How Long Does It Take to Install a Heat Pump?
Installing an air source heat pump usually takes three to five working days on site. A simple boiler swap with few radiator changes sits at the shorter end, while a larger home that needs new radiators, pipework or electrical work takes longer. From the first survey to a working system, the whole process typically takes a few weeks, or longer if planning permission or an electricity supply upgrade is involved.
We install air source heat pumps across Hinckley, Leicester, Nuneaton, Coventry, Rugby and Tamworth, and the question we hear most after “what will it cost?” is how long the house will be upside down. It’s usually less time than people expect.
How Long Does Each Stage of a Heat Pump Installation Take?
| Stage | Typical time | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Survey | Around 2 hours | Heat loss measurements, radiator and pipework check, unit and cylinder positions agreed |
| Design and quote | A few days | Heat pump sized, radiators specified, fixed quote with grant deducted |
| Grant application | Usually a short wait | We apply to Ofgem for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme voucher and you confirm the application |
| Planning permission (only if needed) | Up to 8 weeks | Only for listed buildings, some conservation areas or units outside permitted development |
| Network operator application (only if needed) | Up to 10 working days for a response | Needed before installation where the electrical maximum demand is over 60A |
| Installation | 3 to 5 working days | Outdoor unit, cylinder, pipework, radiators, electrics and controls |
| Commissioning and handover | Last day of installation | System tested, set up and explained to you; MCS certificate issued |
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme adds a deadline of its own, because the heat pump has to be installed and commissioned within 120 days of the grant application. We book the installation well inside that window.
What Happens on Each Day of the Installation?
No two jobs are identical, but a five-day installation in a typical three-bed house runs roughly like this:
- Day one: dust sheets down, the old system drained, the boiler removed and the base or wall brackets fitted for the outdoor unit.
- Day two: the outdoor unit set in position, the hot water cylinder installed and the main pipework started between them.
- Day three: any radiators replaced, pipework upgraded where needed and the electrical supply run to the heat pump.
- Day four: controls and wiring finished, the system filled and flushed, and inhibitor and a magnetic filter added.
- Day five: the heat pump commissioned, flow temperatures and weather compensation set, the house tidied and the controls explained to you.
Smaller jobs fold some of those days together. If an oil tank needs taking out or a gas meter disconnecting, we arrange that around the main installation.
How Long Will I Be Without Heating and Hot Water?
Usually for part of the installation only. The heating is off from the moment the old boiler comes out until the heat pump is commissioned, which on most jobs means a few days. Hot water normally comes back sooner, since the immersion heater in the new cylinder can run as soon as the cylinder is fitted and wired, often within a day. If there are young children or anyone vulnerable at home, tell us at the survey and we’ll plan the order of work and any temporary heating around them.
What Can Make a Heat Pump Installation Take Longer?
The amount of radiator and pipework change is the main factor. Replacing several radiators or upgrading microbore pipe throughout the house can add a day or two. Putting the cylinder somewhere new, so that pipework and electrics have to be run to it, adds time too, as does a consumer unit upgrade or an increase to the electricity supply. A long or awkward route between the outdoor unit and the cylinder, removing an oil tank, and waiting on planning permission or the network operator can all stretch the timeline.
Do I Need to Tell the Electricity Network About a Heat Pump?
No, your installer does that. Where the home’s new maximum electrical demand is 60A or less, the installer can connect the heat pump first and notify the local distribution network operator within 28 days. Where it would be over 60A, the installer applies before fitting it and the network operator assesses capacity within 10 working days.
How Can I Help the Installation Go Smoothly?
Clear access to the boiler, the cylinder cupboard, the radiators and the spot where the outdoor unit will go makes the biggest difference. Moving furniture away from radiators that are being replaced saves time on the day, and it helps to let us know about parking for the van. Have an electricity bill handy so we can confirm your supply details, and try to be home on the last day so we can walk you through the controls.
What Happens After the Heat Pump Is Installed?
We register the installation with MCS, issue your certificate and redeem the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant, and you get the manufacturer warranty paperwork along with a handover of the controls. The first year is a good time to fine-tune flow temperatures as you get used to the system, and an annual service keeps the warranty valid. Our articles on how long a heat pump service takes and what is included in a heat pump service explain what that first visit involves.
Before you book, have a read of our articles on whether you need new radiators for a heat pump and heat pump costs, running costs and grants. When you’re ready, book a survey for air source heat pump installation.
Key Facts
- Air source heat pump installation usually takes three to five working days on site.
- The survey takes around two hours.
- The whole process from survey to commissioning usually takes a few weeks.
- The Boiler Upgrade Scheme requires installation and commissioning within 120 days of the grant application.
- Planning permission, where needed, can add up to eight weeks.
- Where electrical demand will be 60A or less, the installer notifies the network operator within 28 days of installation.
- Hot water can usually be restored quickly using the new cylinder’s immersion heater.