Guide · Buying
What happens in a heat pump survey
The visit that determines your running costs for the next twenty years.
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A UK heat pump survey typically takes one to three hours and produces a room-by-room heat loss calculation, an emitter (radiator) schedule, a proposed outdoor unit position with noise assessment, and a system design at a stated flow temperature. Everything in the eventual quote should trace back to that survey.
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What the surveyor measures
- Room dimensions, window types and areas, and external wall construction.
- Insulation levels in loft, walls and floors.
- Existing radiator sizes and pipework type, including any microbore.
- Electrical supply capacity and consumer unit spare ways.
- Outdoor unit positions, boundary distances and drainage routes.
What you should receive afterwards
- Heat loss figure in watts for every room and for the whole house.
- Recommended heat pump output in kW with the design flow temperature.
- A list of which radiators change and to what size.
- MCS performance estimate with predicted annual efficiency.
- An itemised quote showing the grant deduction separately.
How to prepare
- Clear access to the loft, airing cupboard and consumer unit.
- Find your EPC and any insulation records.
- Note rooms that are always cold or always overheating.
- Think about where you would accept the outdoor unit and cylinder.
Frequently asked questions
- How long does a heat pump survey take?
- One to three hours for a typical home, longer for large or unusual properties.
- Is a heat pump survey free?
- Many installers survey free as part of quoting; some charge a design fee that is credited against the install.
- Can a heat pump be quoted without a survey?
- A budget estimate can, but no compliant MCS quote can be finalised without a room-by-room heat loss calculation.
Sources
- MCS Certified — Installer certification scheme required for grant eligibility.
- Energy Saving Trust — Heat pump efficiency, running cost and SCOP benchmarks (UK).
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