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The honest guide toHeat pumps.
The technology, when it suits, when it doesn't, including the cold-weather question and what makes a UK install actually perform.
Heat pumps
Who this is for
For anyone replacing a gas, oil or electric heating system who wants to know, before talking to an installer, whether a heat pump would really work in their home and what it would cost them.
The questions these guides answer
- Will a heat pump keep an older, draughty house warm in a cold snap?
- What does it cost to install, and to run compared with gas?
- What does the Boiler Upgrade Scheme pay, and do I qualify?
- Do I need planning permission for the outdoor unit?
Worth knowing first
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme pays £7,500 towards an air source heat pump in England and Wales, or £9,000 where oil or LPG is being replaced off the gas grid until 31 March 2027, and since 28 April 2026 you no longer need an EPC to qualify. In the government's Electrification of Heat trial, the typical air source heat pump delivered 2.8 units of heat for every unit of electricity, and a home's age made no significant difference to that.
Reading order: beginner first
Start at the top.
08 guides
- 01
What is a heat pump?
A heat pump works like a fridge in reverse, moving heat from the outside air or ground into your radiators and hot water. In the government's Electrification of Heat trial, the typical air source heat pump delivered 2.8 units of heat for every unit of electricity. Whether it beats your boiler on running costs depends on your tariff and the design.
7 min read
- 02
Do heat pumps work in cold weather?
Yes. A heat pump gets less efficient as the air gets colder, but it keeps heating: in the government's field trial the median system still delivered 2.44 units of heat per unit of electricity on the coldest day. Whether your home stays warm in a cold snap comes down to a proper heat loss calculation and sizing.
9 min read
- 03
Will a heat pump work in my old British home?
Often, yes. The government's field trial found a home's age made no significant difference to how efficiently its heat pump ran. What matters is how fast the house loses heat, so draughty, uninsulated homes usually need loft, wall or draught work first, or larger radiators.
8 min read
- 04
Heat pump running costs vs gas: the honest numbers
At the October to December 2026 price cap, a heat pump running at the trial median efficiency costs about the same as an 85% efficient gas boiler, and saves around £106 a year if you also close your gas account. A well-designed system and a time-of-use tariff can save more; a poorly designed one costs more.
10 min read
- 05
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme explained
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme pays £7,500 towards an air source or ground source heat pump in England and Wales, or £9,000 for homes heated by oil or LPG until 31 March 2027. Your MCS-certified installer applies and takes the grant off your quote upfront, and since 28 April 2026 you no longer need an EPC to qualify.
8 min read
- 06
How much does an air source heat pump cost in 2026?
What an air source heat pump costs to install in a UK home in 2026, what the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant takes off, what pushes the price up or down, and what it costs to run compared with gas.
9 min read
- 07
Do you need planning permission for a heat pump?
Most air source heat pumps on houses in England are permitted development, so no planning application is needed. This guide covers the size and noise conditions, what changed in 2025, and when flats, listed buildings and conservation areas need permission.
7 min read
- 08
Air-to-air heat pumps: the £2,500 grant, the costs and the catch
How air-to-air heat pumps differ from the kind that run radiators, what the Boiler Upgrade Scheme pays towards them, and the homes where they do and do not make sense.
8 min read
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