When is the best time to install a heat pump?

There are a few considerations to take into account when choosing the best time of year to buy and install a heat pump. Installers will have to disconnect your current heating system, and depending on the amount of work involved and the number of installers, it can take up to a week to install a heat pump.

Like any new heating system, whether it’s a gas boiler or heat pump, you could be without heating and hot water for some time, disrupting your home without prior planning.

To help you prioritise the essential steps to make your home more energy and cost-efficient, we’ve collated our top tips for planning the best time to install a heat pump that suits your schedule.

It costs the same throughout the year to install a heat pump, however, with less demand in the spring and summer months, it’s a good time to change your heating system before installers get booked up.

Contact a Vaillant heat pump installer for more information.

Don’t forget to check your eligibility and see if you can benefit from the Government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant (BUS), which is available to support the costs of upgrading your boiler across homes in England and Wales. It covers up to £7,500 in costs to replace your boiler as part of their aim to achieve the UK’s net zero targets.

You may prefer to time the installation of a heat pump while you’re working on other house renovations, such as installing underfloor heating (although this is not a requirement to run an efficient heating system). Preparing for installation like this alongside existing renovation plans can save you time and money while making your home more suitable for a heat pump.

Discuss your renovation with an engineer, who will advise where pipes and the water system should run while the installation is in progress. Not only will this help to reduce further structural changes, but it could also help to save on the overall costs of your renovation project.

Give yourself time to prepare your home for heat pump installation. A well-insulated home will help it feel considerably warmer for longer. Most heat is lost through the roof, ceiling, windows and walls.

During the consultation phase, your installer will carry out a heat loss calculation to assess how much heat your home requires to help you keep warm in the colder months. They may provide a list of requirements to further insulate your home so you can get the most out of a heat pump.

Heat pumps work best with larger surface radiators, operating at lower flow temperatures, which improves their efficiency and helps to lower energy bills. If your radiators are old or ineffective, you may want to replace them at the same time as installing a heat pump, as the system will be designed to suit the heat loss calculation of the property.

It’s possible to upgrade your radiators at a later date, but it may require the heat pump to run at a higher flow temperature, which can be more costly. The engineer will advise which radiators are best to pair with your new heating system.