What to check on a heat pump installation survey

A heat pump survey collects what you need to size the system and place it well: the heat loss of the home room by room, the emitters already there, the hot water the household uses, where the outdoor unit can go without bothering anyone, the electrical supply and the route for pipes. Take measurements rather than relying on the old boiler's size, ask about how the household lives, and look at the walls, windows and loft. The proposal that follows can then explain the size chosen, the work needed and what the client should expect from running costs and comfort.

A heat pump works best when it matches the home's real heat demand. Measure each room, note wall and floor construction, insulation in the loft and walls, window types and draughts. A heat loss calculation built from these figures sets the size of the unit and shows which rooms need larger emitters. Sizing from the old boiler's output tends to oversize the system.

Ask how many people live in the home, how many bathrooms there are, and whether showers or baths are the norm. A heat pump system heats a stored cylinder rather than giving instant hot water like a combination boiler, so find a place for the cylinder and explain the change to the client.

Besides the cylinder, an installation can need room for a buffer tank, controls and valves. Look at the airing cupboard, the loft, the garage or a utility room, and check floor strength and access for a full cylinder. Tell the client what will change in that space and whether shelves or cupboards must go.

Check the main fuse, the consumer unit and the space for a dedicated circuit. Some installations need the network operator to be notified or to approve. Ask whether the house is in a protected area or a listed building, and tell the client what you will handle and what they must check themselves.

Any work on the refrigerant circuit must be done by someone certified to handle refrigerants under the rules where you work. If you subcontract part of the installation, say so in the proposal and name who does what.

Give the unit size and why, the emitters to change, the cylinder, the electrical work, the outdoor unit position, the number of days on site and what the client must prepare. Explain in plain words that a heat pump runs longer at a lower temperature than a boiler, so rooms feel different. Avoid promising running costs you can't control; explain what they depend on instead.

On Book, each service has a name, a price and an optional description shown on your public page. Create a "Heat pump survey" service with slots long enough to measure every room, and open them on days when you're in the area. Clients book with their name, email and phone and can describe the home, its age and current heating in the optional note, which you read in your new-booking email. In the description, ask them to have recent energy bills and any plans of the house at hand. Once the proposal is accepted, book the installation days yourself from your calendar.

Durations and prices are examples: set your own. If you need to move a survey, reschedule it from your bookings list and tell the client yourself, since Book doesn't email clients about changes. Book costs €5/month, everything included: unlimited services and bookings, no commission, no contract.