Guide · Buying
How long does a heat pump installation take?
Days on site, weeks end to end — here is where the time actually goes.
A typical UK air source heat pump installation takes two to four days on site, and four to twelve weeks from accepting the quote to commissioning once survey, design, grant paperwork and equipment lead times are included. Ground source installs take longer because of groundworks, usually one to three weeks on site.
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Typical timeline
- Week 0: survey and heat loss calculation.
- Weeks 1–2: design, quote, grant paperwork submitted by the installer.
- Weeks 2–8: equipment ordered; radiators and cylinder scheduled.
- Install week: 2–4 days on site for air source.
- Commissioning day: controls set up, MCS certificate issued, handover.
What happens each day on site
- Day 1: outdoor unit base, unit positioned, electrical first fix.
- Day 2: cylinder swap, hydraulic connections, pipework.
- Day 3: radiator changes, filling, pressure testing.
- Day 4: commissioning, weather compensation setup, handover.
How long you are without heating
Usually one to two days between decommissioning the boiler and commissioning the heat pump. Good installers schedule the changeover so hot water returns the same day, and many will leave temporary heating if the gap is longer.
Frequently asked questions
- How many days does a heat pump take to install?
- Two to four days for a typical air source retrofit; one to three weeks for ground source including groundworks.
- Will I be without hot water?
- Typically for part of one or two days while the cylinder is changed over.
- How long does the grant paperwork take?
- Your installer submits it; voucher processing normally runs alongside equipment lead times rather than adding to them.
- MCS Certified — Installer certification scheme required for grant eligibility.
- Boiler Upgrade Scheme — GOV.UK — Official guidance on the £7,500 BUS grant in England and Wales.
- Energy Saving Trust — Heat pump efficiency, running cost and SCOP benchmarks (UK).
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