Air-source heat pump installation with cylinder and controls
Heat Pump Installation
Heat pump installation is the fitting of an air-source heat pump and associated hot water cylinder as a replacement for, or alternative to, a gas boiler, sized to the property's heat loss and often eligible for the government's Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) grant.
Definition
What Heat Pumps covers
An air-source heat pump extracts heat from outside air to warm a property and heat domestic hot water, typically working alongside a hot water cylinder and larger radiators or underfloor heating designed to run at lower flow temperatures than a gas boiler. Installation includes a heat loss survey, correctly sizing the unit and emitters, and commissioning the complete system.
Suitable for
- Properties without a mains gas connection considering a low-carbon heating alternative
- Homeowners planning a heating system replacement alongside emitter upgrades
- New builds and major renovations where heat pump sizing can be designed in from the outset
- Households wanting to apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) grant
Not suitable for
- Properties with poor insulation and no plan to upgrade emitters, where a heat pump is unlikely to perform well without further work
- Households wanting a direct like-for-like swap with no assessment — heat pump sizing depends on a proper heat loss calculation
Process
How the work is carried out
- 01
Heat loss survey
Assessing the property's insulation, existing emitters and heat demand room by room.
- 02
System design
Sizing the heat pump and cylinder, and specifying any radiator or underfloor heating changes needed to suit lower flow temperatures.
- 03
Installation
Fitting the outdoor unit, cylinder and associated pipework and controls.
- 04
Commissioning and handover
Commissioning the system, testing performance, and explaining the controls.
Typical timescale
A heat pump installation typically takes several days to a week on site, longer where radiators are being upgraded or underfloor heating is being added. Confirmed after the heat loss survey.
Cost guidance
Heat pump installation typically costs £8,000–£14,000 per job in our area, including the cylinder, with the final figure driven by property size, insulation and any emitter upgrades needed. We provide an itemised quotation after a heat loss survey rather than a fixed headline price.
Limitations and exclusions
- Radiator or underfloor heating upgrades needed to suit the heat pump's lower flow temperature are scoped and quoted as part of the system design, not assumed to be included in a headline figure
- Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) grant eligibility and application is confirmed on a case-by-case basis and is not guaranteed
- Structural or planning considerations for the outdoor unit's position (such as boundary distance) are checked during survey
Areas we cover
Heat Pumps across Sussex, Surrey, Kent and South London
Local property styles, planning authorities and neighbourhood coverage for heat pumps in each town we work in.
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FAQs
Heat Pumps FAQs
Will I need to replace my radiators for a heat pump?
Often, yes — heat pumps run most efficiently at lower flow temperatures than a gas boiler, so existing radiators are sometimes undersized for the new system. We assess this during the heat loss survey and specify any radiator or underfloor heating changes needed.
What is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) grant?
It's a government grant offering a fixed contribution toward the cost of installing an air-source or ground-source heat pump in England and Wales. Eligibility depends on the property and installer, so we advise on the likely position but can't guarantee an award.
Do I need a heat loss survey before getting a price?
Yes. Sizing a heat pump without a proper heat loss calculation risks an undersized or inefficient system, so this is the first step before we can give you an itemised quotation.
Discuss your heat pumps project
Tell us about the property and what you have in mind, and we'll arrange a site visit.
Last reviewed 2026-07-28.