Heat pump installation in Ireland

1. BER assessment: sets the starting energy rating of the home
2. Home survey: the installer checks insulation and radiators and does a heat loss calculation
3. System design: the heat pump is sized from the heat loss
4. Installation: typically 2 to 3 days for an air source system
5. Commissioning: the system is tested and balanced
6. Second BER assessment: records the rating after the work
7. Grant claim: the SEAI grant claim is submitted

Apply for the grant and wait for SEAI's approval before any work starts. See the heat pump grant rules.

• Mounting the outdoor unit
• Plumbing it to the heating circuit and the hot water cylinder
• Electrical work
• Commissioning and balancing the system

Labour is €3,000–€5,000 for an air to water system. Ground source costs more, because trenching or drilling boreholes adds €3,000–€6,000.

These push the installation cost up:

• Replacing an old gravity-fed system with a pressurised one
• A long pipe run between the outdoor unit and the cylinder
• Switching from a back boiler or solid fuel system
• Upgrading several undersized radiators at once
• A fuse board upgrade in an older home

See the full heat pump cost breakdown.

• Check the company is an SEAI-registered heat pump contractor
• Get at least three written quotes for the same house
• Ask for the heat loss calculation, not only the kW size
• Check which radiators and which cylinder the quote includes
• Ask if the installer is certified by the brand they fit
• Ask who services the system and what the warranty covers

Quotes for the same house can differ by thousands. Compare them line by line, not only on the total.

A yearly service costs €100–€200. It is not required by law, but it keeps the system efficient and the warranty valid. A service checks:

• Refrigerant level and pressure
• Filters and airflow on the outdoor unit
• Electrical connections and controls
• The defrost cycle
• Hot water cylinder temperature and controls