How to find energy efficiency installers and tradespeople

If you’ve decided to make your home more energy efficient by fitting solar panels, floor insulation or one of the many other options available, you’ll want to hire a good installer to fit them.

What do installers do?

Installers are tradespeople who are experienced at fitting improvements to your home. Often, they’ll even collect the parts and materials for you.

You could hire an installer to fit:

• Solar panels
• Floor insulation
• External door draught proofing
• A zoned heating system
• Loft insulation
• A new boiler
• An air or ground source heat pump

Unless you already know exactly what you want, an installer can help you decide which type of insulation or boiler you need, for example.

Depending on what they’re installing, they may inspect your home first. For example, if they’re installing a boiler they’ll visit to identify what capacity boiler you’ll need and measure up the space available.

They should provide you with several options, explaining the advantages and potential disadvantages of each one. You’ll have the last say on the type of improvement they’ll install.

The installer may be able to complete the job in a matter of hours or days, depending on the work. They should keep you informed throughout the installation.

When the job’s done, a good installer will clean up after themselves so that you’d never have guessed that they were there.

Do you need an installer?

You don’t need to hire an installer to make every home efficiency improvement. You’ll probably be able to install LED bulbs and window draught strips yourself, for example. But for bigger and more complicated improvements, like solar panels or heat pumps, an experienced installer can do the hard work for you.

Improvements like solar panel systems can be complex, and improperly installing them can lead to safety hazards, reduced energy production, and potential damage to your home.

A professional installer will have the necessary training, experience and equipment to safely and correctly install the improvement. They may also be able to handle any planning permission or other requirements required by your local council.

An installer should also give you a warranty on their work (and the equipment, if you buy through them), which will give you peace of mind knowing that they’ll take care of any issues.

Six tips to help find a good installer

Use these tips to improve your chances of hiring someone who’ll do a great job.

1. Check for accreditations

Make sure the installer you choose has an accreditation from the relevant organisation. This should ensure that they’ve received appropriate training, comply with the necessary building regulations, adhere to industry codes of practice and complete work to a high standard.

There are lots of different accreditations, including:

• FENSA for double glazing installers
• OFTEC for oil boiler installers
• MCS for solar panels and energy storage systems
• CIGA or Stroma for external wall insulation

2. Get references and check reviews

Ask for references from previous customers and check online reviews to see what other people have experienced with the installer. If you spot any red flags, you can ask the installer to explain themselves. If you’re not satisfied with their answer, be prepared to walk away and find someone else.

3. Compare quotes

Get quotes from three installers so you can compare prices and services offered. Most good installers should charge roughly the same fee. But some tradespeople have been known to inflate prices when they’re busy to ‘price you out’ instead of saying no. So getting several quotes will help you identify who’s offering good value for money.

4. Consider their experience

Choose an installer who has experience installing the improvement you want. This will make sure they’re familiar with the process and they’ll be better equipped to handle any issues that could come up.

5. Ask about their warranty

Find out what kind of warranty they offer. Installers commonly offer a five-year warranty that covers issues caused by poor workmanship and materials. They should also provide the manufacturer’s warranty for the items that are installed.

6. Ask about their insurance

Make sure the installer carries public liability and professional indemnity insurance. This will protect you in case of any accidents that may occur during the installation process.

Bonus tip…

A quick way to find a list of accredited local installers is to use Snugg’s platform.