Is Your Home Heat Pump Ready? A Quick Checklist

Heat pumps are taking off in Ireland. Since February 2026, the SEAI grant for most houses has risen to a maximum of €12,500, and heat pump applications were up 95% year-on-year in early 2026.

But a heat pump is only as good as the house it heats. Run through this quick checklist before you choose one.

1Your home's fabric

A heat pump runs at lower water temperatures than an oil or gas boiler, so your home needs to hold on to the heat. Check your attic insulation, walls, windows and draughts first. Insulating before you install means a smaller heat pump that costs less to buy and run.

2Your Heat Loss Indicator (HLI)

Your HLI shows how quickly your home loses heat. SEAI's benchmark is 2.0 W/K/m², and some homes qualify up to 2.3. If your home was built before 2007, you'll need a technical assessment to confirm it before claiming the grant.

3Your radiators

Many existing radiators work fine with a heat pump. Others need upgrading, usually in the coldest rooms. The SEAI grant includes up to €2,000 for central heating upgrades. Read more in our guide: Do Heat Pumps Work with Radiators in Irish Homes?

4Your electricity tariff

A well-designed heat pump produces 3 to 4 units of heat for every unit of electricity it uses. It works best running low and steady, so night rate alone rarely suits it. Heat pump or electric-only tariffs are often better value, and solar PV can cut costs further.

5Your system design

This matters as much as insulation. Two homes with the same heat pump can have very different bills depending on sizing, flow temperature, controls and setup. A proper room-by-room heat loss calculation should come before any quote. If an installer skips it, ask why.