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Choosing the Right Air Source Heat Pump Installer
If you’re weighing up whether or not to install an air source heat pump (ASHP), you’ve probably realised that the people that install it for you can be the difference between a good installation or a situation where you end up reaping none of the benefits.
With this in mind, we’ve created our top-tips for ensuring you make the right decision.
Choosing your installer is by far the most important part as the knowledge, experience, and integrity of your installer can play a huge part in the overall performance and running costs, and therefore how satisfied you are with the outcome of the whole installation.
This checklist has been put together through working with thousands of customers, companies and local authorities over the last 2O years across Scotland. But regardless of where you live, or whether you are looking into changing your Oil or Gas boiler, or building a new home or extension, this checklist will help you to find the right installer for you and your project.
Saltire’s Ultimate installer checklist:
1. Business Information and Experience
Is the company MCS registered?
Ask potential installers if the name on the MCS register is the same as the company name. If not, find out why. As without this you cannot claim RHI repayments.
- Is the company properly insured?
- Find out how many years the company has been in business.
With regards to their years in business, 43% of installers fail within the first three years after start-up, so it’s important to make sure you’ve got a reputable installer.
- Installer Experience
Ask the following questions of the installation company:
- How many ASHP have you installed since in business?
- How many were installed last year?
- Accreditations held
- Are they EPVS Accredited? EPVS are an independent body that certify performance figures are correct, to protect the consumer
- Members of trading standards approved code?
- Members of SNIPEF?
- Members of Gas Safe?
- Members of Construction Line?
- Products Used by The Installer
- The products the ASHP installer uses, does it have good reviews in the marketplace.
- Is the installer manufacturer approved?
- Workmanship Warranty
A workmanship warranty would cover issues that could arise such as any plumbing leaks, structural problems, the mounting plinth, etc. The minimum workmanship warranty by law is one year.
- What is the duration of the installer’s workmanship warranty?
- Is the warranty insurance backed?
- What is the manufacturer’s warranty of the product your installer wishes to install?
- Installation Practices
- Does the company use sub-contractors?
- Do they provide a risk assessment?
- Design and Project Planning
- Are communications with your installer good?
- Full design with floor plans
- Exact heat pump location
- Location of internal components.
- Radiator locations or underfloor design
- EPC assessment before and after installation where required within the price
- Specific room by room heat loss calculations
- Details of the RHI payments that you are entitled to
- Assistance with all RHI paperwork to completion
- 9.Pricing and Contracts
- Does the company send a salesman to your home?
- Is the price double checked via a site survey before you hand over any sizable amounts of money for deposits or equipment?
Try to avoid going into an agreement that any additional components or labour costs will be totalled up at the end of the installation.
This is a tactic some installers use to make the initial price of the project seem lower than what it will be.
- Does the company offer insurance backed third party insurance on claims made by the installing company on RHI and running costs?
- Other things to note
The size of the company:
Great ASHP Installers come in all sizes, but just make sure they are MCS registered.
In-house installers vs sub-contracted worker:
Ultimately good installers get it done either way and will make sure that you’re happy in the end.
However, once a subcontractor has left your home his job is done, have you sufficient confidence that they would return if there was an issue?
Gut feeling
An ASHP investment is a large purchase.
You need to feel comfortable with your chosen installer, and that is of paramount importance. You also need to feel confident that they’re not a ‘fly by night’ company and they’ll still be there in years to come if you should ever need them.
Looking for an accredited air source heat pump installer? Look no further! Our friendly team will help you step in to a greener future.
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