How to post a heat pump installation job
A heat pump request should describe the whole home, not ask for a unit by size alone. Insulation, airtightness, heat loss, radiator or underfloor output, hot-water demand and electricity capacity all affect whether a proposed system will perform well.
For an individual SEAI heat pump grant, the homeowner must use an SEAI-registered contractor, obtain grant approval before work starts and complete the required assessment and documentation. SEAI currently says eligible homes must have been built and occupied before 2021 and may need a technical assessment of heat loss.[1]
Describe the property and its energy condition
- Give the property type, approximate floor area, build year and county.
- State the current BER if known and attach the advisory report without personal details.
- List attic, wall and floor insulation plus window upgrades already completed.
- Mention draughts, cold rooms, condensation or areas that are difficult to heat.
- Say whether a technical assessment or heat-loss calculation already exists.
Explain the present heating and hot-water system
Identify the existing oil, gas, solid-fuel or electric system, its approximate age and any recent faults. List radiators, underfloor zones, cylinders, pumps and controls. Include the number of occupants, typical heating schedule and unusual hot-water demand so respondents understand the service the replacement must provide.
Show plant, outdoor and electrical access
Photograph the boiler or plant area, hot-water cylinder, consumer unit and possible outdoor-unit locations from safe positions. Give approximate routes between them and mention narrow access, apartments, shared boundaries, noise-sensitive windows, overhead restrictions and drainage. Do not choose a final unit position before the contractor assesses airflow, servicing and acoustic requirements.
Ask for a designed system, not a product list
- Room-by-room heat-loss basis and proposed design temperatures.
- Heat-pump type, output, seasonal performance assumptions and controls.
- Radiator, underfloor, cylinder, pipework and electrical upgrades included.
- Commissioning, balancing, homeowner training and monitoring.
- Grant paperwork, post-works BER, safety file, warranties and exclusions.
Compare the complete route to installation
SEAI advises homeowners to compare quotes, check references and use a written contract covering the work, price, timing, payments and warranties. Ask each contractor to explain what must happen before installation, what would make the home unsuitable without further upgrades and who owns each assessment, application and handover task.[1]
Copyable heat pump job description
Example: 'Assess and quote for an air-to-water heat pump in a 1998 detached home in Mayo, approximately 145 square metres. The house has upgraded attic insulation, pumped cavity walls, double glazing and a current C2 BER. Heating is an 18-year-old oil boiler with 11 radiators; four may need replacement. Four people use a 200-litre cylinder. Photos show the plant room, consumer unit and two possible outdoor locations. Please include assessment, system design, heating upgrades, electrical work, controls, commissioning, grant documentation and handover.'
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a heat-loss assessment before requesting quotes?+
You can request initial interest first, but a suitable design requires reliable heat-loss information. Grant-supported work may require an eligible technical assessment.[1]
Should I ask for a specific heat-pump size?+
Describe the home and heating demand instead. The contractor should explain sizing from assessment and design information.
Can I start work before grant approval?+
SEAI states that approval must be in place before grant-supported work starts. Check the current scheme before committing.[1]
What should be included besides the heat-pump unit?+
Ask about emitters, cylinder, pipework, electrical work, controls, drainage, commissioning, balancing, training and documentation.
Why mention insulation in the job post?+
The home's heat loss affects comfort, system temperatures, equipment selection and running performance.
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