Heat Pump Installation: What to Expect Start to Finish
Heat pumps are fast becoming the ‘go to’ replacement for traditional fossil fuel boilers.
While we would always recommend a greener solution to your heating needs, we know that heat pumps have been given a bit of a bashing in the press.
This is usually down to expecting too much and misinformation, in our opinion.
A heat pump will happily keep most homes toasty warm, other homes may need a few modifications and a small number of properties will be unsuitable for heat pumps.
We know navigating the whole ‘green energy’ minefield can get a bit overwhelming, so we’re going to take you though the process of having an air source heat pump fitted, from beginning to end.
Choosing an installer
The first thing you need to look for in an installer is experience.
Modern plumbers will have a great deal of knowledge about heat pumps, but may not have fitted many, so make sure you’re looking at the correct kind of fitter.
Renewable installers have been around heat pumps for years now, and they will be regulated by the relevant industry bodies.
Make sure anyone you talk to about air source heat pumps is registered with NAPIT, HIES and MCS.
Onsite visit
Unlike solar PV, an installer can not calculate what kind of ASHP equipment you need via a remote assessment.
So, once you have told your installer that you’re interested they should send a surveyor out to your property.
Now, contrary to popular belief, the surveyor isn’t looking for holes in the walls or leaky cat-flaps.
They need to do a ‘Heat Loss’ calculation – so they want to know what kind of insulation you have in loft, what the walls are full of, what rating your double-glazed windows are … basically, looking for anywhere heat can escape.
They will assess each of the rooms in your property to make sure the radiator, or whatever you are using to heat the room, is big enough.
You have to bear in mind that heat pumps don’t create instant heat like fossil fuel boilers, they are designed to keep the house at an even temperature.
Sometimes the surveyor will recommend replacing some radiators, which is extra cost but not nearly as much as you’d think.
Sometimes, they may just suggest swapping some radiators between rooms to make sure you’re getting the best out of the system.
The surveyor will also discuss the locations for the various parts of the system.
What is in an Air Source Heat Pump System?
An air source heat pump system contains the following:
Fan:
This is the part that sits outside your property. It draws air from the outside and directs it into the heating system.
Cylinder:
This is the main part of the system, with all the technical bits and bobs inside. As a customer, you only need to know the air goes in and the hot water comes out.
If you do want to know how air source heat pumps work, and what’s involved, just take a look at this blog.
What happens during the air source heat pump installation?
You get a new, very efficient way to heat your home!
From a practical point of view you’re going to have some major work done in your house ... very major if you are replacing the radiators or getting underfloor heating.
For an average installation the process with include removing old equipment, installing a large fan outside the property and fitting a large cylinder somewhere inside.
On top of that you can expect cables to be laid, some light drilling and the fitting team being in your home for a few days.
Fitting an air source heat pumps isn’t a messy job, as it doesn’t include any digging in the garden like a ground source heat pump would.
Removal of your current heating system
Of course, if you are totally replacing your old, fossil fuel heating system you’ll need to get rid of it safely.
This should be handled by the installer you choose to fit your ASHP, the people doing the work should be qualified to remove and dispose of anything you currently have.
How much inconvenience does heat pump installation create?
While the installation of a ASHP isn’t overly disruptive, there is a fair amount of work ... you are getting a new heating system after all.
The installers will need access to your garden and outside areas.
The fan will be installed outdoors, close to your property wall. It needs to be in an area with a solid, flat floor and plenty of space for the air to flow freely.
Air source heat pump fans can be mounted on walls if necessary, but the preferred place for them in standing nicely on the floor.
The installers will also need to drill through the wall to feed the pipes from the fan to the cylinder.
It's worth flagging any access issues to the surveyor before the team arrive to do the installation.
The team will need to work inside too.
This could be as simple as just placing the cylinder where it needs to go and hooking it into the central heating system.
However, if your installation is a little more complicated, be prepared for floorboards being lifted, radiator being removed and cables being laid.
While the ASHP system is being fitted you will have short periods without hot water and heating.
How long will it take to install the air source heat pump?
This is a difficult one to answer because there are so many factors that will effect the installation.
But, most installs will take between 2 – 5 days.
Most of the work will be the laying of cables and the making sure the whole system is neat and aesthetically pleasing.
There will be a fair amount of drilling and banging while the work is being done, so if you spend a lot of time at home during the day, you need to be ready for that happening.
It's also not a one-person job.
There will be a team of people, from electricians to plumbers, in and around your home for the duration of the installation – so make sure your kettle is working!
It may be an idea to expect a little bit of redecorating too – you will be making major changes to your central heating system, so there will be some mess.
Aftercare of your air source heat pump
It’s pretty easy to maintain an air source heat pump system and, if you do the basics, your system should run trouble free for 7 to 10 years.
It is recommended to have your system serviced once a year.
Apart from that just ensure the area round the fan is kept free of debris and detritus, check your radiators like you would any central heating system and keep an eye on the water pressure.
