How Much Does a Heat Pump Service Cost?

The cost of a heat pump service depends on what you have: an air source heat pump on its own, one with a hot water cylinder, or a hybrid system with a boiler as well. The more parts there are to check, the longer the visit and the higher the price. The simplest way to know what you'll pay is a servicing plan, where the yearly service is spread into a fixed monthly payment. You can see current prices on our heat pump servicing plans page, and in the table further down this post.

Below we explain what drives the price, what an engineer actually does for the money, and which plan suits which kind of home.

What drives the cost of a heat pump service

No two systems take exactly the same amount of work. These are the things that make the biggest difference.

The type of system

An air source heat pump that only heats the radiators is the quickest to service. Most homes also have a hot water cylinder, which has its own safety valves and controls to check. A hybrid system adds a boiler, which adds more time to the visit.

The hot water cylinder

A cylinder has a pressure relief valve, a temperature relief valve and an expansion vessel. Each needs checking to make sure it opens and holds pressure as it should. If your service includes the cylinder, expect the visit to take a little longer.

A hybrid boiler

On a hybrid system the heat pump and the boiler share the work. Both need servicing, and the controls that decide which one runs need checking too. Because we are Gas Safe registered as well as F-Gas registered, one engineer can cover the whole system in one visit, rather than you booking two trades.

Access to the outdoor unit

Most outdoor units sit on the ground or on a wall bracket with clear space around them. A unit on a high bracket, a flat roof or in a tight space behind a fence takes longer to work on safely, and that can affect a one-off price.

Whether it's on a plan

A one-off service is priced for that visit alone. A plan includes the yearly service in a monthly payment and adds benefits on top, such as discounts on repairs or, on Premium Protect, cover for parts and labour.

Any repairs found

The service price covers the checks, the cleaning and the report. If the engineer finds a worn part or a fault, the repair is a separate cost. We explain what we've found and give you a price before doing any work.

What you get for the money

A heat pump service is not a quick look at the outdoor unit. On a typical visit, the engineer will:

• Clean and inspect the outdoor coil and fan, clear debris and check the airflow around the unit
• Check the condensate drain and the defrost operation
• Look for signs of a refrigerant leak and check the electrical connections
• Check the system pressure, the expansion vessel, pumps and valves, and clean the filters and strainers
• Test the system water, glycol or inhibitor levels
• Review your controls: settings, schedules and flow temperatures
• Check the hot water cylinder and its safety valves, where your service covers it
• Give you a PDF service report with advice and recommendations

For the full list, see what a heat pump service includes.

That report matters. Most manufacturers need a yearly service by a qualified engineer to keep the warranty valid, so it is your record if you ever need to make a claim. Check your warranty paperwork for the exact terms on your system.

The controls review is easy to overlook. A flow temperature set higher than your home needs makes a heat pump work harder than it should. Getting the settings right is one of the simplest ways to keep running costs down.

Why a servicing plan spreads the cost

A service is a once-a-year cost that is easy to forget until the warranty reminder arrives. A plan turns it into a small, fixed monthly payment, books the service for you and adds benefits you don't get with a one-off visit:

• Prioritised attendance and engineer-led advice if your heat pump breaks down
• 10% off parts and labour on the Heat Pump & Cylinder and Hybrid System plans
• A free inhibitor top-up (antifreeze and glycol are not included)
• Parts and labour cover on qualifying components with Premium Protect

All our plans are 12-month rolling contracts for homeowners with air source heat pumps.

Heat pump servicing plan prices

These are our current plan prices, taken straight from the plans themselves:

Which plan suits which home

Heat Pump & Cylinder Plan

For most homes with an air source heat pump and a hot water cylinder. It covers the annual heat pump and cylinder service, a safety, efficiency and system check of your radiators, underfloor heating and controls, a check of the system water, glycol and inhibitor, and your PDF report. See the Heat Pump & Cylinder Plan.

Hybrid System Plan

For homes where a heat pump works alongside a boiler. It includes everything in the Heat Pump & Cylinder Plan, and the engineer services the boiler on the same visit. See the Hybrid System Plan.

Premium Protect Plan

For heat pump and cylinder systems under 10 years old where you'd rather not face a large repair bill. It includes the annual service, up to 3 emergency breakdown visits a year, and parts and labour on qualifying mechanical and electrical components up to £1,800 in each 12-month period. You also get a priority helpline. There is a 30-day waiting period after the first service. Once the system reaches 10 years old, the plan can switch to labour-only cover. See the Premium Protect Plan.

What isn't included

It's worth being clear about what a service price does not cover, so there are no surprises.

• Repairs and parts. The Heat Pump & Cylinder and Hybrid System plans include the service, not repairs. You get 10% off parts and labour, and we quote before any work.
• Antifreeze and glycol. The free top-up covers inhibitor only.
• Exclusions on Premium Protect. It covers qualifying components, but not pipework, radiators or underfloor loops beyond the unit, general wear, frost damage, neglect, scale, call-outs caused by user error, obsolete parts, or faults found at the first service.
• Commercial and ground source systems. Our plans are for homeowners with air source heat pumps. Businesses can read about commercial heat pump maintenance, which we quote for each site.

Is a cheaper service worth it?

A low price can mean a short visit that skips the refrigerant checks or the cylinder. Ask what the engineer will check, whether you'll get a written report, and whether they can work on the refrigerant side. That work needs an F-Gas registered engineer. Our engineers are REFCOM registered for F-Gas, MCS certified and Daikin Approved, with more than 30 years in refrigeration, air conditioning and heating.

We work from ATE House in Carlin How, near Saltburn-by-the-Sea, and an office in Whitby, and cover Tyne and Wear, Northumberland, County Durham, North Yorkshire and East Yorkshire.

Get your heat pump serviced

Choose a plan that fits your system on our heat pump servicing plans page, or read more about heat pump servicing. If you'd like to talk it through first, call us on 01287 281014 or 07931 908711, or email info@ateservices.co.uk.