What to Expect from a New Build Home with a Heat Pump

by Energie Solutions | Apr 2, 2026 | Heat Pumps

In years gone by, heat pumps were considered something of a luxury, but now, following the introduction of the Future Homes Standard, they’ve become the new normal and can be found in virtually every new build home.

However, while heat pumps offer a whole host of benefits to any home, many new build homeowners are finding that their heat pump isn’t performing as it should, often as a result of poor workmanship and rushed installation.

If you’ve just moved into a new build home and you’re already experiencing problems with your heat pump, the team at Energie Solutions has put together this guide on what to expect and what your next steps should be.

What is a heat pump?

A heat pump is a type of heating system that pulls heat from the outside air into your home to ensure a consistent level of warmth. This makes it much more energy-efficient than a boiler, which has to generate its own heat.

There are three main types of heat pumps:

• Air source heat pumps: The most common type of heat pump as it’s cost-effective and easy to install, an air source heat pump takes in heat from the ambient outdoor air.

• Ground source heat pumps: Using buried pipework to draw thermal energy from the ground, a ground source heat pump delivers consistent, low-cost heating.
• Exhaust air heat pumps: Ideal for flats and properties with limited outdoor space, an exhaust air heat pump reuses warm, stale air from inside the building.

Why are heat pump problems common in new build homes?

Typically, heat pump problems in new build homes aren’t caused by faults with the technology itself, but rather with how it has been specified and installed.

With this in mind, why do issues seem to be so common in new build homes when compared to retrofitted heat pumps?

• Incorrect sizing
  

  A recent joint study by Build Test Solutions, Veritherm and Elmhurst Energy found that up to 70% of new build homes were fitted with an incorrectly sized heat pump, highlighting a serious problem within the industry. In order for a heat pump to work efficiently, precise heat loss calculations must be carried out for each room to ensure the system delivers the right amount of heat to the right areas.
  
  Many new build developments are built quickly and in bulk using a one-size-fits-all approach, but this method just doesn’t work when it comes to installing heat pumps. Factors like layout, insulation, glazing, air leakage rates and more can affect how much heat each room loses, meaning your system has to work much harder to keep your home at a comfortable temperature.

• Skill shortages

  While 142,000 new build homes were built in 2025, only 4,500 MCS-accredited heat pumps were installed, suggesting a serious skill gap in the industry. Many developers appear to be using non-accredited technicians to help meet demand and keep projects on schedule.
  
  An MCS-accredited engineer has to undergo intensive training and be independently assessed to ensure they are fully competent in installing and commissioning a heat pump in line with industry standards. On the other hand, there is no guarantee that a non-accredited technician has received the correct training, so issues are more common. At Energie Solutions, we hold a range of accreditations for your peace of mind.

• Rushed installation

  Most new build developers are working to strict deadlines and having to juggle multiple moving parts. This might mean a rushed installation job, or the system may be fitted before the building is fully complete, and therefore before the final insulation and airtightness levels are confirmed.

• Poor commissioning practices

  Once a heat pump is installed, it must then be commissioned, which involves setting up, testing and fine-tuning the system to ensure everything is working correctly. If this process is rushed or done poorly, the heat pump won’t run as efficiently as it should, likely resulting in higher energy bills.

Once a heat pump is installed, it must then be commissioned, which involves setting up, testing and fine-tuning the system to ensure everything is working correctly. If this process is rushed or done poorly, the heat pump won’t run as efficiently as it should, likely resulting in higher energy bills.

What to ask when buying a home with a heat pump

If you’re purchasing a new build home that already has a heat pump installed, asking the right questions can help you to spot any potential faults early on and understand what you should do next if you run into any issues. This can also give you a clearer picture of the installer’s experience, so you’ve got a better idea of whether you should anticipate any problems later on.

Some of the key questions you should ask include:

• Who is the warranty provider, not only for the build but for the duration of the warranty?
• What does the manufacturer’s warranty cover, and does it include the heat pump unit, hot water cylinder and ancillary items?
• Has the system been independently checked?
• Is the commissioning paperwork available for review?
• Who is the contractor who installed the unit and do they have relevant experience?
• What installation warranty does the installer offer?
• What are the ongoing servicing requirements?
• Is the contractor tied in to servicing the unit for the first few years or can I choose my own specialist?
• Will I get a handover and demonstration from the installer when I move in?

Signs your heat pump needs attention

If you’ve not lived in a home with a heat pump before, you might not know how the system should behave and what classes as normal performance. However, knowing what signs indicate a heat pump fault can help to reduce running costs and identify issues at an early stage before they escalate into significant damage that requires costly repairs.

Keep an eye out for:

• Uneven temperatures between rooms
• Loud or unusual noises
• Energy bills that are much higher than expected
• A lack of heating
• Odd smells
• The outdoor unit icing up
• The system constantly running

What to do if your heat pump isn’t working properly

If you’ve noticed one or more of the above signs combined with a drop in the performance of your heat pump, the best thing to do is contact a qualified heat pump servicing and maintenance expert, like Energie Solutions, to carry out a full system inspection.

So why do you need a heat pump assessment?

A professional assessment goes beyond just checking for faults and will carry out a detailed inspection to determine whether the issue lies with the system itself or is linked to poor installation.

During this service, an engineer should:

• Check whether the system has been correctly installed
• Ensure the heat pump is the correct size for your property
• Assess the settings to ensure they’re properly configured
• Ensure heat is evenly distributed across all rooms
• Identify any inefficiencies that might be affecting performance

How can Energie Solutions help?

As experts in this field, we’ve noticed a huge increase in new build homeowners coming to us with problems. If you’re experiencing heat pump issues shortly after moving into a new build property, where everything, in theory, should be running perfectly, then you’re definitely not alone.

Here at Energie Solutions, we support customers all across Ipswich, Wisbech, Chelmsford and the surrounding areas with a range of heat pump services. This includes one-off repairs, fault diagnostics and regular servicing. No matter what type of heat pump you have or who originally installed it, our engineers boast decades of experience and can help to get your system back on track.

Give us a call to discuss your needs in more detail or to arrange a consultation.