UK heat pump guidance

Heat pumps, explained without the sales pitch

What an air source heat pump really costs, how the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant works, how running costs compare to gas, and how to pick an MCS-certified installer. Every figure is a range, with its source.

£7,500 grant available£8k–£16k typical install (before grant)MCS needed for the grant
Cited sourcesOfgem, gov.uk, ESTRanges, not promisesrunning costs depend on your homeMCS installerscertified & checked

In 40 seconds

A typical UK air source heat pump installation costs roughly £8,000–£16,000 before any grant — commonly around £12,500 for an average home. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) gives eligible homeowners in England and Wales a £7,500 grant off an air source heat pump, which can bring the net cost down to roughly £500–£6,500. Heat pumps also carry 0% VAT. Whether one is right for you depends on your home's insulation, your current heating and your radiators — which is why the honest answer is always a range, and why the install should be done by an MCS-certified installer (required to claim the grant).

Most heat pump guidance is published by companies selling them, so the numbers tend to be optimistic. The pages below give honest cost ranges, explain exactly how the £7,500 grant works, and help you judge whether a heat pump suits your specific home — before you take a single quote.

£12,500
typical install (avg)
£7,500
BUS grant
0% VAT
on heat pumps
MCS
needed to claim grant

Cost & pricing

What an air source heat pump actually costs in the UK.

Cost

How much does a heat pump cost in the UK?

Installed costs before and after the £7,500 grant, what's included, and the home factors that move the price.

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Running cost vs gas

Are heat pumps cheaper to run than gas?

How heat pump running costs compare to a gas boiler in the UK, why efficiency and the electricity-to-gas price ratio matter, and when a heat pump comes out cheaper.

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Do they save money

Do heat pumps save money in the UK?

Whether a heat pump saves money in the UK overall — accounting for upfront cost, the £7,500 grant, running costs and what you are replacing — and the conditions that decide it.

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Home value

Does a heat pump add value to your home?

Whether a heat pump adds value to a UK home — through EPC ratings, running-cost appeal and future-proofing against gas phase-out — and the honest caveats.

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GSHP cost

How much does a ground source heat pump cost?

Typical UK costs for a ground source heat pump including the ground loop, why it costs more than air source, how the £7,500 grant applies, and when the higher outlay pays off.

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ASHP cost

How much does an air source heat pump cost?

Typical UK supply-and-install costs for an air source heat pump, what the price covers, what pushes it up, and how the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant reduces what you pay.

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Servicing cost

How much does heat pump servicing cost?

Typical UK heat pump annual service costs, what the service includes, how it compares to a gas boiler service, and why an annual check protects the warranty.

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Annual running cost

How much does it cost to run a heat pump per year?

How to estimate the annual running cost of a heat pump in the UK from your heat demand, SCOP and electricity tariff — with worked example ranges for typical homes.

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Heat pump tariffs

What heat pump tariffs are available in the UK?

An overview of UK electricity tariffs designed for or suited to heat pumps — heat-pump-specific tariffs and time-of-use tariffs — and how they cut running costs.

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Risk & reassurance

Exactly how the £7,500 grant works and who qualifies.

The £7,500 grant

How does the £7,500 heat pump grant work?

Who qualifies for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, what changed in 2026, how the money is applied, and the steps to claim it.

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Noise

Are heat pumps noisy?

How loud air source heat pumps actually are, how noise falls with distance, the MCS planning noise limit at a neighbour's window, and what keeps a system quiet.

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Reliability

Are heat pumps reliable?

How reliable heat pumps are in the UK climate, typical lifespan and warranties, how they cope with cold winters, and what good installation does for long-term dependability.

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Insulation

Are heat pumps worth it without good insulation?

Whether a heat pump is worth installing in a poorly insulated UK home, how insulation affects running cost and grant eligibility, and what to do first.

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Whole-house heating

Can a heat pump heat my whole house?

Whether a single heat pump can heat an entire UK home and its hot water, why correct sizing and a heat loss survey matter, and how it differs from a gas boiler.

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Maintenance

Do heat pumps need a lot of maintenance?

How much maintenance a heat pump really needs — the annual professional service, simple owner upkeep, and how it compares to looking after a gas boiler.

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Old houses

Do heat pumps work in old houses?

Whether heat pumps work in older and period UK homes, the role of insulation and radiator sizing, evidence from real retrofits, and what makes an old house heat-pump-ready.

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Radiators

Do heat pumps work with radiators?

Whether heat pumps work with existing radiators, why some may need upsizing for low flow temperatures, and how radiators compare to underfloor heating with a heat pump.

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Comparison & choosing

The honest 'is it worth it' answer for your home.

Worth it?

Are heat pumps worth it in the UK?

What the answer really depends on, realistic running-cost expectations, and how to judge it for your home rather than a brochure average.

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Air-to-air vs air-to-water

Air-to-air vs air-to-water heat pump — what's the difference?

How air-to-air and air-to-water heat pumps differ on how they deliver heat, hot water, cooling, grant eligibility and which suits a UK home.

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Heat pump brands UK

What are the main heat pump brands available in the UK?

A factual rundown of the main air source heat pump brands sold in the UK — Daikin, Vaillant, Mitsubishi Ecodan, Samsung, Grant, Nibe — and what to weigh up.

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Heat pump for an old house

What's the best heat pump for an old house in the UK?

How to choose a heat pump for an older, solid-wall or period UK home — high-temperature units, R290, insulation and radiator sizing, and realistic expectations.

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Daikin vs Vaillant

Daikin vs Vaillant heat pump — how do they compare?

A factual comparison of Daikin Altherma and Vaillant aroTHERM air source heat pumps on refrigerant, flow temperature, range and what actually decides performance.

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Heat pump vs biomass

Heat pump vs biomass boiler — which is better for an off-grid home?

How an air source heat pump compares with a wood pellet or log biomass boiler on running cost, fuel handling, space, carbon and grants in the UK.

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Heat pump vs electric boiler

Heat pump vs electric boiler — which is cheaper to run?

How an air source heat pump compares with an electric (direct) boiler on running cost, efficiency, install and suitability for UK homes off the gas grid.

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Heat pump vs storage heaters

Heat pump vs electric storage heaters — which is cheaper to run?

How an air source heat pump compares with night-storage electric heaters on running cost, comfort, hot water and suitability for UK flats and off-grid homes.

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Heat pump vs infrared

Heat pump vs infrared heating panels — which is better?

How an air source heat pump compares with infrared heating panels on efficiency, running cost, install, hot water and the type of home each suits.

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Heat pump vs LPG

Heat pump vs LPG boiler — which makes sense off the gas grid?

How an air source heat pump compares with an LPG boiler on running costs, carbon, tank rental and suitability for off-gas-grid UK homes.

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Heat pump vs oil boiler

Heat pump vs oil boiler — which is better for a UK home?

How an air source heat pump compares with an oil-fired boiler on running costs, carbon, servicing and suitability for off-gas-grid UK homes.

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Hybrid vs full heat pump

Hybrid heat pump vs full heat pump — which should I choose?

How a hybrid (heat pump plus boiler) compares with a full heat pump on running cost, carbon, grants and suitability for harder-to-treat UK homes.

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Ecodan vs Samsung

Mitsubishi Ecodan vs Samsung heat pump — how do they compare?

A factual comparison of Mitsubishi Electric Ecodan and Samsung EHS air source heat pumps on refrigerant, range, support and what really decides performance.

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Monobloc vs split

Monobloc vs split air source heat pump — what's the difference?

How monobloc and split air source heat pumps differ on where the refrigerant sits, install, F-gas rules, efficiency and which suits a UK home.

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Heat pump or new boiler

Should I get a heat pump or a new gas boiler?

A practical decision guide for UK homeowners weighing a heat pump against replacing a gas boiler — cost, suitability, grants, carbon and timing.

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Underfloor vs radiators

Underfloor heating vs radiators with a heat pump — which is better?

How underfloor heating and radiators compare as heat emitters for a heat pump, on efficiency, flow temperature, retrofit cost and comfort in UK homes.

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Definition & identification

How a heat pump actually heats your home.

How it works

How do heat pumps work?

How an air source heat pump extracts heat from outside air, why it's efficient, and what it needs inside your home.

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ASHP vs GSHP

Air source vs ground source heat pump: what's the difference?

A side-by-side comparison of air source and ground source heat pumps for UK homes — heat source, efficiency, installation cost, disruption and which suits which property.

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Cold weather performance

Do heat pumps work in cold weather in the UK?

A factual answer on whether heat pumps work in cold UK winters, how efficiency changes with temperature, defrost cycles, and what correct sizing achieves.

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GSHP explained

What is a ground source heat pump?

A plain-English explanation of how a ground source heat pump uses buried pipework to draw stable warmth from the ground to heat a UK home, and how it differs from an air source unit.

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Hybrid heat pump

What is a hybrid heat pump?

A plain-English explanation of hybrid heat pump systems that pair a heat pump with a boiler, how they switch between the two, and where they make sense in a UK home.

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ASHP explained

What is an air source heat pump?

A plain-English explanation of how an air source heat pump extracts warmth from outside air to heat a UK home, how it differs from a gas boiler, and what efficiency to expect.

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Flow temperature

What is flow temperature on a heat pump?

A clear explanation of heat pump flow temperature, why a lower flow temperature gives higher efficiency, and how it links to radiator sizing and weather compensation.

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SCOP and COP

What is SCOP and COP on a heat pump?

A clear explanation of COP and SCOP heat pump efficiency figures, what numbers to expect for a UK installation, and why flow temperature changes them.

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Heat pump sizing

What size heat pump do I need?

How heat pump sizing works in the UK: why it is based on a room-by-room heat loss survey rather than your old boiler, and what typical kW outputs suit different homes.

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Process & how-to

Heat pump versus a new gas boiler — the real comparison.

Heat pump vs boiler

Heat pump vs gas boiler: which is better?

Upfront cost with the grant, running costs, lifespan and suitability — an honest side-by-side rather than a sales pitch.

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Hot water cylinder

Do I need a hot water cylinder for a heat pump?

Why an air source heat pump almost always needs a hot water cylinder, how it differs from a combi boiler, and what the cylinder does for hot water and efficiency.

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Radiators

Do I need to change my radiators for a heat pump?

A factual answer on whether you need new radiators for a heat pump, why some existing radiators may be kept, and how the heat loss survey decides which to upsize.

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Planning permission

Do you need planning permission for a heat pump?

When a heat pump needs planning permission in the UK, how permitted development rules apply to air source units, and the situations where you must apply.

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Applying for BUS

How do I apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?

A step-by-step explanation of how the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant works in England and Wales, who applies, eligibility basics, and how the grant is paid.

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Maintenance

How do you maintain a heat pump?

What heat pump maintenance involves in the UK: simple homeowner checks, annual professional servicing, and why upkeep keeps efficiency and warranties intact.

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Installation process

How is an air source heat pump installed?

A step-by-step walkthrough of how an air source heat pump is installed in a UK home, from heat loss survey and design to fitting, commissioning and grant paperwork.

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Installation time

How long does heat pump installation take?

How long an air source heat pump installation takes in the UK, from survey to commissioning, and what factors make the on-site work shorter or longer.

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MCS survey

What is an MCS heat pump survey?

What happens during an MCS heat pump survey, why the heat loss calculation matters, and how the survey underpins system design and grant eligibility in the UK.

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How it works

Guidance first. Quotes only if you want them.

We publish honest, sourced answers on heat pump costs, the £7,500 grant and running costs, then — if you'd like prices — match you with an MCS-certified installer who carries out a heat-loss survey and quotes on a clear specification with the grant applied. Running costs are always shown as ranges that depend on your home. No obligation, and you decide whether to proceed.