What should your heat-pump installer check before leaving?

Ask for results that show the installation works

A heat pump starting up is an important milestone. Commissioning goes further: it checks that the installed equipment, distribution, and controls operate as intended. Include that work in the proposal, along with the results you will receive. This is useful for a new installation, a replacement, or a major system alteration.

PNNL's commissioning guidance distinguishes refrigerant and control checks from the additional airflow and duct tests needed for ducted systems. Ask the installer which procedures apply to your equipment and when they will be completed. There is no single temperature reading that proves every part of an installation is correct.

commissioning guidance · Source checked 2026-09-07

Put the design beside the finished equipment

Keep the indoor and outdoor model numbers, the equipment selection, and the room load information together. If a different model was installed, ask for the revised selection and an explanation of what changed. A larger unit is not automatically an upgrade when the rest of the design stays the same.

The ENERGY STAR heat-pump guide recommends sizing from the home's heating and cooling needs. Your handover should connect that design to the installed system: which rooms it serves, what existing equipment remains, and how any backup heat participates. For a ducted conversion, also use our existing-duct assessment guide.

ENERGY STAR heat-pump guide · Source checked 2026-09-07

Record the refrigerant checks without doing them yourself

Ask for confirmation that the refrigerant piping was tested, evacuated, and charged using the applicable equipment instructions. The record should identify the procedure and result, including adjustments required by the installed piping arrangement. Refrigerant work belongs to the qualified installer.

Useful questions are: “Which manufacturer procedure did you follow?” and “Were any checks postponed because today's conditions were unsuitable?” If something must be completed later, record the responsible person and return-visit arrangement. A blank field should be explained rather than treated as a passing result. Manufacturer-specific targets matter more than a generic checklist number.

Check delivered air and room coverage

For ducted equipment, request measured airflow and total external static pressure, with the fan setting, filter, and test conditions identified. The contractor should compare these with the equipment requirements. Also ask how room distribution was checked; sufficient airflow at the equipment does not establish that each bedroom receives its share.

PNNL's heat-pump replacement checklist includes airflow verification, duct evaluation, and balancing. Have doors positioned as the household normally uses them. With a ductless system, ask the installer to demonstrate each indoor unit and explain coverage of rooms without one. Those rooms should not disappear from the handover just because they lack a thermostat.

heat-pump replacement checklist · Source checked 2026-09-07

Have the controls demonstrated in ordinary language

Ask someone to walk you through heating, cooling, scheduling, fan settings, and any humidity controls. For a system with backup heat, record the heat sources and the intended control sequence. Ask how to recognize normal defrost and how to request help for an error.

Practice the controls while the installer is present. Can you find the filter reminder? Does a remote control measure room temperature, or does the indoor unit use its own sensor? What happens after a power interruption? Which settings should stay as configured? These are questions to resolve for your particular system, not instructions to change installer menus. Keep the user manual or its exact model-specific link.

Use a simple handover worksheet

Agree on the following record before the job is finished. A written report, commissioning app export, or clearly labeled installation packet can all work.

Add a notes column of your own for questions raised during the walkthrough. Keep warranty registration instructions and permit or inspection records in the same folder where applicable. An inspection and a performance report answer different questions; ask what each document covers.

Give the first season a useful baseline

Write down the normal settings and any unresolved room complaints at handover. If comfort changes later, record the date, outdoor conditions, room, and equipment behavior. That gives the service technician a starting point and makes comparisons with the commissioning record more useful.

Avoid treating the first bill alone as a performance test: weather, rates, and household use can change. Start with the actual complaint and measured installation results. When requesting a heat-pump installation, ask for commissioning and a homeowner handover as explicit parts of the quote.