Heat Pump Installer Checklist
Choosing the Right Installer
If you are weighing up the options of installing an Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) then you’ve probably realised that the people that install it for you can be the difference between a good installation and a bad installation.
Which leads us to one of the questions we are often asked:
How do I choose the right installation company?
This is by far the most important question as the knowledge, experience, and integrity of your installer can play a huge part in the overall performance and running costs, and therefore how satisfied you are with the outcome of the whole installation.
To help you with this, here at Saltire Facilities Management Ltd we have created a checklist to allow you to evaluate potential installers. This checklist has been put together through working with thousands of customers, companies and local authorities over the last 2O years across Scotland. But regardless of where you live, or whether you are looking into changing your Oil or Gas boiler, or building a new home or extension, this checklist will help you to find the right installer for you and your project.
Saltire’s Ultimate Installer Checklist:
Business Information and Experience
- Is the company MCS registered? – note: ask if the name on the MCS register is the same as the company name. If not, find out why. As without this you cannot claim RHI repayments.
- Is the company properly insured?
- Find out how many years the company has been in business – note: 43% of installers fail within the first three years after start-up.
Installer Experience
Ask the following questions of the installation company:
- How many ASHP have you installed since in business?
- How many were installed last year?
Accreditations held
Are they:
- Members of trading standards approved code?
- Members of SNIPEF?
- Members of Gas Safe?
- Members of Construction Line?
Products Used by The Installer
- The products the ASHP installer uses, does it have good reviews in the marketplace?
- Is the installer manufacturer approved?
Workmanship Warranty
Note: a workmanship warranty would cover issues that could arise such as any, plumbing leaks, structural problems, the mounting plinth, etc. The minimum workmanship warranty by law is one year.
- What is the duration of the installer’s workmanship warranty?
- Is the warranty insurance backed?
- What is the manufactures warranty of the product installer wishes to install?
Installation Practices
- Does the company use sub-contractors?
- Do they provide a risk assessment?
Design and Project Planning
- Good communications?
- Full design with floor plans.
- Exact heat pump location.
- Location of internal components.
- Radiator locations or underfloor design.
- EPC assessment before and after installation where required within the price.
- Specific room by room heat loss calculations.
- Details of the RHI payments that you are entitled to assistance with all RHI paperwork to completion.
Pricing and Contracts
- Does the company send a salesman to your home?
- Any pressure to purchase?
- Is the Price double checked via a site survey before you hand over any sizable amounts of money for deposits or equipment?
Note: try to avoid going into an agreement that any additional components or labour costs will be totalled up at the end of the installation.
This is a tactic some installers use to make the initial price of the project seem lower than what it will be.
Does the company offer insurance backed third party insurance on Claims made by the installing company on RHI and running costs?
Other Things to Note
The size of the company:
Great ASHP Installers come in all sizes; just make sure they are MCS registered.
In-house installers vs sub-contracted worker:
Ultimately, good installers get it done either way and make sure you are happy in the end. However, once a subcontractor has left your home his job is done, have you sufficient confidence that they would return if there was an issue?
Gut feeling – Ultimately
An ASHP investment is a large purchase. You need to feel confident in your chosen installer and that is especially important. You need to feel confident they are not a fly by night company and will still be there in years to come if you should ever need them.
