Finding Air Source Heat Pump Installers

In Summary: What You Need To Know When Choosing A Heat Pump Installer

Installing heat pumps is expensive. So, you want to make sure you choose the best installer possible. 

If you take anything from this page, let it be that you should use a MCS heat pump installer. 

Whilst this isn’t a legal requirement, by using an MCS installer you’ll get: 

• An installation that’s completed to high standards set out by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS)
• Access to the government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant; only installations completed by MCS fitters will qualify for the £7,500 in funding that’s on offer

This government grant represents a considerable saving, given you should expect to pay around £11,000 for your air source heat pump. The total installation cost is then discounted to £3,500 on average, thanks to government funding. 

All of our installers are MCS certified, so you’ll be eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, you can check your eligibility in 30 seconds using our smart tool. You can get fixed prices on-screen for your air source heat pump here. 

Why Use A MCS Heat Pump Installer?

You’ll get a two-fold benefit when using an installer that is registered and certified by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme. These benefits include: 

• Installations completed to a set of minimum standards, set out by MCS, a nationally recognised installer network
• Access to government grants for your air source heat pump installation

What is MCS?

It isn’t a legal requirement to have a low-carbon installation completed by an MCS heat pump installer. 

However, MCS installers work to a set of standards and guidelines when it comes to fitting the likes of: heat pumps, solar panels, biomass boilers and battery storage. 

By using an MCS heat pump installer, you know your installation is going to be completed by a trained and experienced company, rather than a rogue trader. 

Your system will be designed, installed and commissioned to a level where an MCS certificate can be provided. Naturally, if you ever come to sell your property, it's likely the new buyer will want to see that your installation has been completed to this high standard, and will want to see your MCS certificate. 

Installations Eligible For Government Grants

Peace of mind when it comes to the quality of your air source heat pump installation is just one benefit of using a MCS qualified technician. 

More importantly, using an MCS heat pump engineer means you’ll be eligible for one of the most commonly accessed government grants; the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS).

‍If you don’t use a MCS heat pump fitter, your installation will not qualify for the BUS £7,500 government grant!

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme allows most UK households to access a government grant of up to £7,500. When you consider a typical installation would be in the region of £11,000 (parts and labour), that’s quite a substantial saving.

The eligibility criteria is extremely simple for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme: 

• Use an MCS certified installer, and ensure your heat pump installation is commissioned within 120 days of you applying for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme
• You are the owner of the property (you can still apply if the property is a business premises, buy-to-let or even a second home)
• Not had funding via government grants for your heating system to be upgraded in the past

Applying For the Boiler Upgrade Scheme

Applying for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme is incredibly simple…

At Dwellow, all of our installers are MCS certified. Using our clickable quote form here, you’ll be able to get fixed prices on-screen within a couple of minutes.

As part of our service, we’ll apply for government grants (including the Boiler Upgrade Scheme) on your behalf. Or, if you want some further reading before getting prices, we’ve written a detailed page covering heat pump grants here. 

Are National Or Local Installers Cheaper?

The popularity of air source heat pumps is increasing year-on-year. 

Installations in 2023 increased by around 19% compared to 2022, and that trend is set to continue. Applications to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme saw a bump of 93% in April 2024. Naturally, this means there are more and more installers, both nationally and locally.

Typically, national air source heat pump installers are able to offer more competitive rates than small local companies.

This is simply due to economies of scale and efficiency. Due to the volume of installations they complete, national installers are able to negotiate much better deals on materials (heat pumps, smart controls, radiators and fittings), passing on the cost saving to you.

How Much Will A Heat Pump Installation Cost?

To estimate how much a new heat pump will cost, we’ll use a typical 3-bed semi-detached property as an example. With heating set at 20° on average and reasonable hot water demand, we’d expect installation costs to be approximately £11,000.

This will get you a 5kW Vaillant aroTHERM Plus, which features on our list of the best air source heat pumps.

As you can see above, the price has been adjusted to account for the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant (check your eligibility). So, you’d only be paying £3,242.33, which includes up to 3 radiator upgrades, a suitable cylinder and smart controls!

Every property and installation is different. The exact heat pump you need, complexity of the installation and therefore cost, is dependent on a range of factors including: 

• How many radiators need upgrading (heat pumps work better with larger radiators than a gas boiler uses, so they may need upgrading)
• The type and quality of your property’s insulation
• Size of your property
• Hot water and heat demand
• The list goes on…!

Our clickable heat pump tool can determine the most suitable air source heat pump for your property. All installations are completed by MCS certified installers, meaning you’ll be eligible to get the £7,500 grant via the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.

What To Expect From Your Heat Pump Installation

If you choose to use a local installer, there’s a good chance you’ll need an on-site visit. At Dwellow, we’re able to remove the need for an on-site visit, thanks to our website’s heat pump calculator.

Simply fill out our clickable form here and we’ll be able to determine which is the most suitable heat pump for your property. If you have any questions relating to your installation, you can contact our experts here. 

Once our MCS heat pump installer arrives on-site, they will:

• Plan your installation, including the best place for your heat pump to be installed
• Determine if radiators need to be upgraded to ensure your pump can run as efficiently as possible
• Fit your pump on level ground, using vibration absorbing blocks where necessary to reduce noise
• Install necessary pipework and top up your system with an eco-friendly yet efficient refrigerant (such as R290 or R32)
• Wire up your system, including any smart controls (if applicable)
• Test your system and commission it (this needs to be done within 120 days of you applying for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme in order for you to receive up to £7,500 in government funding)

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Your air source heat pump is now ready to go!

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