Home / Heat pumps
Heat pumps that suit real houses, old ones included.
We replace oil, gas and LPG boilers with air and ground source heat pumps across Devon, Cornwall and Somerset. Every job starts with a room-by-room survey, so the unit we quote is the unit your house needs.
Key facts
01 How it works
A fridge in reverse, in four parts.
Outside air always holds some heat, even in January. A heat pump collects it, concentrates it and moves it indoors with a small amount of electricity.
1. Outdoor unit
A fan pulls outside air across a coil. A refrigerant inside absorbs the heat, even from cold air.
2. Compressor
Squeezing the refrigerant raises its temperature. This is the only part that uses much electricity.
3. Hot water cylinder
The heat moves into water, stored for baths, showers and heating, kept warm by the unit.
4. Radiators or underfloor
Warm water at a gentler temperature heats each room. Radiators feel warm, not scalding.
02 Types and prices
Air source or ground source.
Both qualify for the £7,500 grant. Air source suits most homes. Ground source costs more up front and needs garden space.
Most homes
Air source heat pump
£10,000–£14,000
Typical installed price before grant. £2,500–£6,500 after the £7,500 grant.
- Unit sits outside, on a base or wall bracket
- Usually two to three days on site
- No digging, no borehole
Larger plots
Ground source heat pump
£20,000–£35,000
Typical installed price before grant, depending on trench or borehole. The same £7,500 grant applies.
- Pipework buried in a trench or borehole
- Needs garden space and ground survey
- Several days of groundwork, then installation
03 The survey
What we check in an older house.
Six things decide whether a heat pump is right and how big it should be. Your survey covers all six, and you get the numbers in writing.
Heat loss, room by room
A calculation to the MCS standard, using real wall, floor, roof and window details. It sets the size of the unit.
Every radiator
We measure each one and compare its output at lower flow temperatures with what the room needs.
Loft and walls
If an hour of loft insulation or a draught fix would shrink the job, we say so and put it first.
Cylinder space
Where the hot water cylinder goes, and how pipework reaches it without tearing up the house.
Position and noise
Where the outdoor unit stands, how far from windows and boundaries, and the siting rules that apply.
Your electrics
The consumer unit and supply, checked by our NICEIC electrician. Upgrades are quoted as their own line.
04 Compared
Heat pump or boiler?
We do not quote running costs here, because they depend on your tariff, your usage and your house. We do show you the like-for-like figures in your written quote.
| Air source heat pump | Oil or gas boiler | |
|---|---|---|
| Installed cost | £10,000–£14,000, or £2,500–£6,500 after the grant | Typically much lower, with no grant |
| Heat from each unit of fuel | Typically about 2.5 to 3.5 units of heat per unit of electricity over a year | Up to about 0.85 to 0.92 units of heat per unit of fuel |
| Radiators feel | Warm, running for longer | Hot, running in bursts |
| Needs | Outdoor space, a cylinder, suitable radiators | A flue, and an oil tank or gas supply |
| Servicing | Annual check recommended | Annual service recommended |
See what your house needs.
Check the grant, then book a free survey. We measure first and quote second.