Locations & Rules For A Heat Pump Install

If you’re considering upgrading your gas, LPG or oil boiler for a heat pump, you’ll need to understand: 

• Components that make up a heat pump installation and their size, to ensure you have enough space
• The most suitable locations for your heat pump install
• Rules and regulations for air source heat pump (ASHP) installations

Components That Need To Be Installed

The main (and biggest) components of an air source heat pump installation are the pump unit and hot water cylinder. 

Below we’ll cover average dimensions of both to determine the space you’ll require, as well as a few important things you need to consider before booking an installation…

Heat Pump Install 

Heat pump units aren’t particularly small. As an example, Vaillant air source heat pumps have dimensions of roughly: 

• Height: 765mm
• Width: 1100mm
• Depth: 449mm

It’s most common for air source heat pumps to be located outside, so you’ll need to have a suitable space in your garden. 

However, there are a range of units that are indoor, or “split” units, that are made up of both an indoor and outdoor unit. 

Our easy-to-use and clickable heat pump installation tool will help determine what size heat pump you need, and the best location to install it. And for small space installations, compact heat pumps are available…

Hot Water Cylinder Install

Hot water cylinders are usually the biggest consideration when it comes to a heat pump install. Not only are they big, they’ll need to be installed inside. 

Locations for installations that are most common include airing cupboards, storage cupboards or loft spaces.

As an example how big these storage tanks are, a large hot water cylinder for heat pumps such as the uniSTOR 300L has the following dimensions: 

• Height: 1745mm
• Width: 595mm

That’s going to need a reasonably sized installation area. 

And alongside the size of the area the hot water cylinder is installed in, you’ll also need to account for the cylinder’s weight.

The uniSTOR 300L has the following weight specifications: 

• Dry weight: 64kg
• Weight when full: 357kg

Wherever you have this cylinder installed, it needs to be structurally sound in order to hold this weight. 

Use our clickable heat pump tool here to determine exactly what setup you need and installation location options. 

And if you’re unsure whether you have a suitable space to support a cylinder of this size, speak to our experts here. 

Best Locations To Install An Air Source Heat Pump

The cylinder in a heat pump system is one of the biggest components, and is usually fitted indoors. 

Whilst there are indoor heat pump units available in the UK, the installation area for the majority of heat pumps is outside.

Wherever you plan to install your air source heat pump, it needs to be in an area that has good airflow. For this reason, you don’t want to completely box in a heat pump (as you might do with a boiler that’s located in a kitchen cupboard).

Any restriction in airflow will reduce the efficiency of your heat pump dramatically, increasing the cost to produce hot water and heating for your property. 

Garden

Gardens, driveways or spaces at the side of properties are the most common installation areas. 

One thing worth noting here is that like gas boilers, some air source heat pump units can be noisy. So, you won’t want to have yours installed under a window. Typically, installing a heat pump at the side of a property where there are no windows is the most suitable location. 

And if noise is a concern for you, you’ll want to buy a pump that’s known for being quiet. 

A typical heat pump will work at levels of up to 60 dBA. However, there are plenty of heat pumps that are much quieter. An example would be the Samsung EHS HT Quiet R32 which we featured in our guide to the best air source heat pumps here. That works at sound levels as low as 35 dBa!

We’ve written a more detailed guide to heat pump noise here. 

Flat Roof

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Flat roof installations aren’t common for residential installs, however, they’re possible. This might be a suitable option if you live in an area that’s prone to flooding, or are short on outdoor space. 

A heat pump such as the Grant Aerona³ 10kW R32 weighs around 70kg and nearly 100kg if you need the 13kW unit. In order to complete an installation on a flat roof, you'd need an engineer to check the structural integrity of your roof. 

If a flat roof installation is what you need, speak to our experts here to check if your roof can take the weight of a heat pump.

Rules For Heat Pump Installation

Do I Need Planning Permission For a Heat Pump?

Air source heat pumps for residential properties are generally covered under "permitted development", so you won't need planning permission to have one installed. 

This assumes the installation meets MCS installation standards. Large residential systems, commercial systems and those that don't meet MCS standards may need planning permission. 

If your property is a listed building, it’s worth contacting your local council, as it’s likely you’ll need planning permission due to the fact a heat pump would alter the appearance of your property’s grounds. 

Use our clickable heat pump installation tool here. If your pump needs planning permission before installation, we'll let you know!

What Distance From My Property’s Boundary Can I Install A Heat Pump?

Building regulations stipulate that you need to install heat pumps 1m inside your property’s boundary, or closer to your property. This helps to minimise noise impact on your neighbours. 

What is The Noise / Distance ASHP Rule For Neighbouring Properties?

Your air source heat pump needs to be 1m away from your neighbours property boundary (or further). 

At the boundary of your neighbours property, the noise level should be 42 dBa or less. 

If you plan to install a heat pump close to a neighbouring property and are worried about complaints, there are heat pumps specifically designed to be quiet. An example would be the Samsung EHS HT Quiet R32, which operates as low as 35 dBa.

Can I Install A Heat Pump On A Pitched Roof?

Due to their weight, heat pumps need to be installed on a flat roof, not a pitched roof. Installing a heat pump on a pitched roof wouldn’t be safe. 

How Far From The Edge of A Flat Roof Can I Install A Heat Pump?

Flat roof installations are allowed, however, you need to ensure that your heat pump is installed 1m+ away from the edge of the roof, and that your roof can take the weight of the 60kg+ that a heat pump weighs. 

And that’s it for our guide to heat pump locations and installation rules…

Get prices on your heat pump here, or, if you still have questions, speak to our installation experts here. 

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