When you have decided to go ahead with your installation, you can expect the following steps:
Survey & heat loss calculation – An MCS-certified installer assesses your home’s insulation, radiators, and heat demand to size the system correctly (undersizing or oversizing is the most common cause of disappointing performance).
BUS grant application – If eligible, the installer applies for the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant on your behalf and deducts it from the quote upfront.
System design – You choose the unit (usually a monoblock outdoor unit for most UK homes), decide on any radiator or pipework upgrades needed, and plan the heat pump-compatible hot water cylinder if you don’t already have one.
Groundwork & installation – Usually 3–5 days: outdoor unit sited on a concrete base or on a wall bracket, pipework run to an indoor hydraulic unit or buffer tank if required, old boiler removed, and any radiator/pipework upgrades fitted.
Electrical connection – A dedicated circuit is wired in, sometimes requiring a consumer unit upgrade depending on the property’s existing supply. Isolation switch fitted at the recommended space near the outdoor unit.
Commissioning & handover – The installer sets flow temperatures, balances the system, and talks you through the controls; heat pumps behave differently to a gas boiler (lower flow temps and longer running periods), so this step matters.
MCS certificate & building control notification – Issued for warranty, grant compliance, and any future EPC assessment. All paperwork checked and verified.
Below is a presentation of a typical air-source heat pump installation. To flip pages, simply hover over or tap the bottom of the picture and use the arrow and zoom tool that appears.