Installing a heat pump is an effective way to heat your home that could save you money on 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:
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.
The Warm Homes Plan is set to invest close to £15 billion in improving the UK’s homes to cut energy bills.
For people on low incomes, there’ll be fully funded government support to install heat pumps.
There’ll also be low and zero-interest loans available for homeowners regardless of income.
We’ll update this guide when we know more.
For more information, read our blog on what the Warm Homes Plan means for you.
Whatever type of home you live in, there’s 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 system that meets your needs.
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.
An air source heat pump can cost around £11,000 to install. You can get financial help towards to the cost of a heat pump depending on where you live and your circumstances.
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) or heat network connection.
If you live in Northern Ireland, the NI Sustainable Energy Programme (NISEP) may be able to provide support, depending on your circumstances.
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 to your home and heating system that would help your heat pump run as efficiently as possible. This will often include fitting larger radiators (which the installer will include in their quote). But it could also include some insulation improvements that you would need to arrange yourself.
Once the installer has assessed your home, they’ll provide a personalised quote.
Once you’ve got the quotes, review them. Each quote might have different options compared to the others.
Remember: the cheapest option might not be the best for you.
Make sure you are comparing quotes that contain all the necessary works, such as:
Replacing pipework is particularly likely if you have microbore. This is pipework that has a smaller diameter than standard central heating pipes. This can make heat pumps struggle to transfer water fast enough to the radiators to adequately heat your home.
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.
It’ll take a few days for the heat pump to be fitted and your heating system will be turned off for most of that time.
Installing a heat pump installation during winter? Your installer will probably lend you some electric heaters to help you keep warm while they plumb the new system in.
If you are planning any insulation improvements, you’ll probably want to get these finished before the heat pump is fitted. This will make sure that your new system will heat all of your home adequately from day one.
You don’t need lots of home insulation to have a heat pump. But, like any heating system, heat pumps work best when they’re in a well-insulated home.
Improving the insulation of your home makes your home more comfortable and reduces your heating costs by:
We’ve based installation on choosing a standard air-to-water heat pump .
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. That’s around the same space as two wheelie bins.
They may need to build a platform for the unit to stand on, if the existing ground covering isn’t suitable. They might dig a soakaway if there is no suitable drain.
Installing a ground source heat pump? Your installer will need to dig trenches and lay pipes in your garden, or drill boreholes for vertical pipes, to extract heat from the ground. These pipes are then connected to the heat pump unit itself, which is usually fitted inside the home rather than outside, though it could be in an outhouse or garage.
Heat pumps don’t provide hot water on demand like a combi boiler, so you’ll need another way to provide hot water. Usually your installer will fit a hot water cylinder to store water that’s been heated by the heat pump ready for when you need it. If you already have a hot water cylinder it will probably need to be replaced with one suitable for the heat pump.
If you don’t have room for a hot water cylinder, your installer can suggest other options available to you. These might include:
Heat pumps typically send hot water to radiators at a lower temperature than an equivalent fossil fuel central heating system, often between 35-45°C . But you can still heat your home effectively with a heat pump by:
Larger radiators have a larger surface area, so they emit more heat into the room even though the water temperature is lower. This doesn’t necessarily mean you need to give up more wall space, though:
The installer will connect the heat pump and hot water cylinder to your existing heating and hot water system. They’ll also replace any pipework that needs to be upgraded. They should also flush out the system. This is to get rid of any sediment that has built up over the years or has been introduced while plumbing in the new equipment.
The heat pump will also need to be connected to your electricity supply. Many installers will bring in a separate electrician for this, who will also connect the controls.
Once the system is all in place, connected and filled, the installer will start commssioning. This involves turning the system on to check that everything is functioning, checking for leaks, bleeding air out of the system, balancing the radiators etc.
Once everything is working as it should, your installer should take time to make sure you understand:
They’ll also give you warranty information, instructions and documentation to make sure you’re set up and ready to go. Make sure you also get their contact details in case you have any questions down the line.
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. You can get in touch with your energy supplier, or you can ask your installer if they can arrange this for you. There may be a charge for this.
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.
Energy Saving Trust is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (716195) and delivers the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan mentioned on this page via Home Energy Scotland on behalf of Scottish Government. Loans are subject to eligibility and terms and conditions.
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Last updated: 22 May 2026
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