Whether you’re replacing your old central heating system, or just looking to supplement your existing one, a heat pump and solar PV installation will be an investment in both comfort and energy efficiency.
It can be a daunting process if you’ve never had one installed before. There are plenty of companies out there who will be only too happy to take your money. However, many won’t deliver what they promise or, worse still, use substandard products that could be unreliable and unefficient.
So how do you find a reputable installer? Here are our top tips:
What To Look For When Searching For The Best Heat Pump Installer
When searching for an air source heat pump and solar PV installer, an accredited company is the first thing to look for. Accreditation means that the company has met specific standards an independent body sets. This can be either voluntary or compulsory, depending on where you live in the UK.
We suggest that you only purchase from these directories:
- TrustMark – Government Endorsed Scheme For Work Done Around Your Home
- MCS Certified | Giving you confidence in home-grown energy
You should also consider whether or not they have a good reputation. Their workmanship must be up to scratch because this will affect the quality of your product and its performance over time. You’ll want to find out if any customers have had issues with them before making an appointment with them yourself to discuss your requirements further.
Finally, looking into what warranties come with your purchase is worthwhile, so there aren’t any nasty surprises later down the line!
Just on a side note, heat pump installers as a requirement must be MCS Certified if the customer wishes to claim the £5000 Boiler Upgrade Scheme voucher.
What Does A Solar PV Installer Need?
Now that you’ve found a reputable air source heat pump installer, it’s time to start looking for a solar PV installer. There are many types of solar systems, so it is important that the installer must know what they are talking about and can implement the right size and specification for your home or business.
To begin, check that they have good references and accreditation before hiring them. In addition, their previous customers should be able to tell you whether or not they were happy with the installation and if there were any issues with their system.
Most of the time the warranties that you will get are with the manufacturer, so there isn’t usually any issues here, but you want to make sure the company you use is a HIES member, as HIES members get a 2 year workmanship warranty, which should rule out the majority of potential issues due to them occurring or being noticeable in that time frame.
The Quality Of Your Solar Panels And Inverter Matters
As with any other critical piece of your system, you’ll want to ensure that the solar panels and inverter are high quality. Again, a reputable installer will help you determine whether or not a particular brand or model is suitable for your home, and this information can worked by using a combination of your bills, the times you and your family are at home and a bit of good old common sense!
When considering which solar panels to buy, just make sure you get good warranties and smart capabilities, but if you are buying 400w panels, they are all 400w panels, so providing they have a good warranty, you are usually good to go.
The best warranties come with at least 20 years of coverage on the panels and offer transferability options if you decide to sell your house or move away from its installation, inverters usually have 7 year and up, batteries are almost all 10 years.
Finally, be sure that the company offers some guarantee of reliability, or is a member of HIES —you don’t want something failing because it wasn’t built well enough!
How Long Should I Expect A Solar or Heat Pump Installation To Take?
The length of time for installation depends on the size of the project. Larger installations of heat pumps can take a week, with some taking as long as two weeks, however in most cases 2-3 days is enough. Solar installations on roofs with good access can be done in a day, however larger systems, or roofs that are stone or or slate may take longer.
Suppose you don’t have any skills or experience in working with power tools and electrical appliances. In that case, hiring an expert with that knowledge and experience is best. This way, you can rest assured that everything will be installed safely and correctly.
How Much Will It Cost To Get A Solar PV And Heat Pump Installation?
When you’re thinking about going solar, it’s easy to focus on the financial benefits of a solar PV system. However, several costs are also associated with installing a solar PV and heat pumps in your home.
When dealing with a reputable installer that you trust, these costs can be broken down into two main types: fixed costs and ongoing costs.
The fixed cost is the initial investment that you make when purchasing your system (and any additional equipment necessary), while the ongoing cost is what it would take to run the equipment over time. Financing the initial cost of a system is often a hot topic, however although there may be interest chargable on the repayments it usually is still worth doing, as the savings that you will make often cover the interest and much more, so bare that in mind!
How Compare Renewables Can Help YOU!
Heat pumps and solar panels are two of the UK’s most popular home energy upgrades. They both help you reduce your power bills and positively impact the environment.
However, there are many different types of heat pumps and solar panel systems. Each one will have its own advantages and disadvantages, so choosing the right product for your home is important. If you don’t, you could end up with an expensive system that doesn’t work as well as it should.
That’s where Compare Renewables— Heat Pump & Solar Panel comes in. Our website helps YOU find reputable heat pump and solar panel installers by comparing them all against each other on price, quality, and customer satisfaction ratings.
With so many products on the market today, it can be difficult to know which one is best for your needs. That’s why we do all the hard work for you – finding the most reliable companies in the UK and comparing their products side-by-side so you can make an informed decision about which one is best for your home
With our knowledge and experience, we help you connect with fully accredited & trusted installers in your area by decrypting the process of researching green energy products and installers.
Let us help YOU get the most qualified heat pump and solar panel installer for your home!