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Need heating now? Heat pump installations take 4–8 weeks. A thorough job cannot be rushed. If it's cold today, a plug-in electric heater (£40–80 from any DIY store) is the sensible bridge while you make the right long-term decision. Get your free estimate while you wait.
Your boiler has stopped working. You're being quoted £2,500–£4,500 for a replacement, but there's also a £7,500 government grant available for heat pumps. The net cost difference is much smaller than most people expect. The real question is whether your home and situation are right for a heat pump right now.
The four questions that actually matter
1
Does your home have loft insulation and double glazing?
Heat pumps work at lower temperatures than gas boilers, so they work best in homes that hold heat well. You don't need a perfectly insulated home, just a reasonable one.
✓Good to go: Loft insulated, double or triple glazed. EPC rating C or D is typically fine.
⚠Worth checking first: Solid walls (pre-1919) with no insulation. A heat pump will work but adding wall insulation first makes a real difference to running costs.
2
Is there outdoor space for an external unit?
An air source heat pump needs an outdoor unit roughly the size of a large suitcase. on a wall bracket or the ground, at least 1m from any boundary.
✓Good to go: Most gardens, side returns, rear yards or front drives work well. Permitted development rights apply to most homes.
⚠Trickier: Upper-floor flats without private outdoor space, or listed buildings. Both have solutions but need more planning.
3
Are you replacing gas, oil, LPG or electric heating?
The £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant is available to homes replacing fossil fuel or electric heating in England and Wales. Your installer applies on your behalf. you never handle the money.
✓Grant eligible: Gas, oil, LPG or electric storage heaters. Oil and LPG homes now get £9,000 from July 2026.
⚠Not eligible: Already have a heat pump, or have a biomass boiler.
4
Do you plan to stay in the property for at least 5 years?
Heat pumps make most financial sense over a 10–20 year horizon. They also add value to your property. buyers increasingly look for low-carbon heating and good EPC ratings.
✓Staying put: Strong case for a heat pump. Future-proofed against rising gas prices.
⚠Moving within 2 years: A heat pump still adds value, but a quick boiler replacement may be simpler if you're mid-sale.
Running costs. the tariff makes all the difference
This is where most comparisons mislead people. On a standard electricity tariff, a heat pump costs more to run than gas. But dedicated heat pump electricity tariffs change this completely, and every major supplier now offers one.
| Scenario | Effective rate | Typical annual cost | vs gas (~£850/yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard electricity tariff | 24.7p/kWh | ~£1,100–1,400/yr | £250–550 more |
| ⭐ Dedicated heat pump tariff | ~15–17p blended | ~£750–950/yr | Broadly equal |
| + Solar or battery storage | ~11–13p blended | ~£550–700/yr | Save £150–300/yr |
Nobody with a heat pump should be on a standard electricity tariff. Switching to a dedicated tariff is free, takes about 5 minutes, and is the single biggest thing you can do to reduce running costs. Our calculator compares all five available tariffs for your specific home.
Do you need to replace your radiators?
The most common fear, and usually the wrong one. Heat pumps run at lower temperatures than gas boilers, so each radiator delivers slightly less heat. But if your home loses heat slowly, your existing radiators are usually perfectly adequate.
A real example: a 4-bedroom detached house in West Yorkshire, surveyed in 2026, needed zero radiator replacements. All 13 existing radiators were kept. Your installer will check this as part of their free survey. our calculator shows the cost impact if upgrades are needed so you can plan for both scenarios.
When it makes more sense to replace the boiler instead
Your home is poorly insulated and you can't fix that yet
A heat pump in a leaky home is expensive to run and disappointing. Insulate first. loft, then cavity walls. then install the heat pump. The right sequence matters.
You need heating back on within two weeks
A proper installation takes 4–8 weeks from survey to completion. If you're cold now, get a temporary electric heater and plan the heat pump properly. Don't rush a decision that will be in your home for 20 years.
You're selling within the next few months
A cheap boiler fix may be the practical call if contracts are imminent. Heat pumps do add property value, but if you're mid-transaction, don't start a 6-week installation job.
The honest picture: On a standard tariff, heat pumps cost slightly more to run than gas today. On a dedicated tariff, they're broadly equal. With solar or battery, they're cheaper. The case improves every year as electricity decarbonises and gas prices rise. And they already produce around 75% less carbon than a gas boiler on today's UK grid.
What about the gas boiler ban? From 24 March 2027, new homes built in England must use low-carbon heating under the Future Homes Standard (Part L Building Regulations). Gas boilers cannot meet the new carbon targets, so heat pumps become the default for new builds. Scotland is already there: gas boilers in new homes have been banned since April 2024 under the New Build Heat Standard. Wales is expected to follow with equivalent rules in 2027 or 2028. This applies to new builds only. There is no rule requiring existing homeowners to replace a working gas boiler.
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✓ EPC data loaded from your postcode
✓ £7,500 grant applied automatically
✓ 5 tariff scenarios compared
✓ MCS-certified installers only
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Common questions
How quickly can a heat pump be installed?
Typically 4–8 weeks from initial survey to installation day. The survey, equipment ordering, installation, commissioning and handover all take time to do properly. Use a plug-in electric heater as a bridge if you need heating now.
Will I definitely get the £7,500 grant?
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is available to most owner-occupiers and landlords in England and Wales replacing a fossil fuel or electric heating system. Your MCS-certified installer applies and deducts it from your invoice. you pay the net cost. The scheme runs until 2028.
Do I need to replace my radiators?
Possibly not. Many homes built since the 1980s can run a heat pump without any radiator changes. Your installer's heat loss survey will tell you exactly which rooms, if any, need larger radiators. Our calculator includes a toggle to show you the cost difference.
What happens to my hot water?
Unlike a combi boiler, a heat pump heats water in a cylinder (typically 200–300 litres). The cylinder heats up during cheap off-peak electricity and stores hot water for the day. Most owners find hot water pressure and consistency is better than with a combi.
Will a heat pump keep me warm in cold weather?
Yes. Modern heat pumps operate down to −15°C or lower. The UK rarely gets below −5°C for extended periods. During the January 2025 cold snap, 86% of UK heat pump owners reported their system kept them comfortable throughout.
Is my home suitable?
Around 90% of UK homes are suitable. The main requirements are some outdoor space for the unit, an EPC of D or above (or willingness to improve insulation first), and the property isn't an upper-floor flat without private outdoor space. Run our free calculator for a property-specific estimate.