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Blog Post 21 October 2024

Heat pump installation: a step-by-step guide

Installing a heat pump is an effective way to heat your home that could save you money on your energy bills and reduce your CO2 emissions.

If you’re looking to install a heat pump, you might have a few questions about the process:

  • How do I get a heat pumped installed?
  • How long does it take to install a heat pump?
  • How do I find a heat pump installer?

Our step-by-step guide will take you through the heat pump installation process. From finding the right heat pump, how to find financial support and how to get started, we’re here to help.

Each type of heat pump will have a slightly different installation process, but some steps will stay the same regardless.

For this guide, we’ll look at the installation process for the most common type of heat pump in the UK: an air-to-water heat pump.

1. Decide if a heat pump is right for you

Whatever type of home you live in, there is likely to be a feasible heat pump solution. However, different heat pumps are more suitable for different circumstances, so it’s important to choose a technology that meets your needs.

Use Go Renewable to find out

Go Renewable, a free online assessment tool developed by us and MCS, can help you find out which type of heat pump is right for you. The tool recommends suitable renewable technologies based on information about your home.

Live in Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Bristol or Oxfordshire? You can also use Go Renewable to:

Hear from heat pump owners

Home Energy Scotland’s heat pump heroes have shared why they made the switch to clean heating. You can find out more about different people installed a heat pump and the difference it’s made to their lives.

The Green Homes Network features stories from people in Scotland who’ve installed renewable technologies. You can even visit Green Homes Network members to see what they’ve installed in person or attend a Green Homes Network event.

Nesta’s visit a heat pump service lets you visit homes with heat pumps so you can hear the experiences of heat pump owners. It’s a great opportunity to learn how heat pumps work in day-to-day life plus ask any questions you might have.

2. Check if you can get a grant

An air source heat pump can cost around £14,000 to install. You can get financial help towards to the cost of a heat pump depending on where you live and your circumstances.

If you live in England and Wales, you can get £7,500 towards an air source heat pump via the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.

If you live in Scotland, you might be able to get help from Home Energy Scotland.  It offers interest-free loans or grants to help with the cost of installing a clean heating system (such as a heat pump).

If you live in Northern Ireland, the NI Sustainable Energy Programme (NISEP) may be able to provide financial support, depending on your circumstances.

3. Find an installer

We recommend you use MCS’ find an installer tool to get quotes from at least three reputable installers.

MCS is a UK Government-backed quality assurance scheme that certifies renewable products and installers. By getting three quotes, you can find an installer who provides the best value.

Your heat pump installer will assess your property and help you decide which heat pump is most suitable for your home and your needs. They’ll calculate your home’s heat demand and other information to inform their recommendations.

They’ll also tell you about any changes you should make to your home to help your heat pump run as efficiently as possible.

Once the installer has assessed your home, they’ll provide a personalised quote.

An electrician installing a heat pump in a garden on a sunny day.

4. Choose your heat pump

Once you’ve chosen an installer, you can accept the quote. If you’re eligible for funding, make sure you understand if this has been accounted for. If you’re in England or Wales, then your installer should apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme for you and should deduct this from their price.

There are many heat pump manufacturers, so your installer should work with you to choose one that meets your budget and your heating requirements.

5. Prepare for installation: make any recommended home improvements

Before installing a heat pump, you may need to make some home improvements to make sure your home is ‘heat pump ready.’ Your installer will work with you to design a heating system that meets your needs.

6. Install the heat pump

Now comes the actual installation of the heat pump. The example we’re giving is based on choosing an air-to-water heat pump and needing a hot water cylinder.

The installer will install the heat pump unit outside of your home. These external units vary in size, but may be as much as 1 metre by 1.5 metres, taking up about  the same space as two wheelie bins.

Installing a ground source heat pump? Your installer will need to dig trenches or boreholes and lay pipes in your garden as well.

They’ll also put the hot water cylinder in position somewhere inside your home, ready to be connected to the plumbing later. A hot water cylinder should fit in a space of around 80cm x 80cm.

If you have a boiler, the installer or a Gas Safe-register engineer will need to remove this.

Next, they’ll make any changes to the pipework or radiators and flush the system to make sure it’s clean.

Next up: plumbing in your heat pump to connect it to the central heating system. The heat pump will also need to connect to your electricity supply. Your installer may hire a qualified electrician to do this.

Once everything is connected, the installer will install any thermostats or heating controls for your heat pump. They’ll then perform final checks to make sure everything is running as it should.

And that’s it! Your installer will show you how to use your new heating system efficiently. They’ll also give you warranty information, instructions and documentation to make sure you’re set up and ready to go.

Many heat pumps run a regular ‘Legionella cycle’, which raises the hot water temperature to eliminate harmful bacteria that can live in hot water system. Speak to your installer or check the instruction booklet to find the steps you need to take for your heat pump model.

No other gas appliances? If your boiler was the only gas appliance you had, then you can get your gas connection removed. You’ll then not have to pay the standing charge for gas. Get in touch with your energy supplier who should be able to arrange this for you. There may be a charge for this.

7. Ongoing maintenance

Your installer will give you contact details in case of any problems as well as for arranging a service.

You should service your heat pump annually, like you would a fossil fuel boiler or other heating system.

Keep an eye on how your heat pump works, particularly during colder weather. Knowing what’s ‘normal’ for your heat pump means you’ll be able to spot any problems early. If any problems do arise, contact your installer to arrange a visit.

Other questions you may have about installing a heat pump

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Last updated: 21 October 2024