How Long Does a Heat Pump Installation Take?

Most air source heat pump installations take between 2 and 5 days. The exact timeline depends on the complexity of your installation and how much existing pipework and radiators can be reused. Here is what to expect.

A Straightforward Installation: 2–3 Days

If you are replacing a system boiler (one that already has a hot water cylinder) and the existing radiators are suitably sized, the installation is relatively quick.

• Day 1: Remove the old boiler. Install the outdoor heat pump unit on its base. Run pipework from the outdoor unit to the indoor system. Connect the new hot water cylinder if needed.
• Day 2: Complete pipework connections. Wire in the controls and thermostat. Fill, pressurise, and flush the system.
• Day 3: Commission the heat pump — set flow temperatures, configure the controls, run through the system checks. Hand over to you with a full explanation of how everything works.

For some properties, we can complete this in 2 days.

A More Complex Installation: 4–5 Days

Some installations take longer. Common reasons include:

• Radiator upgrades — if several radiators need replacing or adding, that adds a day. Each new radiator needs fitting, connecting, and balancing.
• Switching from a combi boiler — combi systems have no hot water cylinder. Installing a new cylinder means finding space for it, running additional pipework, and connecting it to the heat pump.
• Complex pipework routing — older homes and period properties sometimes have awkward pipework routes. Getting pipes from A to B without making a mess takes time.
• Electrical upgrades — heat pumps need a dedicated electrical supply. If your consumer unit needs upgrading or you need a new circuit run, that adds time.
• Scaffolding — if the pipework route requires access to height, scaffolding needs to go up and come down.

What to Expect During the Installation

Let us be honest: there will be some disruption. Here is what to plan for:

• No heating for 1–2 days. There is a period between removing the old system and commissioning the new one where you will not have heating. We try to schedule installations for milder weather where possible, and we always aim to get the system running as quickly as we can.
• Some noise and mess. Drilling through walls for pipework, fitting brackets, and installing the outdoor unit all involve some noise. We lay dust sheets, tidy up each day, and leave the house clean when we are done.
• Access needed. We will need access to the outdoor unit location, the cylinder cupboard (or wherever the cylinder is going), and any rooms where radiators are being worked on.

We plan around you. If there are rooms you need access to at certain times, or if you work from home, we will work out a schedule that minimises the impact.

Before Installation Day

Before the engineers arrive, we will have already completed:

• A detailed home survey with heat loss calculations.
• System design — specifying the heat pump, cylinder, and any radiator changes.
• The BUS grant application to Ofgem.
• Ordering all equipment and materials.

By installation day, everything is planned and ready. No surprises, no delays waiting for parts.