What to look for when choosing a heat pump installer?

If you’re considering purchasing and installing a heat pump into your home, then you might have heard a lot of rumours about how much they cost and how efficient they are and even heard the odd horror story or two.

On the face of it, you might think that this is a fault of heat pumps themselves. However, almost every case that our installers have found of air source heat pumps that aren’t working has been down to an incorrect installation. So, in order to find the best heat pump, you need to find the best installer too.

Why is choosing the right installer important?

If you’re looking to make your heating system more sustainable, then installing an air source heat pump is probably on your list of options to consider. Government grants and initiatives have helped the number of heat pump installations to rise rapidly over the last year , with almost 60,000 installed in 2024, a 43% increase from the year before. 

Despite this, there is a huge shortfall in the number of trained heat pump installers. The rapid growth in demand for heat pumps has meant some companies and individuals have started to offer installation services without adequate training.

This lack of experience and training often leads to faulty installations, the impacts of which can be huge. Not only does it lead to inaccurate rumours about the performance of heat pumps, but can lead to serious problems for homeowners too, including losing their heating and hot water, huge energy bills and the costs of fixing the problem.

Choosing a trusted, reliable installer means they will guide you step-by-step through the installation process and provide you with:

• A heat loss survey: this survey will look at the heating requirements of your house and show where heat is being lost in a building. This will help to determine which renewable heating system is right for your house.
• An honest opinion: heat pumps are not always the right option for all heating systems in all houses, particularly ones that aren’t insulated or double glazed. A trusted installer will give you their honest opinion on whether they think a heat pump is right for your home or not.
• An installation plan: Getting the installation right is key. A heat pump has specific requirements, e.g. being on the outside of your home in a space where there’s free air flow. An installation plan ensures that the heat pump is put in the best place and works most efficiently with your heating system.
• Guidance on the right type of air source heat pump: the specific heating requirements of your house will dictate the type of air source heat pump required. It’s not a one-size-fits-all sort of installation, so it’s important that you are given the correct heat pump for the job.
• A high-quality installation: you may think that changing your heating and water system is a big, messy job, but it really shouldn’t be. A good installer will ensure the process is smooth, the job is tidy and that you are never left without hot water or heating for too long, even if the installation takes a few days.

How can you find an MCS accredited installer?

 The Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) sets the industry standard for renewable products and installations.

When choosing an installer, make sure you ask for evidence of their MCS certification. This will ensure that they’ve been fully trained to install your heat pump correctly.

The MCS also offers its own directory of contractors, so you can easily find a qualified air source heat pump installer near you.

What should you ask an air source heat pump installer?

Before you book any consultations with installers, we’d recommend doing a bit of research around the different options available to you.

As well as looking at a heat pump, you may want to consider other options, like installing solar panels and a storage battery.

Once you feel confident that a heat pump will meet your needs, its time to book some consultations with installers. Here’s a check list of things you can do before install.

• Your quote for yor heat pump: This should be bespoke your property and your requirements. Don’t be afraid to ask your installer as many questions as you woud like so that you understand the quote and what it contains.
• MCS accreditation: Your installer should have certification to prove they’ve achieved this industry standard. You can check this on the MCS website.
• Visit a heat pump: Nesta has a great scheme where you can visit a heat pump. You can talk to the homeowner and ask them what it is like living with a heat pump at home. 
• Check the company’s reviews: Look and see if the copany is on Trustpilot or another independent review site.  Check these reviews to see if they’ve got the experience and level of service you need and how their previous installations have gone.

What questions should the installer ask you?

Any installer looking to do a thorough job will have lots of questions to ask you about your heating system and requirements, including:

• Which parts of your home need to be heated and how (for example, if you have underfloor heating): this will help to determine the requirements of the system.
• What radiators you currently have. The installer will work out if you need any radiators replacing as part of the installation.
• When you will need a heat loss survey carried out for your home.  This should be completed as a standard part of the installation process.
• Where you want the heat pump to go. In some cases heat pumps may require planning permission before installation

In conclusion

Choosing the right air source heat pump installer doesn’t need to be complicated or daunting. With some simple research, you can find an installer you can trust to deliver an efficient heat pump system that will serve you for many years to come.

Don’t hesitate to give us a call on 01255 821443. Alternatively, you can fill out a call-back request form and a member of the team will be in touch.