What should a heat pump quote include?
- 01A room-by-room heat-loss calculation
Not floor area alone. Ask for the total design heat loss and each room’s result, with fabric and ventilation assumptions.
- 02The outdoor design temperature
The cold-weather temperature used to size the system should be stated for your location.
- 03Heat-pump make, model and output at design conditions
A headline model rating may not equal output at the proposed outdoor and water temperatures.
- 04Design flow temperature and controls
Ask what water temperature is required at design conditions and how weather compensation will be configured.
- 05Room-by-room emitter schedule
Every retained or replacement radiator should be checked at the proposed flow temperature.
- 06Hot-water design
Cylinder size, location, reheat assumptions, immersion backup and any changes to water pressure should be clear.
- 07Electrical, planning and external-unit details
Include supply checks, new circuits, grid notification where needed, base, drainage, clearances and noise/planning assumptions.
- 08A complete installed scope
List removal, pipework, flushing, insulation, controls, making good, access, disposal and VAT as included or excluded.
- 09Performance and running-cost assumptions
Separate modeled efficiency from guarantees. Ask which tariff, temperatures and heating pattern underpin any cost comparison.
- 10Commissioning, handover and aftercare
Include balancing, control setup, homeowner instruction, documents, warranties, servicing and who resolves performance issues.
Put every quote into the same comparison
| Record | Quote A | Quote B | Quote C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total design heat loss | ___ kW | ___ kW | ___ kW |
| Outdoor / flow design temperature | ___ / ___ °C | ___ / ___ °C | ___ / ___ °C |
| Heat pump model and design output | ___ | ___ | ___ |
| Radiators changed | ___ | ___ | ___ |
| Hot-water cylinder | ___ litres | ___ litres | ___ litres |
| Complete price before / after grant | £___ / £___ | £___ / £___ | £___ / £___ |
What are the heat-pump quote red flags?
- No room-by-room heat-loss calculation is provided or promised.
- The quote claims guaranteed bill savings without your consumption and tariff.
- Radiators are declared suitable without an emitter schedule at the design flow temperature.
- The grant is treated as certain before eligibility and installer requirements are confirmed.
- Electrical work, condensate drainage, making good or commissioning are vague exclusions.
- You are pressured to sign before comparing the design, cancellation terms and consumer protection.
How should grants and MCS appear in the quote?
For the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, current technology and property rules vary. Check the live Ofgem property-owner page rather than relying on a copied grant figure. GOV.UK recommends comparing more than one installer; eligible BUS installations require the relevant scheme and MCS conditions to be met.
Check the gross price as well as the net price
Record the full installed price, the grant assumption and the amount you pay separately. This makes quotes comparable if eligibility or scheme values differ.