Energy Systems Catapult launches new "Heat pump talk" guide for installers

In the ‘survey and design stage’ of the process, the guide helps installers navigate the initial assessment of a customer’s house and provides questions for the installer to help determine the suitability of a heat pump for the home and the type of heat pump to install. This includes, discussing the homeowner’s heat and hot water requirements, understanding the external and internal space constraints – depending on the type of heat pump to be installed – and how to inform the customer of the options available to them based on the installer’s home assessment.

The guide was produced as part of the ‘Electrification of Heat’ Demonstration Project. The Project, which is funded by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), seeks to better understand the feasibility of a large-scale rollout of heat pumps in homes across the UK.

During the project the Catapult spoke to many participants and installers about their experience of installing heat pumps. From this, they learned how customers and installers can interact most effectively at different stages of the customer journey.

Richard Halsey, Innovation director at Energy Systems Catapult, said: 

“Heat pumps will undoubtedly play an important role in the decarbonisation of heating British homes, but there is still work to be done to overcome barriers to installation for consumers. We can change this. We can start by helping consumers navigate the transition to a heat pump by ensuring we provide them with clear and easy to understand information and guidance on installing a heat pump.  

“The latest guide, ‘Heat pump talk’ aims to help installers put the minds of customers at ease and do-away with common misperceptions by demonstrating what a real-world heat pump installation journey looks like. The guide is not exhaustive, after all, every home is different and will require heating solutions tailored to a customer’s home, but it does provide a starting point for conversations for those installers on the front lines of the UK’s decarbonisation journey.

“While heat pump installations in homes are growing in popularity, the UK is still lagging behind Europe in terms of the number of heat pumps installed in homes. This coupled with a huge consumer awareness gap – 77% of people say they know nothing about heat pumps – makes for a challenging market. It is the heating industry’s responsibility to actively and effectively engage with consumers to improve awareness of the benefits of heat pumps and how the installation journey will impact them.”