Getting into Heat pumps, made simple.

Heat pumps are very simple, they are just boilers that live in the garden. A heat pump is just a box that warms up water. Installing them is easy if you are a plumber or a heating engineer, its just pipes, valves, pumps and radiators. there is nothing new here.

The problem is the bit that happens before the tube strangling begins. First you have to get the order and answer hundreds of questions about the technology. Then you have to size a and specify the unit. Heat pumps come in hundreds of sizes and shapes, making sure you have the right unit for the job can be a bit daunting. And then there is the paperwork.. The paperwork is in place purely to make sure there is some traceability for the grants the government give out when you have a heat pump fitted.

If you are a Heating or plumbing engineer and you want to get into heat pumps what do you do?

The traditional route is get BPEC training, learn how to survey the house, do a heat load calculation and then get MCS accredited, set up a compliance programme, Get assessed, employ an administrator and prepare for 68 pages of paperwork for every job you do. If you are slick you could get qualified in just under 6 months. I did it last year, it would have been easier to do a retraining programme to become an accountant, Its an horrible process.

Alternatively you could call Clayton Browne at the HPIN - The Heat Pump Installer Network Claytons team will train you how to install a heat pump using all your plumbing skills and put you into their network. u will be ready to install in a matter of a few days.

So how can it be so fast?

If you the installer, get a heat pump enquiry you send it to HPIN and they take it over. They speak to the homeowner, answer all the questions, do the calculations, select the unit, get the order and process the paperwork. Once the job is secured they handle all the payments , bus grant application, DNO, MCS, invoicing etc. You then get the job back, a set of equipment arrives on site on the scheduled day with a set of instructions. You just turn up, bend the tubes turn the unit on safe in the knowledge it will work and its backed up by people who know what they are doing.

Being part of the network also means that HPIN send you work. If Mrs Miggins wants a heat pump in your town, she calls the EDF energy, (HPIN / CB heating is owned by EDF), they sell her a unit and then post the job up on their app for you to choose to accept or not. Think of it as having your own heat pump design company with proper tech support, design and experience behind them.

Its a lovely solution for any heating engineer who doesn't have the time or the ambition to retrain as an accountant.

The HPIN training facilitates and tech support would put most major manufacturers to shame, they have literally everything you need to work on. Its Disney land for plumbers. Clayton has got more heat pumps than me. The training team have decades of experience out there fixing heat pumps so you are in good hands.

I visited last week to look around, its an incredible facility with over 100 people involved at every stage of the installation, design and paperwork. The operation is incredible and is proving very effective at installing thousands of heat pumps every year.

So if you fancy a dabble at heat pumps it would be worth getting in touch. Trust me, once you have done one you will wonder what all the fuss is about. Well that is until you are brave or stupid enough to think about doing the paperwork.

Thanks Clayton for a great day, in the heat pump wonderland.