode delivers. Looking for Radiators or valves? Check out https://ukradiators.com/ Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview 00:00:30 Late Payment Crackdown for Small Businesses 00:06:06 Plug-In Solar Revolution: What You Need to Know 00:14:55 Hydrogen Heating: Off the Table for UK Homes 00:33:35 Find the Fault Quiz Game 00:47:45 The Towel on Radiator Mistake Costing You Money 00:53:33 Question for the Audience: Press Gun Preferences
