How To Become a Heat Pump Installer
With the UK accelerating towards net zero, many plumbers are keen to learn how to become a heat pump installer. Air source heat pumps sit at the centre of the heating transition. They are easier and more affordable to install than ever, suitable for a wide range of properties, and need far less space than ground source heat pumps. With Government incentives and rising consumer interest, many heating engineers are looking to add heat pump installations to their skillset.
In this blog post, we explore a simple way for experienced heating and plumbing professionals to start working with heat pumps. It sets out the challenges many plumbers face with MCS accreditation and explains how our free heat pump training and support can help you begin installing heat pumps with confidence.
If you’re not yet a qualified heating engineer, the best step is to start with Logic4Training. They offer a range of courses and resources for those beginning their plumbing career - laying the foundation before moving on to our heat pump training course.
Jump Ahead
Our Installation Partner, Eco Solutions Plumbing
A Route into Heat Pump Installations Without Full MCS Accreditation
If you’re already a plumber, you will be familiar with most of the skills required to install heat pumps, even if you have never fitted one before. There are plenty of heat pump training options available, but completing training does not automatically mean you can begin installing MCS accredited heat pumps, which leaves you at a disadvantage to installers who can offer access to grants.
This is where many engineers begin to explore their options, only to find the process confusing or unnecessarily expensive.
A common misunderstanding is that plumbers must become MCS accredited before installing heat pumps. While this is an option, it is not the only route. For many one man band plumbers, taking on full MCS accreditation can be challenging both financially and practically. The ongoing administrative work alone can be difficult to manage alongside day-to-day projects, and the costs of annual membership, quality management systems and regular MCS audits soon add up.
Becoming MCS accredited also places responsibility for every part of the installation on your shoulders, including heat loss calculations, system design, product selection, commissioning and customer handover documentation. Balancing all of this with normal workloads can be time-consuming and, in busy periods, unrealistic.
Our MCS Umbrella Scheme provides a much more practical route.
The Alto Energy Heat Pump Training Centre
Once you complete our training course, you can install heat pumps under our accreditation instead of obtaining your own. We handle the heat loss calculations, system design and MCS paperwork, while you focus on delivering a quality installation.
To give you an idea of the scale of paperwork required for an MCS accredited heat pump installation, we shared this on Instagram in response to someone who suggested installers still have to handle it themselves:
In other words, we handle the bulk of the paperwork for every project, so you can focus on completing more installations.
For many installers, our MCS Umbrella Scheme makes clear financial and practical sense. You gain access to fully compliant designs, ongoing technical support and the backing of an experienced team, without the overheads of becoming MCS accredited yourself.
Free Heat Pump Training for Plumbers and Heating Engineers
To support engineers who want to start installing almost immediately, we provide free heat pump courses every month, designed for installers who want to be able to offer customers access to grants. The course gives you a solid foundation in heat pump technology and the practical skills required to approach installations with confidence.
You will receive product-specific training across leading brands including Mitsubishi, Samsung, Worcester Bosch and Viessmann, along with a clear understanding of the differences between air source and ground source systems.
The course is available online or in a hands-on format and has been created to suit busy heating installers who want to learn about renewables without taking time away from work.
What the course covers
The training course covers everything you need to get started, including:
- System features and benefits
- Appliance location and required clearances
- Mechanical and electrical installation
- Understanding appliance operation
- Ground source collector types
- Key heating system design principles
By the end of the course, you will understand the full installation process, supported by a design and technical team who are available throughout the whole project.
Join Our Trusted Installer Network
After completing the training, you can join our Alto Assured Installer Network. To do this, you simply need to provide a copy of your Unvented Hot Water Certificate and your public liability insurance.
Becoming Alto Assured means you will be supported on every project. You will gain access to compliant system designs, technical advice and help on site if something unexpected arises. Once a heat pump has been commissioned, we take full responsibility for the system, giving both you and your customers peace of mind.
You will also have the opportunity to be recommended to homeowners once you have completed a few successful installs.
Taking the Next Step
If you’ve been exploring how to become a heat pump installer, our training course and MCS Umbrella Scheme provide one of the simplest and most accessible ways to get started.
Ready to get started? Join our next one-day training course and become an Alto Assured Partner Installer.