I'm Liam Conneely, Heat Pump Expert at Vector Heat

Published by Vector Heat

I'm Liam Conneely, and I have spent a worrying amount of my life thinking about heating systems. Everyone needs a hobby. Mine just happens to involve flow temperatures, heat loss calculations and the occasional airing cupboard negotiation.

I own Vector Heat and work as a design-led heat pump specialist. My job is not just to fit heat pumps. It is to work out whether a heat pump is right for the property, design the system properly and make sure the customer understands what they are buying.

Quick answer: why should you listen to me about heat pumps?

I have 23 years of experience in plumbing and heating, 14 years surveying homes, 5,000+ property surveys, 6 years of heat pump design and installation experience, Heat Geek training and MCS certification through Vector Heat.

That experience matters because heat pumps are not guessed into place. They are designed.

How I got here

I started in plumbing, moved into boiler breakdowns and fault finding, then into boiler installation work.

I still run a sizeable boiler installation team, and the team has completed 150+ boilers a year. I was doing surveys before running the team, carried on surveying while running it, and still do surveys now.

That background is useful. Fault finding teaches you how systems fail. Installations teach you what shortcuts look like. Surveys teach you what people actually need, not just what the old boiler suggests.

Why heat pumps changed my thinking

Heat pumps made the maths impossible to ignore.

A boiler can hide a bit of rough design because it has brute force. A heat pump tends to keep receipts.

That is why I became more interested in heat loss, emitter sizing, flow temperature, pipework, controls and commissioning. The design affects comfort, running cost and whether the customer ends up recommending the technology or swearing at it.

Heat Geek and design-led installation

Heat Geek training pushed me further into proper design.

It is not just a badge. It is a way of thinking about heating systems: calculate first, design properly, explain clearly and install with the outcome in mind.

Being part of that network matters because the maths and science are hard. That is the point. Customers deserve installers who are prepared to do the hard bit before the easy-looking bit goes on the wall.

What I believe about heat pumps

I do not believe heat pumps are right for every home at any cost.

I do believe they can be brilliant when the property, design and customer expectations line up.

Poor heat pump outcomes are usually caused by design, installation, expectation or building suitability problems. That is good news because those things can be assessed before work starts.

What I check before recommending a heat pump

I want to understand:

• room-by-room heat loss
• radiator or underfloor heating suitability
• hot water demand
• cylinder location
• outdoor unit location
• pipe routes
• electrical requirements
• customer habits
• budget and disruption
• what the customer actually wants from the system

The aim is to give honest advice, not just win the job.

Why Vector Heat is different

Vector Heat is not trying to be a faceless national installer.

We are a local specialist with a strong team, hundreds of reviews and a real interest in designing heating systems properly. The office matters. The engineers matter. The design matters. The handover matters.

Good heating should feel boring in the right way. Comfortable rooms, sensible bills, clear controls and no mystery.

FAQs about Liam Conneely and heat pump design

Are you a heat pump installer or designer?

Both. My focus is design-led installation, which means the system is calculated and planned before it is fitted.

What does Heat Geek trained mean?

It means I have completed specialist training focused on heat loss, flow temperature, emitter sizing and efficient heating design.

Is Vector Heat MCS certified?

Yes. MCS certification matters for heat pump installation standards and access to grants such as the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.

Do you always recommend heat pumps?

No. I recommend them when the property and design make sense. If the home needs changes first, I will explain that.

Can you fix poor heat pump installations?

In many cases, yes. We can diagnose design and installation problems such as pipework, buffers, flow rates, emitters and controls.