Getting it done
Choosing an installer
For a heat pump or solar panels, the installer you choose decides most of how well the system works. This page covers what to check and what to ask.
What to check
- MCS certification for the technology you want. You need it for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and the Smart Export Guarantee. Search the MCS register.
- A consumer code. MCS installers must belong to RECC or HIES, which protect deposits and handle complaints.
- Recent jobs like yours. Ask to speak to a past customer with a similar home.
Get at least two quotes. They can differ a lot in price and in what they include.
What a heat pump quote should include
- A room-by-room heat loss calculation, done after visiting your home.
- The flow temperature the system is designed for, and the efficiency it expects at that temperature.
- Which radiators change, and why.
- Where the outdoor unit and cylinder go, and a noise check for your neighbours.
- Controls, how the system is commissioned, and how they'll show you to use it.
- Warranties, servicing, and the grant, taken off the price.
Questions to ask
- What flow temperature will it run at in the coldest weather?
- What happens if the house isn't warm enough after it is fitted?
- How will you set it up, and will you come back to adjust it after the first winter?
- Who do I call when something goes wrong?