Heat Pump Installation · UK-Wide · 2026

Heat Pump Installation UK

Q: Will a heat pump work in an older or draughty home?

Yes, if the system is designed properly. Older homes typically need a slightly larger unit, some upsized radiators, or insulation improvements first. The room-by-room heat-loss survey tells you exactly what is needed before you commit. Where a full switch is impractical, a hybrid system pairs a heat pump with your existing boiler.

Q: Do heat pump installers need to be MCS-certified?

Yes, if you want the grant. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is only paid on installations by MCS-certified installers, and the MCS certificate also underpins your warranty. Every heat pump installer we match you with is MCS-certified and insured.

Q: Are heat pumps noisy?

Modern units are quiet, comparable to a fridge hum or light rain at a few metres. Siting rules and the MCS noise assessment ensure the unit stays within limits at the nearest neighbouring window, and your installer positions it to keep sound away from bedrooms and boundaries.

Q: Do heat pumps work in very cold weather?

Yes. Modern air source heat pumps keep working at minus 15 degrees Celsius and below, and they are standard heating in Norway and Sweden. Your system is sized to your local design temperature, so it delivers full comfort on the coldest expected day in your area.

Switch to low-carbon heating with a vetted local heat pump installer. An air source heat pump starts from £7,500 fitted — before the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant in England & Wales — with the heat-loss survey, DNO notification and MCS certification all handled for you. Compare itemised quotes before you book.

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What do you need?

Every job below has its own page with the full 2026 price ranges, what moves the number, and a quote form matched to that exact job — so your enquiry reaches the right supplier.

Air source heat pumpInstalled price by house size, gross and after the grant.£8,000–£18,000See costs & get quotes →Grants & fundingThe £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme, the off-gas uplift, Scotland and NI.See costs & get quotes →Planning permissionMost installs are permitted development - these are the ones that are not.See costs & get quotes →

🧮Free Heat Pump Cost CalculatorGet an instant 2026 price estimate in under a minute — try it free →

Heat pump installation costs at a glance — 2026

Typical fitted prices and common extras, from this page.

Source: BestBuilders 2026 quote data · 519 UK towns

Heat Pump Types

Heat Pump Installation for Every Home

From a compact air source unit on a terrace to a ground source system on a rural plot — vetted installers for every job.

Heat Pump Installation Cost Drivers

Cost driver	Typical effect	When it applies
Heat loss & home size	Main price factor	A room-by-room heat-loss survey sizes the unit — bigger or leakier homes need larger systems
Radiator & emitter upgrades	+£1,000 – £3,000	Heat pumps run at lower flow temperatures, so some radiators may need upsizing
Hot water cylinder	+£800 – £2,000	Most installs replacing a combi need a new cylinder — allow space for it
Ground works (GSHP)	Varies widely	Trenches are cheaper where there is garden space; boreholes cost more but need little room
Insulation improvements	Varies	Loft or cavity insulation done first lets the installer fit a smaller, cheaper unit

A straightforward air source install usually sits inside the £7,500–£14,000 range before the grant. London and the South East run higher than the national average. A full heat pump cost breakdown is in our cost guide.

Why Choose BestBuilders

3 Steps to an MCS Heat Pump Quote

Tell us about your home

60-second form. Your current heating, home size, insulation and postcode. No phone, no jargon.

Get matched to installers

Up to 3 vetted heat pump installers near you. Ask each one for their MCS certificate number — the £7,500 grant is only paid on an MCS-registered install.

Compare & book

Itemised quotes within 24 hours. Compare the unit, efficiency (SCOP), cylinder, radiator changes and the grant already deducted.

What Is Included

What a Heat Pump Installation Includes (2026)

A heat pump installation is a designed heating system, not just an appliance swap. Knowing what is included helps you compare quotes fairly.

📐 Heat-loss survey & design

A room-by-room heat-loss calculation sizes the heat pump correctly — an MCS requirement. Beware any quote produced without one.

🌡️ The heat pump unit

The outdoor unit (and indoor unit on split systems), mounted, plumbed, wired and commissioned to the MCS installation standard so your grant and warranty stay valid.

💧 Hot water cylinder

Most homes replacing a combi gain a new cylinder for stored hot water. Slimline and heat-pump-ready models fit most airing cupboards.

📜 MCS certificate & DNO notification

Your installer notifies the electricity network operator (DNO) and issues the MCS certificate — the paperwork the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant depends on.

🔥 Radiators & emitters

Heat pumps run at lower flow temperatures, so the survey flags any radiators that need upsizing — or pairs the system with underfloor heating.

🛡️ Warranty & handover

Manufacturer warranty registration, a workmanship guarantee and a proper handover of the controls — set-and-forget running beats daily fiddling.

Grants & Schemes

Heat Pump Grants in 2026

Heat pumps attract the most generous home-energy support currently available in the UK. Here is what applies in 2026.

💷 Boiler Upgrade Scheme (England & Wales)

A £7,500 grant towards an air source or ground source heat pump when you replace a fossil-fuel system. Your MCS-certified installer applies on your behalf and deducts it from the quote. Hybrids are not eligible. See our step-by-step guide to claiming the grant.

🏴 Scotland — Home Energy Scotland

Scottish homeowners apply through Home Energy Scotland instead: a heat pump grant of up to £7,500 (with a rural uplift available), plus an optional interest-free loan on top. Apply before work starts.

🧾 0% VAT until 2027

Heat pump installations are zero-rated for VAT under the energy-saving materials relief — a further saving already reflected in the prices on this page.

📊 Is your home ready?

Heat pumps perform best in reasonably insulated homes. Doing loft or cavity insulation first often lets you fit a smaller, cheaper unit. Weighing solar too? Read solar panels vs heat pump — which saves more.

Local Heat Pump Installers

Heat Pump Installers by Town

Vetted local heat pump installers across UK towns:

London Manchester Birmingham Leeds Bristol Sheffield Liverpool Edinburgh Glasgow Cardiff Newcastle Nottingham

View all towns →

Frequently Asked Questions

Heat Pump Installation FAQs

How much does an air source heat pump cost in 2026?+

A typical air source heat pump installation costs £7,500 to £14,000 fitted, depending on home size, the cylinder and any radiator upgrades. With the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant deducted in England and Wales, many straightforward installs come in between £1,000 and £6,500. Ground source systems cost £14,000 to £35,000 because of the ground works.

Am I eligible for the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant?+

Most owner-occupiers in England and Wales replacing a fossil-fuel heating system (gas, oil or LPG) qualify. The heat pump must be fitted by an MCS-certified installer, who checks your eligibility and applies for the grant on your behalf — you see it deducted from the quote rather than claiming anything yourself. Scottish homeowners use Home Energy Scotland instead.

Do I need planning permission for a heat pump?+

Usually not. Air source heat pumps are normally permitted development in England provided conditions on siting and noise are met, and your installer runs the standard noise assessment as part of the design. Listed buildings and conservation areas have extra restrictions, and Scotland and Wales apply their own permitted development rules. Our heat pump planning guide covers the detail.

Will a heat pump work in an older or draughty home?+

Yes — if the system is designed properly. Older homes typically need a slightly larger unit, some upsized radiators, or insulation improvements first. The room-by-room heat-loss survey tells you exactly what is needed before you commit. Where a full switch is impractical, a hybrid system pairs a heat pump with your existing boiler for the coldest days.

Is a heat pump cheaper to run than a gas boiler?+

A well-designed heat pump delivers around 3 to 4 units of heat for every unit of electricity (a SCOP of 3–4), compared with roughly 0.9 units of heat per unit of gas from a modern boiler. Whether that beats gas on cost depends on your electricity tariff and how well the system is designed — dedicated heat pump tariffs with cheaper off-peak rates tip the balance further in favour of the heat pump.

Do heat pump installers need to be MCS-certified?+

Yes, if you want the grant — the Boiler Upgrade Scheme is only paid on installations by MCS-certified installers, and the MCS certificate also underpins your warranty and any future sale of the house. Ask every installer for their MCS certificate number and look it up on the MCS public register before you commit — without it the grant is not paid.

How long does a heat pump installation take?+

A typical air source installation takes 2 to 5 days, including the cylinder and any radiator changes. Ground source systems take one to two weeks once the trenches or boreholes are underway. Add a little lead time for the survey, DNO approval and grant paperwork before work starts.

Are heat pumps noisy?+

Modern units are quiet — comparable to a fridge hum or light rain at a few metres. Siting rules and the MCS noise assessment ensure the unit stays within limits at your neighbour’s nearest window, and your installer positions it to keep sound away from bedrooms and boundaries.

Do I need to replace my radiators?+

Sometimes, but rarely all of them. Because heat pumps run at lower flow temperatures, a few radiators — typically in the coldest rooms — may need upsizing to deliver the same warmth. The heat-loss survey identifies exactly which, and the cost (usually £1,000–£3,000 where needed) appears itemised on your quote.

Do heat pumps work in very cold weather?+

Yes. Modern air source heat pumps keep working at −15°C and below, and they are standard heating in Norway and Sweden. Your system is sized to your local design temperature, so it delivers full comfort on the coldest expected day in your area — efficiency simply dips slightly during extreme cold snaps.

Air source or ground source — which should I choose?+

Air source suits most homes: lower cost, no ground works, and a 2–5 day install. Ground source costs roughly twice as much but achieves the steadiest winter efficiency and the lowest running costs, making it worth considering on larger rural plots, off-gas homes, or where heating demand is high. Both attract the same £7,500 BUS grant in England and Wales.

Do I need a hot water cylinder?+

Almost always, yes — a heat pump heats water steadily rather than instantly, so homes switching from a combi gain a cylinder for stored hot water. Slimline heat-pump-ready cylinders fit most airing cupboards, and your installer will confirm the size you need from your bathroom count and usage.

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Related Guides

Heat Pump Guides & Costs

Planning a heat pump? These guides explain costs, the grant and how a heat pump compares with the alternatives.

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Complete your project

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🏛️Planning permission for a heat pump?Check whether your project needs permission before you start — read our 2026 planning guide →

Reviewed by the BestBuilders editorial team on 21 July 2026 · Next scheduled review: October 2026 · See our editorial standards.