Buying a House with a Heat Pump? Get a Heating Health Check 🔥🏡
Buying a house with a heat pump? Why you need a heating check before you sign
If you're buying a house with a heat pump, get the heating checked by a specialist before you sign. It's the one part of the house most surveys don't test, and it can be one of the most expensive to put right.
We get a lot of calls from people who have just moved in. The heat pump isn't working properly, nobody showed them how to use it, or it needs a repair they didn't know about. By then, the bill is theirs.
Here's why it happens, and how a Heating Health Check before you buy can save you the stress and the cost.
Does a house survey check the heating?
Not properly. Most buyers choose a RICS Level 2 home survey, which is a good general health check on a property. But the surveyor looks at the heating; they don't test it.
RICS's own description of the Level 2 survey says the surveyor looks at the water, heating and drainage services that can be seen, but doesn't test them or carry out specialist tests.
That isn't a criticism of surveyors. They aren't heating engineers, and they'll usually recommend further checks if something looks wrong. But it means a heat pump can look perfectly fine on the day and still have problems nobody spotted.
The three problems we see most
When new owners call us, it's nearly always one of these:
It isn't working properly. Rooms won't get warm, the hot water runs out, or the bills are much higher than expected. Often it's a design or set-up problem that's been there since the day it was fitted.
Nobody showed them how to use it. Heat pumps work differently to a boiler. Without a proper handover, people run them like a boiler and wonder why they're cold and paying more.
It needs a repair they didn't know about. A fault, a missing part, or a system that hasn't been serviced in years. Sometimes the warranty has lapsed because the servicing wasn't kept up.
In every case, the problem was there before they bought the house. A proper check would have found it.
What a Heating Health Check covers
Our Heating Health Check is carried out by Adrian, a former renewables inspector for an MCS certification body. That was his job: checking whether heat pump installations had been done properly. So he knows exactly what a good installation looks like, and where corners tend to get cut.
We don't just look at the system; we run it and test it. Here are just some of the things we check:
Was it installed properly? Whether the installation meets MCS standards (the industry's quality scheme) and is running within its proper working limits
Faults and servicing: any fault codes and what they mean, and signs it hasn't been looked after
How it was designed: whether it follows the recognised industry design guides for home heating
Radiators and underfloor heating: a thermal imaging camera shows where the heat is and isn't getting to, if the heating is running on the day
Noise, flow and efficiency: how loud the system is, how well water is moving round it, and its efficiency figures where the controls record them
Planning and noise rules: whether it meets permitted development rules, including noise calculations where needed
Insulation: the type and condition of insulation inside and out
Hot water and controls: the cylinder and its safety parts, and whether the controls suit the house
The paperwork: the MCS certificate, commissioning records, service history, and whether the warranty passes to you
You get a written report in plain English, with photos and a clear list of anything that needs attention. Where we can, we'll give you an idea of what any work is likely to involve.
When you move in, we can also show you how to get the best from your heat pump, so you're not left guessing.
What if the check finds a problem?
Then you've found it at the right time: before you've signed, not after you've moved in.
A written report from an accredited engineer gives you something solid to take back to the seller. Depending on what we find, you might ask them to fix it before completion, agree a lower price, or simply go ahead knowing exactly what you're taking on.
We can't promise any particular outcome, as that's between you, the seller and your solicitor. But walking into that conversation with the facts in writing puts you in a much stronger position than finding out in your first cold snap.
Selling or letting? It helps you too
A Heating Health Check isn't just for buyers. If you're selling a home with a heat pump, having the system checked before you list it means no nasty surprises halfway through the sale.
Estate agents are expected to include the type of heating in property listings as part of the "material information" buyers need (National Trading Standards). A recent report showing the system has been checked, serviced and is working properly gives buyers confidence and gives your agent clear facts to share.
For landlords, a check between tenancies means new tenants get a system that works and someone has shown them how to use it.
Five questions to ask the seller about the heat pump
Even before you book a check, these questions will tell you a lot:
How old is the heat pump, and who fitted it? Ask whether the installer is still trading.
Is there an MCS certificate? This shows it was installed by a certified installer, and it often matters for warranties.
When was it last serviced? Ask for the service records. Many manufacturer warranties need a yearly service.
Does the warranty pass to the new owner? Some do, some don't, and some need registering.
Have there been any problems? Cold rooms, high bills, error codes or call-outs are all worth knowing about.
If the answers are vague, or the paperwork is missing, that's a good reason to get it checked properly.
Book a Heating Health Check
Buying, selling or letting a home with a heat pump in North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire or East Yorkshire? We cover Selby, York, Leeds, Harrogate, Goole, Hull and the villages in between.
Email us at hello@busyenergy.co.uk to book a Heating Health Check or ask any questions. No pressure, just honest advice from a local, accredited engineer.
Know what you're buying before you sign.
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