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How to choose a heat pump installer in the UK: checks, quotes and red flags (2026)

Last updated 2026-10-12

The short answer

The best heat pump installer for your home is not necessarily the cheapest or the biggest brand. Choose a qualified company that surveys the property, explains its design choices, provides a clear written specification and will commission and support the system after installation.

Search Console has shown some interest in “best heat pump company”, but a company name alone cannot tell you whether a design is right for your home. Use this checklist to compare proposals on evidence, not just headline price.

1. Verify qualifications and scheme eligibility

Check the company’s current certification and whether the proposed equipment and installation meet the requirements of any grant you intend to use. For the Boiler Upgrade Scheme in England and Wales, applications are handled by an eligible installer, and the system and installer must meet the scheme’s current rules. Do not rely on a logo alone: verify the details using the relevant scheme or certification directory.

Ask who will design and install the system, whether subcontractors are involved, and who is responsible if something needs correcting. Read our guide to what MCS certification means and check the current Boiler Upgrade Scheme guidance.

2. Look for a real survey and heat-loss design

A responsible proposal should be based on your building and how you use it, not only a postcode, bedroom count or old boiler rating. The installer should gather information about construction, insulation, windows, ventilation, room sizes and existing heating.

Ask for the room-by-room heat-loss figures and the assumptions behind them, including the outdoor design condition and intended indoor temperatures. The proposed heat pump should be checked against the calculated demand at those conditions. If the offer arrives without meaningful property information, ask what the final design and survey stage will include before accepting it.

Our guide explains how heat pump sizing works; the online sizing guide is only a starting point, not a replacement for an installer’s design.

3. Compare like-for-like written quotes

Ask for an itemised proposal that identifies the heat pump model, cylinder and controls, installation work, any radiator or electrical upgrades, making-good, commissioning, warranty terms and optional items. Make sure you understand what is excluded, such as changes to consumer units, pipework or landscaping.

Compare the grant as a separate line and confirm who applies for it, when it is deducted and what happens if the application is unsuccessful. Grant eligibility and values can change, so check the official scheme rules at the point of application. For broader cost context, see our UK heat pump cost guide.

4. Check the radiator and flow-temperature plan

The quote should explain whether existing radiators can meet each room’s heat demand at the proposed system temperatures. If replacements are recommended, ask which rooms need them and why. A single blanket statement that every radiator must change, or that none ever needs to, deserves a technical explanation.

Ask how the system will be balanced and controlled, whether it uses weather compensation, and what flow temperature the design assumes. Our guides cover radiator suitability and heat pump flow temperature.

5. Ask about commissioning, warranty and aftercare

Find out what handover includes: system settings, user instructions, demonstration of controls, commissioning records and a contact for faults. Ask who provides routine servicing, how warranty claims are handled, and whether workmanship cover is separate from the manufacturer’s product warranty. Get the answers in writing.

Ask for references or examples of comparable installations, particularly in homes with similar construction or heating emitters. A useful reference is one where the installer can explain the design challenge and what was done, not simply show a photograph of an outdoor unit.

Red flags to investigate

• A system size chosen only from floor area, bedroom count or the existing boiler rating.
• No clear heat-loss survey, model number or performance information at the design condition.
• Unexplained promises of a specific bill saving or payback regardless of your tariff and current usage.
• Pressure to sign immediately, pay a large deposit without clear terms, or accept a quote with vague exclusions.
• No written explanation of grant handling, commissioning, warranty or who provides aftercare.

One concern does not automatically prove poor work, but it is reasonable to pause and request evidence or another opinion before committing.

A simple comparison checklist

1. Verify the installer, equipment and grant eligibility using current official directories and scheme rules.
2. Request the property survey and room-by-room heat-loss design.
3. Compare the selected model’s output at the stated design conditions, not just its headline kW rating.
4. Check radiator, controls, electrical work, hot water, exclusions and total costs line by line.
5. Confirm commissioning, warranty, servicing and aftercare in writing.

Two or three comparable proposals can help reveal differences, but the lowest quote is not automatically the best value. Look for a design you can understand and a company that is willing to answer detailed questions.

Frequently asked questions