We Answer Your Heat Pump Questions
We’ve been in this game a long time and over the years we’ve seen it all and we’ve tried our best to come up with tried and tested solutions when it comes to installing heat pumps in homes across the UK, so we’ve come up with a list of any and all queries you might have when it comes to switching to a heat pump.

Suitability and Practicality
Will it work for me?
Almost certainly! Choosing a heat pump to heat you home is a big decision and often a big investment so you need to be sure that its right for you. But, a heat pump will work better than all other heating systems in most cases and you'll use it in a very similar way to you current heating system. In fact, most of our customers agree that their own is now better heated with a heat pump than it was with their old boiler!
Will it work for my house?
In most cases. yes! We are of the belief that heat pumps will work in almost every home in the UK, regardless of insulation levels and the age of the property. The key to a good installation is in the design and with the right design a heat pump system will work for almost every home. There are obviously exceptions to this which we'll explore in the "Things to Think About" section, we also believe that where you can increase insulation levels in your home you should do, the same is true regardless of what heating system you currently use!
What do I need?
Ideally, a house, flat, bungalow or even a business premises. An existing heating system is good but not necessary as we often install heating systems from scratch. Space is important, with heat pumps needing space for a unit outside and a cylinder / controls inside. In terms of eligibility for the BUS, a valid EPC is required, or if your renovating you'll need a valid EPC by the end of the project in order to claim the BUS grant.
What about my existing heating system?
We believe that heat pumps will work in most houses, which means they will work with most heating systems. Our ethos is to install efficient heat pumps so our quote often include upgraded radiators (nothing fancy, just bigger but not too big!) so we can keep the flow temperature of your heat pump lower and therefore more efficient. We often recommend changes to your heating system including converting to sealed systems, installing buffer vessels or voluimisers and making sure you have a good understanding of how to control your system, any recommendations would be included in your quotation, we see this as upgrading your heating system from the current crop of, often poorly designed and installed, systems throughout the UK.
How Do They Work?
What is a heat pump?
A heat pump is any device used to transport heat from one place to another, examples of this in your home are your refrigerator which uses a compressor and refrigerant to remove any warmth in the fridge into the kitchen. In our situation we are transporting the warmth from the air outside into the water in your heating system. These refrigerants vary in their properties and uses, with heat pumps using refrigerants like R32 and R290 in some of the latest models. R32 is a refrigerant recently used as a replacement for a less environmentally friendly refrigerant as systems need a lower amount of the refrigerant and the Global Warming Potential (GWP) is lower than a lot of refrigerants at 675 GWP. R290 is a refrigerant that can deliver much higher temperatures than R32 and can deliver water temperatures of 75°C at very good efficiencies, it also has a very low GWP of 3 which makes it a lot more environmentally friendly and useful for heat pump applications.
How do they work?
Witchcraft! Seriously though, heat pumps are a type of mechanical system using what's called the vapour compression refrigeration cycle, of which there are 4 main stages, compression, condensation, expansion and evaporation and all 4 of these are used in heat pump technology when heating homes. In the compression stage of the cycle the refrigerant enter the mechanical compressor as a low pressure, low temperature gas where is is compressed into a high temperature, high pressure gas. From here it enters the second stage of the refrigerant cycle, into the condenser. In a traditional air conditioning system this would be the coil on the back of an outdoor unit, however, in our case it is the heat exchanger where the refrigerant passes through and passes its heat to the water flowing through the heat exchanger and off to your heating system. The refrigerant leaves the condenser as a high pressure, low temperature liquid as the refrigerant gas has condensed as it has cooled. The third stage of the cycle sees the refrigerant pass through an expansion device which is used to reduce the pressure of the refrigerant, through expansion, in order for it to move into the final stage of the cycle, evaporation. In heat pump installations the evaporator is the coil on the back of the outdoor unit as apposed to traditional air conditioning systems where the evaporator would be in the indoor unit. The refrigerant enters the evaporator as a low temperature, low pressure liquid, it flows through the coil of the outdoor unit where the fan pulls air across the coil. As it passes over the coil it rejects the cold air and absorbs the latent heat in the air, starting to warm the refrigerant, changing the state of the refrigerant to a low pressure, low temperature gas ready to enter the compressor and start the cycle over again.
What about hot water?
Don't worry, your heat pump will also be taking care of your hot water. If you don't currently have a hot water cylinder then we will be fitting one during your installation and if you do have a cylinder we will be replacing it with a heat pump compatible cylinder. Modern heat pumps can produce water up to 75°C so are more than capable of heating the water in your tank (baring in mind the safety valve on a shower is set to 38°C to prevent scalding!) A new heat pump cylinder will reheat from cold in around 30 minutes meaning even if you'd used up all your hot water thanks to the family staying for Christmas you're never much more than half an hour away from a full, hot tank!
How will I control my heat pump?
Each Swift heat pump comes complete with its own system controller, usually used as a commissioning and monitoring tool. We then install either 3rd part smart thermostats or use the Vaillant Sensocomfort thermostat to control the heating system in your home. The good news is that if you have a smart thermostat already we are often able to reuse this if it's suitable. You'll then use the heating system much like you did with a boiler, we advice that you don't turn the heating off but lower the room temperature by a couple of degrees so that when the temperature is raised again the heat pump doesn't have to work as hard, this may seem counterintuitive but heating your hot this way results in lower running costs and a much nicer living environment with over 90% of our customers saying their home is warmer and more comfortable now then with their previous heat source.
The Installation
What does an installation involve?
Typically, our installations start with setting up main flow & return pipework for the heat pump and getting the unit sited and installed. Our aim is to minimise the amount of time that you are without heating or hot water so where we can we'll leave a boiler in place to provide heating and begin changing or installing a hot water cylinder to provide hot water using the immersion heater whilst we get the rest of your system complete. We recycle each boiler we decommission and radiators are sent for recycling too. All waste and rubbish we produce is removed from site and, where possible, recycled. Our quotations and T&Cs go into more detail about what is and isn't included in our installations.
How long does it take to fit?
For smaller installations of 3.5 to 5 kW heat pumps we aim to install in 3 to 4 days, with larger installations taking between 5 to 7 working days to complete. Your installation team will keep you updated with how it's going and give a comprehensive handover upon completion. Full heating systems and larger projects would often take longer than 7 days but this can be discussed during site surveys.
When can you install my heat pump?
Our current lead time is between 4 to 6 weeks for heat pump installations, from when the order is signed to when your installation team turn up.
Where do you install?
Our HQ is based in Clevedon, North Somerset and in order to minimise our carbon footprint we install throughout the South West including Somerset, Bristol, Devon, Gloucestershire,Wiltshire and across to Newport and South Wales. If you're not sure if your project is out of reach for us give us a call to discuss.
Things to Think About
What sort of space do I need?
There are 2 main components in any heat pump installation. Firstly, the outdoor unit. These are usually 1.2m x 0.4m and around a meter or so high, they require space around them for airflow so can't be installed blowing towards a fence or wall and need about 0.3m behind them with side access for servicing. If you're not sure if you've got space for an outdoor unit send us some photos and we can assess the position or recommend other locations such as wall mounting or longer pipe run installations. The second component to consider is a hot water cylinder, these range in size from 0.45m to 0.6m in diameter and from 1.2m high to 3m high for larger cylinders. Ideally an airing cupboard, store room or garage is ideal for this but where possible we may be able to install a horizontal cylinder in a loft space.
How about noise?
Each installation we complete under the MCS scheme comes with a noise report, this is a desktop audit of the noise volume the installation is expected to have, taking into account the heat pumps position, its closeness to any neighbouring properties, any barriers and any reflective surfaces. If, in the assessment, the heat pump fails this test then we look at alternative ways to help pass the assessment including the heat pump brand or location. The noise rating of the heat pumps we install range from 46dB(A) to 52dB(A) at a distance of 1 metre. To put this in context a fridge/freezer can be up to 47dB(A) so should not be noticed by most people. If you want to hear a heat pump in action check out the Try Before You Buy section below.
Do I need planning permission?
Heat pump installations generally come under Permitting Development Rights in England however, the rules differ from place to place. Planning permission may be required if; the heat pump is within 1 metre of a boundary, the heat pump does not pass the noise assessment, you have an existing heat pump or if you live in a listed building or in the grounds of a listed building. Its best to check with your local authority if you have concerns when it comes to planning permission.
Do I need a survey?
We survey all properties that we install heat pumps in, in most cases we survey before quotation but even if we have quoted remotely or through the website we would then survey your property should you wish to go ahead. This makes sure we can specify the right system for your home and make sure there are no surprises when it comes to install time. A survey typically takes 1 to 2 hours and its useful if you have information like utility bills, stop tap location and electricity meter location handy for your surveyor.
How do you calculate my price?
Our quotations look at relevant EPC data for your property in order to get an idea for the size of heat pump required for your home, we also look at the number of bedrooms and other key details in order to determine other works that may be required such as hot water cylinders, radiator changes and heating system installations. We look at the latest prices for materials and labour and take into account the Boiler Upgrade Scheme amount in order to give you the best and fairest proposal.
Costs & Grants
How much will it cost me?
The answer is that it depends. It will depend on the size of your home and the heat pump size required to heat it. Typical installations start from £500 (with the Boiler Upgrade Scheme) to £3,000 and larger systems requiring full heating system installations usually start at £5,000.
What is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (or BUS for short) is the UK Government's plan to assist homeowners in the transition from fossil fuel heating systems to low carbon heating systems with heat pumps making up a key part of the plan. Eligible homeowners will receive £7,500 towards the cost of the their heat pump installation and benefit from 0% VAT on energy saving materials. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is administrated by us as installers, with homeowners required to provide a few pieces of evidence in order to qualify. In terms of eligibility, currently homeowners require a valid EPC with no recommendations for cavity wall insulation or loft insulation, new build developments are not eligible for the BUS but self builds and refurbishment projects may be eligible.
What is included in my quote?
Included in your standard installation is a new Heat Pump outdoor unit sized for your home with a new hot water cylinder to go with it. We include any necessary controls in order to make your heat pump work as well as a buffer vessel or volumiser (depending on the size of your system). We also include any necessary radiators required as well as the plumbing and electrical components needed to complete the installation. The labour required to fit your heat pump is also included as well as the administration required to complete your 5-7 year warranty on the heat pump and cylinder and 2 year workmanship warranty. The total cost of your installation will be deducted by the £7,500 BUS grant where applicable all taken care of by our administration guys and girls. Other costs may arise from a survey, however, these would be made clear to you before any work were to take place. For a breakdown of our full quotation please see our Ts and Cs.
What isn't included in my quote?
There are often components in our quote that are not included or homeowners want to upgrade. For example, if you wanted a full system repipe, hot water cylinder upgrade, non standard controls, additional radiators or design radiator installations these would be subject to additional costs. If you're unsure what isn't included in your proposal please give us a call and check the quotation Ts and Cs.
Servicing & Maintenance
Do heat pumps need servicing?
Heat pumps need servicing like any other heating system. An annual service is recommended to ensure your heat pump runs as efficiently as possible, with our service engineers checking the heating systems water quality and filters, ensuring the heat pump is clean and clear of debris. By doing this you are not only making sure your heat pump remains warrantied but it makes sure the heat pump lasts as long as possible with lifespans of around 20 years.
How much is a service?
Service costs vary from heat pump to heat pump depending on system size etc. Costs generally start from £150 and an annual service is required in order for your warranty to remain valid.

Try Before You Buy
I want to see a heat pump in action.
Well you’re in luck, our office in Clevedon is heated solely using heat pump technology and we’re open 5 days a week for visitors so feel free to give us a call on 01275 341111 to make an appointment.
Alternatively, there are over 300 Swift heat pumps in the South West and we can recommend an installation close to you and arrange a visit through one of our customers.
Still have questions?
If you can’t find the answer to your question here give us a call on 01275 341111 or click the link to get your quote!