A planned heating replacement runs in seven steps: inventory, system and legal clarification, quotes, incentive application before start of construction, notification procedure, dismantling including installation and commissioning. Whoever starts before the old heating system dies has a relaxed few months for everything together – and saves themselves the expensive emergency temporary solution in January. (As of: July 2026)
Key points in brief
- The most important decision is the timing: You replace a 20-year-old oil or gas heating system as planned – not only when it fails in winter.
- In the Canton of Zurich, the obligation to use a renewable system applies when replacing; the heat pump is the normal case, the procedure for this is lean.
- The order decides on money: The incentive application must be submitted before the start of construction – whoever builds first loses the contribution.
- Radiators are not an exclusion criterion: Many houses heat problem-free with a heat pump and existing heat distribution.
- Experience has shown that the installation itself only takes a few working days – the months are in planning, applications and delivery times.
Step 1 — Inventory: before the heating system dies
The best heating replacement begins while the old system is still running. You clarify three questions first: How old is the heat generator – from around twenty years onwards, replacement is no longer a question of whether, but when. How is the heat distributed – radiators or underfloor heating, and with what flow temperature? And what is the condition of the building – insulation, windows, last renovation status?
These details will later decide on system selection and dimensioning. Collect what is there: the rating plate of the heating system, latest service invoices, energy consumption of recent years (oil deliveries or gas bill). This makes every consultation more concrete.
Step 2 — Clarifying the legal situation and system
In the Canton of Zurich, the fundamental question has been largely answered since 1 September 2022: When replacing an oil or gas heating system, a renewable system must be installed – the exceptions are narrow, the details are in the article on the Energy Act for heating replacement. For electric heating systems, the deadline also runs until 2030. In practice, this mostly means: heat pump, alternatively district heating where a network is available.
For the heat pump itself, there are two basic types to choose from – air-to-water (cheaper, installed faster, needs a well-thought-out location because of noise) and ground source (higher investment, but more efficient and inaudible). Which one fits depends on the plot, budget and heat demand; this is clarified by the specialist consultation on site, not the catalogue.
One point belongs on the table right now: the noise regulations. The installation location of an air-to-water heat pump is a planning issue with a legal side – subsequent corrections are expensive.
Step 3 — Obtaining quotes
Get two to three quotes – and make sure that they are comparable: same type of system, clearly quantified scope of services, and all ancillary work named. Especially with heating replacement, the surprises are hidden in the margins of the quote: dismantling and disposal of the old heating system, decommissioning or removal of the oil tank, adjustments to the electrical installation, any work on the chimney. If one of these items is missing, it is not free of charge – it will come later as an addendum.
You can recognise serious providers here, as with the solar system, by the site visit before the quote and by concrete details instead of blanket promises – the list of questions for the consultation also works correspondingly for heating replacement.
Step 4 — Securing incentives: before the start of construction!
The most expensive mistake in the whole process is an order error: The incentive application must be submitted before the start of construction. Whoever installs the heat pump and thinks about the incentive money afterwards goes empty-handed – retroactive applications are excluded. The start of construction is already considered to be the installation of the system or, in the case of ground probes, the drilling.
In the Canton of Zurich, the contributions are substantial – the current rates, surcharges and the process via the cantonal application platform are in the article Incentives for heat pumps in Zurich. After the confirmation of receipt, construction may begin; payment is made after completion. A well-rehearsed specialist company submits the applications for you – ask expressly for this, it is part of the scope of services.
Then there is the tax side: Heating replacement is usually deductible from taxable income as an energy-related measure – the invoice belongs in the tax dossier.
Step 5 — Notification procedure and formalities
A typical heat pump no longer needs a building permit in the Canton of Zurich: It is handled via the notification procedure – notification to the municipality, a 30-day period, after which construction may begin. Exceptions apply in core zones and for protected properties, as well as for geothermal probes, which additionally require a water protection permit. This chapter is also sensibly left to the specialist company; your role is limited to signing.
The registration with the grid operator runs in parallel – the heat pump is a large new consumer, and depending on the utility, the question of the suitable electricity tariff arises, including any possible control by the utility.
Step 6 — Dismantling and installation
Now things move quickly: The old heating system is decommissioned and removed, the heat pump is installed, and it is connected hydraulically and electrically. Experience shows that for an air-to-water heat pump, this takes a few working days; with a geothermal probe, the drilling phase is added. The house is without hot water only briefly – the transition is planned so that the shower remains cold for at most one day.
With oil, the tank is added: Decommissioning or removal according to the applicable regulations is included in the quote (step 3). Incidentally, the freed-up space is one of the underestimated gains of the entire project – the tank room becomes a cellar.
Step 7 — Commissioning and optimisation
The project is not finished with the first heating up – the system becomes good in the weeks that follow. Commissioning includes setting the heating curve, instruction and documentation; in the first heating season, fine-tuning is worthwhile, because the factory setting is rarely the most efficient for your house. The lower the flow temperature, the more efficiently the heat pump works – this is where the operating cost lever lies.
And now, with the largest electricity consumer in the house freshly installed, the roof question answers itself: The combination with a solar system turns the new consumer into a buyer of your own electricity – and the heating replacement is the best time to at least consider it.
The schedule at a glance
| Phase | Duration (guideline value) | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Inventory & consultation | 2–4 weeks | You + specialist company |
| Quotes & decision | 2–4 weeks | You |
| Incentive application & notification procedure | ~4–6 weeks (in parallel) | Specialist company |
| Delivery time for heat pump | depending on model and season | Operation |
| Dismantling & installation | a few working days | Operation |
| Adjustment | first heating season | Operation + you |
Guideline values, As of: July 2026 – the actual process depends on the municipality, delivery times and the season. If you start in spring, you will heat with the new system in autumn.
There is a simple test that we recommend to owners with radiators who doubt the heat pump: In a cold winter, lower the flow temperature of your existing heating system as a trial and observe whether the house stays warm. If it remains comfortable, a heat pump will also cope with the existing heat distribution – completely without an expert report, with your own house as a test bench. The second observation from our projects is more uncomfortable: The most expensive heating replacements are the unplanned ones. If you call in January with a dead boiler, you will get a temporary solution, express surcharges and the system that happens to be available – instead of the one that fits. The best time for step 1 is therefore a summer when the old heating is still running.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a heating replacement take in total?
From the initial consultation to the running system, a few months is realistic – the time is taken up by planning, applications and delivery times, not by the assembly. Experience shows that the installation itself takes a few working days. If you start in spring, you will be finished before the heating season.
What do I do if the heating fails in the middle of winter?
There are transitional solutions – mobile heating centres and temporary setups – but they cost money and limit the choice, because then what is available is installed. If your heating system is older than twenty years: Plan the replacement now, not after the failure.
Can I simply repair my old oil or gas heating?
Yes – the replacement obligation applies to the replacement of the heat generator, not to repairs. With an old system, however, an expensive repair only postpones the issue; the money is usually better invested in the planned replacement.
Does the oil tank have to go?
It must be professionally decommissioned or removed – the details are governed by the applicable regulations, the work belongs in the quote. Many owners opt for removal: The gained cellar space is a real side benefit of the project.
Does a heat pump work with my old radiators?
Often yes – the decisive factor is the necessary flow temperature, not the age of the radiators. A practical test with a lowered flow temperature on the existing heating system provides a good initial answer; the definitive design is carried out by the specialist company.
When do I get the incentive money?
The application must be submitted before construction begins; construction may start after receipt of the confirmation, and payment is made after the work is completed. The rates and the exact process for the Canton of Zurich can be found in the incentives guide – and a good specialist company will handle the submission for you.
Free initial consultation
Heating replacement without sequencing errors.
Consultation, quote, incentive application before construction begins, notification procedure, installation – with us, the whole process comes from a single source. And we answer the roof question at the same time.
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Heat pump Zurich – heating replacement from a specialist company →
Swissolar-certified specialist company · ESTI installation authorisation (Art. 14 NIV) · in Zurich since 2017 · over 150 systems completed · a personal answer from the specialist company, no call centre
Sources: Canton of Zurich (Energiegesetz, notification procedure, incentive programme – current regulations for each); EnergieSchweiz («erneuerbar heizen»); empirical values from the project practice of ecoEn GmbH, Zurich region.
Last updated: 9 July 2026 · Author: ecoEn editorial team
