Agenda & script for hosting your visit

We created this guide to support you through every step of your Visit a Heat Pump event. Visits typically last about an hour and we’ve provided a suggested agenda to help you navigate the experience from start to finish.

A heat pump owner standing next to their heat pump in London

Organising your show home

Welcome your visitors

10 minutes

Present your heating system

30 minutes

Answer additional questions

10 minutes

End
the visit

5 minutes

Introduction

10 minutes

Group introduction

Gather all the visitors in one place and ask them to introduce themselves. They can share where they’ve come from, talk about their current heat pump journey, and what they hope to get out of the visit.

Introduce yourself

Explain who you are, why you’re hosting these visits, and what you’ll be sharing today.

Introduce the heat pump

Share why and when you had the heat pump installed, how it has been working for you, and any improvements or changes you’ve made to your home as a result.

Most visitors are interested in:
- Understanding the size of the installation, including any indoor or outdoor units
- Hearing the noise levels of the heat pump
- Seeing other system components, such as controls, heat exchanger, and water tank
- Learning about your experience of living with a heat pump and any changes made to your home

Tour of the home and heating system

30 minutes

The heat pump unit  (turn it on if possible)
  • Explain why the unit is located where it is
  • Let visitors hear the noise of the fan
  • Encourage them to feel the air coming from the unit and its impact on the surrounding space
  • Mention whether planning permission was required
  • If separate, show the heat exchanger and explain its role
Integration with other systems (if applicable)
  • If you have solar panels, explain how they interact with your heat pump
  • Mention if you have battery storage and how it affects energy use
  • Discuss any smart home integrations, such as thermostat controls
Water storage and hot water system
  • Explain whether you had an existing tank or had to create space for a new one
  • Describe whether the system meets your hot water needs and how you control it (e.g., schedules)
  • Show any buffer tanks or additional storage
  • Turn on a hot water tap to let visitors feel the water temperature
Heating controls and energy use
  • Demonstrate how you control the heating and hot water
  • Explain any adjustments you’ve made to optimise efficiency
  • Share how your energy use has changed since installing the heat pump
  • Show any real-time monitoring apps or smart meters you use to track performance
Radiators or underfloor heating
  • Explain how heat pump systems use lower flow temperatures compared to gas heating
  • Discuss any radiator changes and/ or underfloor heating installation (if applicable)
Fabric changes
  • Highlight any additional energy efficiency upgrades made to your home, such as insulation or glazing
The experience of living with a heat pump
  • Discuss any changes in thermal comfort levels, including whether rooms heat up more evenly or take longer to warm up
  • Mention changes in energy bills and whether savings have been observed
  • Explain the heat pump’s maintenance and servicing needs, including how often it requires servicing and any associated costs
  • Highlight any seasonal differences in performance and adjustments you make throughout the year

Q&A

10 minutes

We can’t predict all the questions visitors will ask, and we don’t expect hosts to be experts. If you don’t know the answers to visitor questions , you can refer people to the Get A Heat Pump website, where they can access additional information.

Here are some of the most common topics visitors are curious about:

Cost
  • How much did the installation cost?
  • How do the running costs compare to your previous heating system?
  • How much electricity does the heat pump use?
  • What are the servicing requirements and costs?
Installation and process
  • Did you need to apply for planning permission?
  • How did you find your installer?
  • Does the position of the heat pump affect its performance?
  • Is the heat pump noisy?
Running the heat pump
  • How long does it take for the house to warm up in winter?
  • How does the heat pump cope with sudden temperature drops?
  • Is it better to run the heat pump constantly or let the house cool down overnight?
  • How do you deal with defrost cycles in winter? Does it affect performance?

End of visit

5 minutes

We’ll handle all follow-up communications with visitors. If they have any further questions, let them know they will receive an email from us with additional resources.

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