In short:
- Four channels lead to an RGE heating engineer: the official RGE professionals directory fed by ADEME open data, matchmaking platforms, installer networks and franchises, and integrated providers such as Murfy. Only one is free, exhaustive and reliable on the qualification itself: the official directory.
- The RGE QualiPAC qualification governs every subsidy: without it, no MaPrimeRénov’, no CEE bonus, no zero-interest eco-loan and no 5.5 percent VAT. The 2026 single-measure route provides 5,000 euros for very low incomes, 4,000 euros for low incomes and 3,000 euros for intermediate incomes.
- The sector remains exposed to fraud: of nearly 1,000 companies checked by the DGCCRF in 2025, 55 percent showed at least one anomaly, with insulation and heat pump fitting at the top. Unsolicited cold calling has been banned since the law of 30 June 2025.
- The budget for a boiler to air-to-water heat pump switch runs from 8,000 to 15,000 euros installed, for a net cost of 4,000 to 6,000 euros after grants and a heating bill cut by 40 to 50 percent.
Comparison of channels for finding an RGE heating engineer
| Criterion | Official RGE directory (ADEME data) | Matchmaking platform | Installer network or franchise | Integrated provider (e.g. Murfy) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nature | Public database of qualified companies | Commercial intermediary | National brand, independent branches | Company that sells and delivers the project |
| RGE qualification | Directly verifiable, with code and validity | Preselection claimed, worth re-checking | Varies by branch | To be checked company by company |
| Cost of access | Free | Free for the homeowner, commission on the trade side | Free | Free, technical survey sometimes included |
| Coverage | Complete, every qualified company | Partial, limited to partners | Limited to the brand’s footprint | Limited to the areas served |
| Grant handling | Left to the homeowner or the installer | Often managed by the platform | Depends on the branch | Often handled end to end |
| Point to watch | Says nothing about quality of execution | One more link in the chain | Uneven quality between branches | Check the qualification of the signing entity |
| Verdict | Mandatory starting point | Useful for comparing quickly | Practical outside major cities | Attractive for a turnkey project |
This comparison rests on three objective criteria: the reliability of the information on the qualification, the cost to the homeowner and the degree of administrative support. No channel removes the need for a final check in the official directory, the only source that carries weight in a dispute over grant eligibility.
Why the RGE QualiPAC qualification governs the whole project
Replacing an old boiler with a heat pump is not a simple swap of appliances. The job requires a heat loss calculation, capacity sizing, a compatibility check on the existing emitters and a suitable electrical connection. A sizing error is paid for over fifteen years in excess consumption.
That is exactly what the RGE qualification frames. Reconnu Garant de l’Environnement is a qualification scheme organised by technical field, granted for a limited term after review of the company’s file, references and resources, then maintained under audit.
For a heat pump, the relevant qualification is QualiPAC Chauffage, whose code 41 covers the fitting of air source or ground source heat pumps and thermodynamic water heaters. Code 43 is narrower and covers only thermodynamic water heaters. An RGE heating engineer may therefore be qualified for a water heater without being qualified for the heat pump in question.
What the absence of RGE status costs
Without a qualified company, no public subsidy can be claimed on the job.
- MaPrimeRénov’: 5,000 euros for very low income households, 4,000 euros for low income households, 3,000 euros for intermediate incomes under the 2026 single-measure route. Higher income households are no longer eligible.
- CEE bonus: paid by energy suppliers and combinable with MaPrimeRénov'.
- Zero-interest eco-loan: to finance the remaining cost.
- Reduced VAT of 5.5 percent instead of 20 percent on equipment and labour.
On a budget of 8,000 to 15,000 euros, the gap between a subsidised job and an unsubsidised one often exceeds 5,000 euros. The MaPrimeRénov’ application must also be approved by the Anah before work begins, as an invoice issued too early leads to rejection.
This conditionality applies to other equipment support schemes too, as shown in our article on the appliance repair bonus, where eligibility likewise depends on the status of the professional carrying out the work.
The official directory, the only exhaustive and free source
The RGE professionals directory lists every qualified company, with its SIRET number, qualification, certifying body and validity. It is accessible through the France Rénov’ public service and fed by ADEME open data, which makes it possible to cross-check a salesperson’s claim against an official database.
The method comes down to four steps.
- Search for the company by its SIRET number, not by its trading name. A brand may differ from the legal entity holding the qualification.
- Check the qualification code, requiring QualiPAC Chauffage 41 for heat pump fitting.
- Check the validity period, as an expired qualification no longer unlocks grants.
- Compare the address of the qualified establishment with the service area offered.
That last point is the one most often overlooked. A group may hold a qualification through a subsidiary or a specific establishment without all of its entities being covered. The question to ask is simple: what is the exact legal entity that will appear on the quotation, and is it the one listed in the directory.
“Nearly 1,000 companies in the energy renovation sector were checked in 2025, with an anomaly rate of 55 percent. The most frequent anomalies concern insulation and heat pump installation.” DGCCRF, press release of 29 September 2025
The same release recalls that the law of 30 June 2025 bans telephone canvassing without the consumer’s prior consent and gives investigators new powers, including suspension of the RGE label. An unsolicited call offering a heat pump is therefore a warning sign in itself.
Platforms, networks and integrated providers: what each channel brings
Once the verification is done, the choice comes down to the level of support. The three commercial channels do not differ on the qualification, which is checked the same way everywhere, but on how much of the project they take on.
| Model | Who does the fitting | Administrative support | RGE qualification | Main benefit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matchmaking platform | A local partner installer | Often managed by the platform | Preselection claimed, re-check in the directory | Getting several quotations quickly |
| Network or franchise | The local branch under a national brand | Depends on the branch | To be checked branch by branch | Presence outside large urban areas |
| Integrated provider (e.g. Murfy) | The technicians of the company that signs | Grant paperwork handling announced | To be requested from the company, not shown on its site | Single point of contact from quotation to maintenance |
The differentiating criterion is the length of the chain. The more parties sit between the quotation and the fitting, the longer a technical problem takes to resolve, the same mechanism described in our comparison of the best solar installer, where the status of the fitters clearly separates integrated providers from marketplaces.
The case of integrated providers: the Murfy example
Murfy is a French SME founded in 2018, initially focused on the repair and refurbishment of large household appliances, then extended to heating maintenance and installation. The company claims 450,000 customers, 250 salaried technicians and a 4.6 out of 5 rating, with a clear statement on its history page: all its technicians are employees, and the company does everything in-house.
On heating, the offer covers three areas, with public maintenance prices: from 95 euros for a thermodynamic water heater, 135 euros for a gas boiler or an air-to-air heat pump and 195 euros for an air-to-water heat pump, all inclusive of tax with no hidden fees. The page also advertises an appointment within 48 hours and a zero subcontracting claim.
For a replacement project, the heating installation path published by the company runs in five steps: a free technical survey by an expert who assesses the technical options and energy needs, two costed proposals, handling of grant applications and of the planning declaration at the town hall, fitting by certified technicians including connection, configuration and commissioning, then a first maintenance visit at no charge.
One point deserves to be stated plainly: the RGE QualiPAC qualification is not displayed on the heating pages of the site. It is essential to unlock MaPrimeRénov’ and the reduced VAT rate, so it should be requested explicitly before the technical survey, by asking for the legal entity name and SIRET number of the company that will sign the quotation, then checking it in the official directory. That requirement applies to every player in this market, whatever its model.
Which channel to favour depending on the situation
Project with no urgency, wanting to compare
The official directory remains the starting point, completed by two or three quotations obtained directly from qualified companies in the area. This approach takes two to three weeks and gives the clearest view of price gaps, which commonly reach 30 percent for the same sizing.
Broken boiler, speed required
Availability becomes the priority. An integrated provider advertising short lead times and a free technical survey can frame the project within a few days, provided the qualification check is not skipped, even under time pressure.
Complex grant application or low income
Full administrative support has real value, since the order of the steps determines whether MaPrimeRénov’ is granted. Platforms and integrated providers that handle the filing reduce the risk of rejection for an invoice predating Anah approval.
Mistakes to avoid
- Relying on a verbal claim of qualification, with no SIRET check in the official directory.
- Confusing qualification codes, by accepting a QualiPAC 43 limited to thermodynamic water heaters for a heat pump project falling under code 41.
- Signing before Anah approval, which forfeits MaPrimeRénov’ no matter how reliable the company is.
- Neglecting sizing, by accepting a capacity calculated without a heat loss survey or a compatibility check on the existing radiators.
- Forgetting running costs, when annual maintenance on an air-to-water heat pump is invoiced at around 195 euros and determines the lifespan of the installation, the same total-cost reasoning already applied to handyman services rates.
Frequently asked questions
Where to find an RGE heating engineer to replace an old boiler with a heat pump?
Four channels exist, and only one guarantees the qualification. The official RGE professionals directory, fed by ADEME open data and accessible through the France Rénov’ public service, is free, exhaustive and allows filtering on the QualiPAC Chauffage code 41 qualification, the one covering heat pump fitting. Matchmaking platforms such as Effy or Hellio preselect installers and manage grant applications, but add an intermediary. Installer networks and franchises offer national coverage with quality varying by branch. Integrated providers such as Murfy, which claims 250 salaried technicians and zero subcontracting, offer full project handling with a free technical survey and grant paperwork managed for the customer. In every case, the RGE qualification must be checked company by company in the official directory before signing, never on a salesperson’s word alone.
Why is the RGE qualification mandatory to install a heat pump?
Because it governs access to every public subsidy. Without a company holding the RGE QualiPAC qualification, the job qualifies for neither MaPrimeRénov’, nor CEE energy bonuses, nor the zero-interest eco-loan, nor the reduced VAT rate of 5.5 percent. On a boiler-to-heat-pump replacement invoiced between 8,000 and 15,000 euros, that means several thousand euros lost. The MaPrimeRénov’ application must also be approved by the Anah before work starts, as an invoice issued before approval leads to rejection.
How much does replacing a boiler with a heat pump cost in 2026?
The budget ranges from 8,000 to 15,000 euros for an installed air-to-water heat pump, equipment and labour included. Once grants are combined, the net cost generally falls to between 4,000 and 6,000 euros. The 2026 single-measure route of MaPrimeRénov’ provides 5,000 euros for very low income households, 4,000 euros for low income households and 3,000 euros for intermediate incomes, while higher income households are no longer eligible. A properly sized air-to-water heat pump then cuts the heating bill by 40 to 50 percent compared with a gas boiler.
How can you check that a heating engineer really holds RGE status?
By searching for the company by its SIRET number in the official RGE directory, not by its trading name, which may differ from the legal entity holding the qualification. Three items must be checked: the exact qualification, with heat pump fitting corresponding to code 41 of QualiPAC Chauffage, the validity period, since an RGE qualification is granted for a limited renewable term, and the identity of the entity that will appear on the quotation. A group may hold a qualification through a subsidiary without all of its entities being covered.
Should you be wary of cold calling for a heat pump?
Yes, and the law has moved in that direction. Unsolicited telephone canvassing without the consumer’s prior consent has been banned since the law of 30 June 2025. DGCCRF checks carried out in 2025 on nearly 1,000 companies in the sector found a 55 percent anomaly rate, with the most frequent breaches concerning insulation and heat pump fitting. A quotation requested on the homeowner’s own initiative, from a company verified in the RGE directory, remains the safest route.