Air source heat pumps are on the rise as a cost-effective, eco-friendly alternative to traditional heating systems such as boilers. Instead of burning unsustainable fossil fuels, they heat homes by extracting warmth from the air outside. This cuts energy bills while reducing carbon emissions. Heat pumps also keep homes cool in hot weather by reversing the transfer of thermal energy.
Installing a heat pump isn’t a job you should attempt yourself. It requires professional expertise. Nevertheless, if you understand the basics of heat pump installation, you’ll know what to expect during the process.
We go through the air source heat pump installation process here. We’ll also look at heat pump costs and grants and explain how to choose an installer. We’ll largely be talking about the main type of air source heat pump – the air-to-water heat pump – rather than the less common air-to-air heat pump below.
Risks of Installing a Heat Pump Yourself
If you’re DIY-minded you may be wondering whether you can install an air source heat pump yourself.
This would be inadvisable unless you happen to be a qualified plumber and electrician. The job is complex and should be done by a professional heat pump installer.
Misguided amateur attempts at heat pump installation can result in accidents and damage. Any initial cost savings are soon overshadowed by expensive repairs when the system breaks down – if it works in the first place.
Installing a heat pump requires knowledge of low-temperature, unvented heating systems, vapour compression cycles, and weather compensation control.
Stages In Heat Pump Installation
The heat pump installation process consists of several stages:
- Choosing your installer.
- Pre-installation home inspection.
- Removal of old heating system.
- Installation of heat pump outdoor and indoor units.
- Commissioning of the system.
How To Choose Your Heat Pump Installer
Choosing the right heat pump company is your crucial role in the installation process.
A heat pump is an important long-term investment so it’s essential to find a trustworthy installer. This ensures you get value for money with a quality job.
Good heat pump installers can customise installation to your specific needs and preferences. You may also want to look for a company that offers heat pump financing options so you can make installation more affordable by spreading the cost.
It’s our role at Eco Grants to fulfil those needs, so why not see how we can help today?
MCS-Certified Installers
Make sure your heat pump installer is accredited under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS). This quality assurance organisation sets industry standards for heat pump manufacturers and installers.
So you know you’ll get a product from a reputable heat pump manufacturer that’s installed to the highest standard and will last many years, running at peak efficiency.
Grant Applications
Various government grants are available towards the cost of air source heat pump installation.
You can’t apply for this funding yourself; the installer does it on your behalf. These grants can be substantial, so you’ll want to make sure you’re not missing out.
Choose an installer who knows all about air source heat pump grants and how to apply for them.
Keep in mind that only MCS-certified installers can get access to the main type of heat pump funding.
Heat Pump Home Survey
A detailed survey of your home is key to ensuring you get an air source heat pump system that’s right for you. Some installers will carry out the inspection for free.
The survey usually takes two to four hours for an average-sized home. It includes assessments of:
- Energy efficiency of each room – insulation levels and heat loss.
- Your current heating system.
- The best location for the outdoor unit of the heat pump, taking into account noise levels.
- Where to place the indoor unit.
- Whether you need a new hot water cylinder.
- Whether radiators need upgrading.
- Whether your household electricity load and meters can handle the addition of a heat pump.
These considerations help your installer decide on the optimal size of heat pump for your property that will ensure maximum efficiency and comfortable temperatures.
Energy Performance Certificate
After the heat pump home survey, you’ll get an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).
An EPC details your home’s energy use and costs, with recommendations on how to make savings.
It rates energy efficiency from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient) and is valid for 10 years.
Online Survey
Some heat pump companies offer a virtual home survey.
If you choose this option, you’ll need to provide detailed floor plans of your home with measurements.
Online surveys are often done via a Zoom video call with the homeowner using the app on a portable device like a tablet or smartphone.
Removing Existing Heating System
Before fitting an air source heat pump, the old heating system has to be taken out and disposed of.
This usually means removing the gas boiler – most homes have gas central heating. This is done by:
- Turning off power to the boiler.
- Disconnecting electrics.
- Turning off and disconnecting gas supply.
- Capping the gas line.
- Turning off and draining the boiler water supply.
- Removing and safely disposing of the boiler.
After the boiler has been removed, pipework and radiators will be flushed to clean them out.
Some radiators will need to be removed if larger replacements are needed in order to work with your heat pump.
If you have a hot water cylinder that’s not suitable for a heat pump, this will be removed too in preparation for a replacement.
Installation Of Heat Pump Units
Professionals can typically install an air source heat pump in two to five days, depending on the complexity of the job.
In most cases, planning permission isn’t needed, unless you live in a conservation area or your house is a listed building.
Heat pumps have two main components: an outdoor unit and an indoor unit.
This is necessary because heat pumps transfer heat from outside to inside, unlike a combustion-based heating system like a boiler, which burns fuel.
Both heat pump units can be located in relatively small spaces.
Outdoor Unit Installation
The external heat pump unit – called a collector – looks like an air conditioner. It draws in heat from the outside air and directs it to the indoor unit, so it works best with access to ample airflow with minimal obstructions.
Outside heat pump units are usually bolted onto a concrete base on flat, stable ground, or mounted with brackets onto an outside wall.
The unit could also be sited farther away from your house, in the garden. But the extra pipework needed to connect it to the indoor unit will result in greater heat loss. And the pipes will be less accessible for maintenance.
If you don’t have room for the heat pump external unit at ground level, it can be installed on a flat roof, but again maintenance will be more difficult.
If you install the unit in your garden, regulations stipulate it must be at least one metre from the property boundary. If it’s on the roof, it has to be at least a metre from the edge.
Indoor Unit Installation
Indoor heat pump units – known as air handlers – control the air source heat pump system.
They’re rectangular cabinets about the size of a gas boiler and are generally installed close to the outdoor unit, on an inside wall.
A hole is drilled through the wall in order to connect pipes and cables to the external unit.
The internal unit is then connected to radiators or underfloor heating.
Hot Water Cylinder
To run a hot water supply as well as heat rooms, an air source heat pump system needs a hot water cylinder. If you already have a cylinder, it may not work with a heat pump and will need replacing.
Heat Pump Commissioning
The final step of air source heat pump installation is ensuring optimal long-term functionality according to manufacturer specifications. This is called commissioning.
The issue of commissioning records as part of the handover process shows you that the system is working correctly.
Commissioning is also important to make sure your heat pump complies with gas safety regulations, water regulations, and buildings regulations.
After commissioning, the installer will make sure you understand how the heat pump system works and may offer a maintenance and aftercare package.
Air Source Heat Pump Installation Costs
Installing an air source heat pump costs several thousand pounds. Price varies according to considerations such as size of your home and your energy requirements.
Typical air-to-water heat pump costs in 2024 are in the range of:
- £12,000-plus for a four/five-bedroom home.
- £10,000 to £12,000 for a two- or three-bedroom home.
- £8,400 to £11,150 for a one-bedroom home.
VAT on heat pumps is zero-rated until April 2027, as long as they’re supplied and installed by the same company.
Despite 0% value-added tax, the cost of heat pumps still makes them a significant investment in your home. But, like many households, you won’t have to pay the full price if you qualify for a heat pump grant.
Air Source Heat Pump Installation Grants
Thousands of homeowners qualify for government-supported grants that cut the cost of air source heat pump installation substantially. This funding includes:
Boiler Upgrade Scheme
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) for England and Wales will run until the end of March 2028. It provides up to £7,500 off the cost of air source heat pump installation. Grants are on offer to households with an old, inefficient boiler, regardless of benefits received by a member of the household.
ECO4
This fourth phase of the Energy Company Obligation Scheme is scheduled to run until April 2026. It’s open to households in England, Scotland, and Wales who claim a means-tested benefit and live in fuel poverty.
ECO4 Flex
Also called LA Flex (Local Authority Flexible Eligibility), ECO4 Flex makes the Energy Company Obligation Scheme accessible to more homeowners. Local councils set their own eligibility criteria. The scheme is aimed at low-income households in fuel poverty who don’t receive a means-tested benefit.
How Much Money Can You Save?
Heat pump funding initiatives reduce installation costs by thousands of pounds. With the help of a specialist, you could find a grant to cut installation costs by half or more.
For instance, a family with an average-sized home can end up paying around £5,550 for a heat pump after free funding.
Air-to-Water Heat Pump Vs Air-to-Air Heat Pump
Air-to-water heat pumps and air-to-air heat pumps work in similar ways. But there’s a big difference.
Like a combi boiler, air-to-water heat pumps run central heating radiators or underfloor heating while providing hot water for bathrooms and kitchens.
An air-to-air heat pump heats homes through a warm-air circulation system. But it can’t run your hot water supply or be connected to a water-based central heating system.
Air-to-air heat pumps are more affordable than air-to-water systems, with installation costs around £6,200 to £8,400 for a two- or three-bedroom home, and are usually easier to install compared to the steps outlined in our blog today.
Benefits Of Installing An Air-to-Water Heat Pump
Heat pumps are a green alternative to gas boilers and are replacing them as part of the net zero initiative.
Installing an air-to-water heat pump cuts heating bills by up to 40 percent, saving hundreds of pounds a year. It also reduces carbon emissions by up to 65 percent.
Heat pumps use a small amount of electricity, which makes them cost effective and 300 to 500 percent energy efficient.
They need only minimal maintenance and last longer than gas boilers – 20 to 25 years.
A further advantage of installing a heat pump is that you may qualify for government funding towards the cost. Find out now if you’re eligible for an air source heat pump grant.
Installing An Air Source Heat Pump
You can install an air source heat pump relatively easily with the help of the right heat pump installer.
Let Eco Grants help you with that process today.