Who does what
A heat pump installation involves two trades. The heat pump company sizes and fits the unit, the cylinder and the heating side. A registered electrician provides the supply to it: a dedicated circuit, appropriate protection, isolation, and certification of that new work.
Problems almost always arise at the join. The heating quote assumes the electrical supply is straightforward, and nobody looks at the consumer unit until the installation week.
What the electrical element costs
| Work | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Dedicated circuit and protection for the unit | €350–€800 |
| Consumer unit upgrade, where needed | €350–€600 |
| Wiring for cylinder, controls and immersion | €200–€500 |
| Supply upgrade through ESB Networks | Quoted by ESB Networks |
The heat pump itself, the cylinder and the heating works are separate and far larger. Those are quoted by the heat pump installer.
The question to ask before you commit
Can the existing supply carry it? A heat pump draws a sustained load for long periods in winter, unlike a shower or a kettle. Add an electric shower, an immersion and possibly an EV charger to an older single-phase supply and the sums can stop working.
Two outcomes are normal. Either the board has capacity and a dedicated circuit is added, or the board is full or outdated and has to be upgraded first. Occasionally the supply itself needs uprating, which involves ESB Networks and takes time. Any of these is fine if known in advance. None of them is fine discovered on installation day.
Have an electrician look at your board when you are getting heat pump quotes, not after you have accepted one. What a board upgrade involves.
Grants and what they require
SEAI offers a heat pump grant, and the amount and conditions change between scheme years, so confirm the current terms on seai.ie. The scheme normally requires a technical assessment of the house first, work by a registered company, and a BER after completion. Insulation levels usually have to reach a standard before a heat pump is approved, which is why many households do insulation first.
If you are also getting an EV charger
Do the load assessment once, for both. A heat pump and a 7kW charger on the same older supply is exactly the combination that needs planning rather than hoping. Done together, one visit and one set of board work usually covers it. EV charger installation and costs.
Certification
The new circuit is controlled electrical work and must be certified by a registered contractor. Keep the Completion Certificate with your grant paperwork and your BER documentation. How registration and certification work.
Get this priced
Send your eircode, a photo of the fuse board, and a line about what you need. Most jobs can be quoted without a call-out.