Air Source Heat Pump Installers in Chipping Ongar (25)

When planning an installation, it’s important to understand who can fit an air source heat pump so that you are confident the job will be done properly.

The nature of an air source heat pump means that you need a qualified specialist to carry out the installation. They need to have a thorough understanding of low temperature heating systems, including vapour compression, weather compensation controls and how heat pump controls work.

If you’re planning to make the most of the UK’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme, then you’ll need to make sure you hire a heat pump installer who is registered on the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS).

By being registered on the MCS, it guarantees that:

• The heat pump installer is technically competent

• The products they use will meet the correct standards

• You’re protected if anything goes wrong, because all MCS installers also have to be registered with a consumer protection scheme (such as RECC or HIES)

Want to know more about the Boiler Upgrade Scheme? You can find out more about what financial help is available for heat pumps and other renewable energy sources in our guide to energy grants.

No, installing an air source heat pump isn’t a DIY job – due to the complex nature of the heat system, components and electrics involved.

We would always recommend hiring an experienced local heat pump installer to carry out the installation work for you.

Sometimes, yes a plumber can also be a qualified heat pump installer. But not all plumbers will have the skills and know-how to safely and efficiently install a heat pump.

If you’re looking for an air source heat pump installer and you speak to local plumbers, make sure that they have the qualifications and experience to carry out the work.

And remember, if you’re planning on applying for a grant through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme then the plumber / installer will need to be MCS registered.

It’s always useful to understand the whole heat pump installation process, so here’s a brief summary of what you can expect to happen:

1. Site inspection – Before any installation happens, the heat pump installer will visit your home to assess the property and decide what size of air source heat pump you’re going to need. Some heat pump companies will offer this survey for free, while others will charge you a fee in the form of a non-refundable deposit

2. Heat pump design and planning – Once the site visit has been completed, the heat pump installer will often provide you with a design of the heat pump system along with a plan of action for the installation (including a timeline for the job)

3. Installation of the outdoor unit – The heat pump will be installed outside your property, attached to one of the external walls of the building in a spot that has easy access to the air

4. Installation of the indoor unit – Once the outdoor unit is in place, it’s time to install the set up your hot water cylinder, which is the storage tank that will hold all the hot water that you don’t need immediately

5. Connecting the system – With both units installed, your heat pump installer will then connect them together using a control wire, a refrigerant hose, and a condensate drain hose. As part of this step, the installer will connect the hot water cylinder to your radiators (and underfloor heating if you have it) and also disconnect your old heating system

The whole process usually takes somewhere between 2 - 5 days, depending on the complexity of the installation.

Sometimes it helps to have a quick chat with local heat pump installers to understand what options are available in your area, what they involve, and how much they’ll cost.

If you’re ready to reach out to local air source heat pump installers in Chipping-Ongar, you’re in the right place. We can help you find the best tradespeople in your area with our quick and easy online search – or request a quote and we’ll get multiple heat pump experts to contact you directly.

In the UK, as long as it meets the criteria of permitted developments then installing an air source heat pump doesn’t usually require planning permission.

However, it’s important to check planning restrictions with your local planning office before you go ahead with a heat pump installation.

It’s also important to note that the criteria for permitted developments can vary from different parts of the UK. For example, in Scotland your heat pump’s external unit and housing cannot be more than 3m high, whereas in England the unit mustn’t be larger than 0.6m³.

Permitted development criteria for an air source heat pump

Here’s a summary of the key requirements for your air source heat pump to fall under permitted developments:

1. Your heat pump is only used for heating

2. The installation complies with the Microgeneration Certification Scheme Planning Standards (MCS 020)

3. It’s the first air source heat pump that you’re installing at your property (adding a second heat pump requires planning permission)

4. You don’t already have a wind turbine on your property (if you do then your heat pump will need planning permission)

5. The heat pump will be removed when it’s no longer in use

6. The location of the heat pump will cause minimal effect to the appearance of the building (usually that means it needs to be installed on the ground floor at the back of the house, out of sight from the road)

7. It must be installed on flat surfaces (that can include a flat roof in England, Scotland and Wales – but it must be at least one metre from the edge of the roof)

8. The outdoor unit must be no bigger than:

• 0.6m3 in England

• 1m3 in Wales

• 3 metres high  in Scotland

• 2 metres high in Northern Ireland

10. Be the following distance away from the boundary of the property or the nearest house:

• At least 1 metre from the properties boundary in England and Scotland

• More than 3 metres from the properties boundary in Wales from the

• More than 30 metres away from the nearest house in Northern Ireland

12. The external unit can’t stick out more than 1 metre from the outer wall, roof or chimney of the property

13. You must get listed building consent prior to the installation if you lived in a listed building

14. If you live in a conservation area, you’ll need to check whether air source heat pumps are considered to be permitted developments

If you’re ready to get started with your heat pump installation, we can help you find the best experienced local air source heat pump installers near you – including those who come highly recommended by your neighbours.

You can either use our quick and easy online search to find and contact local heat pump specialists yourself. Or, alternatively, request a quote and we’ll do the legwork for you by reaching out to the best local tradespeople near you and we’ll get them to contact you directly.

Depending on your property, it might be possible to connect your air source heat pump to your existing radiators but it’s not guaranteed.

For some homes, the existing radiators are perfectly suitable for use with a new air source heat pump. Whilst other properties will need bigger and/or more radiators to be installed as part of the new heating system.

As part of the initial site inspection, your heat pump installer should be able to advise on what you will need for your new heat pump heating system.

If you are able to connect your new air source heat pump to your existing radiators, your heat pump engineer will need to thoroughly clean your entire heating system. This is to ensure that no particles of dirt or debris end up blocking the heat pump filter (which can be expensive to replace).

Which radiators are best for a heat pump system?

Aluminium radiators are generally considered to be the best choice if you’re planning to install an air source heat pump system.

The benefit of having aluminium radiators is that aluminium is an extremely effective conductor and that allows your radiators to heat up quickly. That means they can start emitting heat into the room much quicker than steel or cast iron radiators.

This efficiency is particularly important for a heat pump system because the temperature of the water passing through the radiators is lower than a gas boiler, for example, and so the heat needs to be conducted as quickly as possible.

Aluminium also happens to be an eco-friendly choice of material, as it can be made using recycled metals and then re-recycled when the radiators are no longer needed.

Choosing the right location for your air source heat pump is an important part of the installation process – and one that your heat pump installer should be able to advise you on.

Not only do you need to consider the criteria of permitted developments in the UK, but there are a number of other factors that you’ll want to consider.

The best place to install your heat pump should:

• Have a good supply of air, after all you’re installing an air source heat pump – the key is in the name. That means it needs to be located in an open space with a constant source of ambient air (not in an enclosed space like a basement or loft)

• Allow easy access to the unit so that an engineer can easily get to the pump in order to service, maintain or repair it

• Not be close to a bedroom window as the noise from the heat pump could potentially cause a disturbance at night when you’re trying to sleep. Modern heat pumps are very quiet but in the middle of the night even the slightest noise can disturb light sleepers

• Sheltered from the elements to avoid any unnecessary damage from extreme weather, such as mounting snow or pooling rain water

• Meet the criteria of permitted developments so that you don’t need to apply for planning permission to install your heat pump

Whether you have questions about air source heat pump systems, or you’re ready to install one in your home, we can help you find the best local tradespeople to help. And it’s always helpful to get advice from local air source heat pump installers before you get started.

Find the best heat pump installers in your area with our quick and easy online search. Or request a quote and we’ll reach out to multiple local tradespeople for you and they’ll get in touch with you directly.

As a general rule, heat pumps can be installed in most homes in the UK to provide a sustainable source of energy. That said, there are some considerations to be aware of before you install a heat pump in your home.

Insulation is key for heat pump systems

For heat pump heating systems to work properly, your home needs to be well insulated to ensure that you keep in as much heat as possible.

If your home is poorly insulated, you’ll want to address that issue first so that you can ensure maximum efficiency from your new heat pump system.

An experienced local air source heat pump installer should be able to survey your home and provide you with clear advice on what needs to be done in your home in order for it to be suitable for a heat pump heating system.

Fitting a heat pump to an existing boiler system

Although heat pump systems are designed to work on their own, they can also work alongside a boiler heating system.

If you live in a property or area that suffers from the cold and you’re worried about the heat pump generating enough heat to get you through the cold winters, you can keep your boiler system for those really cold days.

It’s best to discuss your heat pump installation with local heat pump experts to understand what options are best for you and your home. They’ll be able to advise on the possibility and logistics of having a heat pump system alongside a boiler heating system.

Upgrade your radiators

When installing a new heat pump system, the heating distribution of your home is extremely important – that usually means your radiators and any underfloor heating.

After an initial site survey, your air source heat pump installer may recommend that some or all of your radiators need to be replaced with larger ones to accommodate the heat pump system.

Get started with your heat pump installation today

We can help you find experienced heat pump installation services in your area, with tradespeople who come recommended by your neighbours.

Better yet, we have two ways you can find the best local tradespeople… Use our quick and easy online search to browse heat pump installers near you, or request a quote and we’ll reach out to multiple local tradespeople for you and they’ll get in touch with you directly.

The cost of air source heat pump installation will vary depending on the specification of your heat pump heating system, but you can expect to pay somewhere in the region of £5,000 - £10,000.

Air source heat pump installation costs

Here are some of the average costs for installing an air source heat pump in the UK:

• Supply air–to-water air source heat pump (5kw - 17kw) – £5,000 - £9,000

• Install air–to-water air source heat pump – £6,000 - £11,000

• Supply and install air-to-air air source heat pump (5kW) – £2,000 - £4,000

• Upgrade to larger radiators (10 radiators) – £2,000 - £5,000

• Underfloor heating throughout – £5,000 - £15,000

• Replace all heating system pipework – £2,000

• Upgraded insulation for cavity wall – £500 - £3,000

• Upgraded insulation in roof (blanket roll) – £500 - £2,000

• Upgraded floor insulation – £1,000 - £5,000

To find out more about prices, check out our guide to air source heat pump installation costs.

Factors affecting the cost of air source heat pump installation

There are a number of factors that will affect the total cost that you pay to install an air source heat pump system. They include:

• Size of your property – The bigger your property, the more the heat pump installation will cost.

• Insulation – Poorly insulated properties will need an upgrade to the insulation before the heat pump system is installed, which will add to the overall cost.

• Make and model of heat pump – As with all appliances, some brands and individual models of air source heat pump will cost more than others.

• The pump’s performance and efficiency – It will cost you more to have the most powerful and efficient air source heat pump system.

• Radiator upgrades – If your existing radiators aren’t suitable for your new air source heat pump system then you’ll need to pay for them to be upgraded.

Quotes for air source heat pump installation costs

To get accurate costs for installing an air source heat pump in your area, we always recommend getting at least three quotes from local heat pump specialists near you. By shopping around you can make sure you're paying a fair and competitive price for the work.

Thankfully, our request a quote tool makes getting multiple quotes super easy. Simply post details about the job that you need help with and we’ll send it out to the best local air source heat pump installers, who will contact you directly. Try it out – it's quick and easy!

Yes, a heat pump is generally considered to be cheaper to run than a boiler heating system – if your home is well insulated. However, you also need to consider the total costs when planning your budgeting.

Air source heat pumps are considerably more expensive to install than a boiler, which currently makes them the more expensive option overall.

That said, installing a heat pump provides you with long term, sustainable energy for your home that will reduce your home’s carbon footprint.

Heat pumps are also much more efficient in their use of electricity, compared to gas and oil boilers. And heat pumps also don’t produce as many carbon dioxide emissions as gas boilers do.

Can a heat pump save me money on my energy bills?

One of the main benefits of installing a heat pump in your home is the fact that it can reduce your energy bills.

Heat pumps have low running costs and use renewable energy sources, which translate to significant savings on your energy bills – just as long as the heat pump is installed properly and your home has suitable insulation.

What affects the efficiency of a heat pump?

Heat pumps are general considered to have a high energy performance, but there are various factors that can affect how efficient your heat pump system is:

• Temperature differences between indoors and outdoors can cause your heat pump to work harder to heat your home and so it will be less efficient in colder temperatures.

• The size of the heat pump needs to be suitable for your home – if the heat pump is too small then it will struggle to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. On the other hand, if the heat pump is too big for your home then you’ll end up wasting energy (and money).

• Insulation and air sealing helps your heat pump system work more efficiently and will ensure that the maximum amount of heat is kept within the rooms of your home.

• Maintenance is an important part of keeping your heat pump efficient and in good working order, so regular servicing and maintenance is key.

To find out more, read our expert guide on heat pump efficiency.

Want to find out more about local heat pump installation?

For professional advice about heat pumps and accurate quotes for costs, it’s helpful to speak to local qualified heat pump installers to understand what’s involved and how much it will cost. Experienced heat pump specialists will be able to advise on the options available and what you’ll need for your home.

Keen to get started? Search for the best air source heat pump installers in Chipping-Ongar and get in touch with them yourself. Alternatively, you can get multiple quotes from local heat pump experts by using our request a quote feature – simply post details of what you need and we’ll get reliable local tradespeople to contact you directly.