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Man in high-vis jacket installing a heat pump

Heat Pump Installer

The role of a Heat Pump Installer is to oversee the system installation and commissioning of heat pump systems. They undertake the installation, servicing, repair, and maintenance in accordance with up-to-date manufacturer guidelines, assessing and diagnosing faults.

Heat Pump Installers also highlight and manage risks, ensuring risk assessment and safety plans are in place and will troubleshoot when appropriate. They will liaise closely with and support Coordinators, customer service teams, sales teams and Project Managers and provide a professional customer service.

£10k – £15k

Salary range for apprentices

£25k – £28k

Salary range for qualified Heat Pump Installers under supervision

£28k – £34k

Salary range for advanced Heat Pump Installers or Technicians

£40k – £65k

Salary range for management or director level

Please note: the information in our job profiles aims to give a general overview of the role and a guideline to what it involves. The content is not intended to be exhaustive and roles will vary depending on the organisation and sector. The salary ranges are a guide only, as these are dependent on the size and location of the organisation.

How does this role align to the green agenda?

The installation of heat pumps and low-carbon heating systems is vital in decarbonising UK housing stock and commercial buildings, and in achieving our national net zero goals. Heat pumps reduce the carbon footprint of homeowners and business owners, make their properties more energy efficient, provide independence from the national gas grid and reduce heating bills in the long-term. Those who work in green energy are engaged and interested in how things around us work and want to improve or provide better alternatives to improve their functionality, sustainability, and impact on the environment.

Two men in high-visibility jackets working on heat pumps

Skills and capabilities

A mix of technical and interpersonal skills are needed for this role. A positive mindset towards, and a commitment to learning and improving is essential.

Technical knowledge

  • Extensive health and safety knowledge
  • Building regulations and construction legislation
  • Electrical, plumbing and hand tool skills
  • IT skills such as customer relationship management system (CRM) and computer-aided design
    (CAD)
  • A curiosity for and specialist interest in electrical systems, appliances, and water systems
  • Specification / design knowledge of heating and hot systems:
    • Thermodynamics / energy flows
    • Fluid mechanics / pipework and pump sizing
    • Heat emitters / heat exchangers
    • Heat cost calculations
Learn more about upskilling
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A day in the life of a Heat Pump Installer

A day in the life of a Heat Pump Installer involves many tasks. Larger organisations tend to have more segmented roles, as they have access to more IT-based functions and administrative support staff. In smaller organisations, you would work on a wider variety of tasks, including some paperwork and administrative jobs.

The day may generally begin with communication checks and equipment checks for the upcoming site visit. Standard tasks may include completing health and safety and risk assessment checks on site at arrival, and consulting with colleagues, other trades and the Site Manager, or the customer. A Heat Pump Installer will then perform the repair/servicing itself (examples are listed below). The day will end with work completion checks and further liaison with Site Managers and / or the customer. Finally, the work done will be logged and relevant paperwork / administration will be finalised

  • Install indoor or outdoor unit / hot water cylinder / buffers / expansion vessels
  • Install / change radiators / radiator pipework / towel rails / underfloor heating / manifolds
  • Fusion welding (for ground-source installations)
  • Ground works, digging trenches and laying pipes for some ground-source installations
  • Drilling / press fitting pipe work / pressure testing
  • Filling and purging plumbing systems / wiring
  • Commissioning and resetting / hydraulic balancing

Working can be inflexible as time-frames are usually determined by building works. Hours will typically be 8am-4pm, but some companies can expect overtime and / or operate piecework policies. Location is often dependent on the size of the company; some operate nationwide, so you may work all over the UK. The role presents the potential to boost your income with overtime.

Entry routes

You can enter the profession through an apprenticeship in plumbing or electrics at entry-level. As a minimum plumbing qualification, installers would need a Level 2 NVQ/SVQ with Unvented Hot Water Cylinder certification and a Water Bylaws qualification. At this level, little experience, if any, is required. To become qualified in heat pumps, you would then need to complete one of the UK-wide qualifications listed below.

To note: in England, Northern Ireland and Wales, it will typically take three years to complete a full-time, undergraduate degree. In Scotland, it typically takes four years. Apprenticeship courses vary in length, and also require an end-point assessment period. Please check this information on a case-by-case basis.

If you are based in England, you may be eligible for the Heat Training Grant. More information can be found on the Gov.uk website.

Learn about the green agenda across different sectors

Information kindly supplied by:
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MCS

Working with industry, MCS define, maintain and improve quality – certifying products and installers so people can have confidence in the low-carbon technology they invest in, from solar and heat pumps to battery storage or biomass.

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ISEP is the membership body for environment and sustainability professionals