The checklist
Check your installer is MCS certified.
MCS certification is what makes you eligible for the grant. Ask to see the certificate, or look the company up on the MCS website. Don’t just take their word for it.
Check they belong to a consumer code.
Look for RECC or HIES membership. These codes set rules for how installers treat customers. They also give you a way to complain if something goes wrong. Ask which one they use.
Ask for a heat loss calculation.
A good quote starts with a room-by-room calculation of how much heat your home loses. Without it, the installer is guessing the size of the unit. Ask to see it.
Check the size of the system.
The quote should give the heat pump’s output in kW and explain why it suits your home. Bigger isn’t better. An oversized unit costs more and can run less efficiently.
Check the grant comes off the price.
With the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, the installer claims the grant for you. It should come off the price before you pay. The quote should show the full price, the grant and what you pay.
Ask what the handover includes.
At the end, the installer should show you how to use the controls. You should also get the paperwork, including warranties. Ask what’s included before you sign.
Ask about servicing and aftercare.
Most makers recommend a yearly check. Ask what’s covered in the first years and who you call if something breaks. Get the length of the warranty in writing.
Get three quotes, from different types of company.
Ask a national firm, a local installer and one more. Make sure each quote covers the same work, so you compare like with like. The lowest price isn’t always the best deal.
A good installer will be happy to answer all of this. Compare the answers as well as the price. If someone dodges a question, that tells you something.
Summary
The short version
Check the credentials
MCS certification and a consumer code. Check both directly.
See the sums
Ask for the heat loss calculation and the system size it points to.
Know what you pay
The quote should show the full price, the grant and your share.
Ask about aftercare
Handover, servicing and who to call if something breaks.
Compare like with like
Get three quotes that cover the same work.
Just Ask: Heatpump
Just Ask: Heatpump is an independent companion to Visit a Heat Pump and Get a Heat Pump. Built from real installation experience to give honest, practical guidance before you commit. Everything here is about air-to-water air source heat pumps.
© 2026 Michael Pope
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