An air source heat pump installed against the brick wall of a Cotswold home

Heat pumps from certified installers

Lower-carbon heating and hot water for Cotswold homes - with Boiler Upgrade Scheme grants of £7,500, or £9,000 for oil and LPG homes, handled for you.

How an air source heat pump works

It works like a fridge in reverse - moving heat from the air outside into your home.

Cutaway of a house showing an air source heat pump outside, pipework to an indoor unit, underfloor heating loops, a radiator and a bath. Cutaway of a house showing an air source heat pump outside, pipework to an indoor unit, underfloor heating loops, a radiator and a bath.
  1. Heat is drawn from the outside air.
  2. Captured heat is transferred into the home.
  3. Warm water circulates through the floor and radiators.
  4. The system also heats water for the bath.

Absorbs heat from the air

A fan draws outside air over a coil containing refrigerant, which absorbs heat - even on cold winter days.

Raises the temperature

A compressor increases the pressure of the refrigerant, which raises its temperature further.

Heats water

That heat is passed to water in your heating system through a heat exchanger.

Warms your home

The warm water runs through radiators or underfloor heating, and heats a hot water cylinder for taps and showers.

Underfloor heating uses the kind of gentle heat that a heat pump is best at producing, allowing them to work together efficiently.

Underfloor heating

The benefits

25+ year lifespan

Often outlasts a gas boiler, with less to go wrong since there's no combustion involved.

Lower running costs over time

No gas standing charge, and running costs keep falling as electricity gets cheaper relative to gas.

Adds to your home's value

An EPC boost and a heating system built for where energy policy is heading, not where it's been.

Grant-eligible

Get £7,500 off installation through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, or £9,000 if you're replacing oil or LPG, handled for you.

Quieter than you'd expect

Modern air source units run at around 40-60dB, about the same as a boiler.

Heating and hot water

Working efficiently whatever the weather.

No flue, no gas safety checks, no fuel deliveries

One less thing on your annual maintenance list.

Cut your carbon footprint

Heat pumps can reduce your home's carbon emissions by up to 45% compared to a gas boiler, more once the UK grid gets greener.

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme

The government's Boiler Upgrade Scheme gives grants towards replacing fossil-fuel heating with a low-carbon system in England and Wales. The grant is taken off the cost of your installation - you don't need to claim it yourself.

  • You'll usually need to own the property you're installing in
  • The new system needs to replace fossil-fuel heating such as oil, LPG or gas
  • The property will need a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
  • We confirm eligibility for you as part of your survey

Only MCS-certified installers can apply for the grant, we can handle the application for you.

Viessmann heat pump indoor unit, hot water cylinder and insulated pipework installed in a plant room

Grants from £2,500 to £9,000 are available

As an MCS-certified installer, we can apply the government's Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant directly to your air source heat pump installation - we handle the paperwork.

  • £9,000towards an air or ground source heat pump for homes heated by oil or LPG
  • £7,500towards an air or ground source heat pump for homes on mains gas or electric heating
  • £5,000towards a biomass boiler
  • £2,500towards an air-to-air heat pump

Renewable heating, installed right

An air source heat pump can heat your home and hot water all year round with a much lower carbon footprint than oil, LPG or gas. But getting the best from one depends on good design - the right size of heat pump, radiators or underfloor heating that suit it, and a properly set-up system.

As MCS-certified installers and RECC members, we survey, design, install and commission your system, and manage the grant application on eligible installs.

Is my home suitable?
Two Grant Aerona air source heat pumps installed on a concrete base outside a new-build home

Why MCS & RECC matter

Straight-up reassurance on who's installing your system.

MCS Certified

MCS certification

The Microgeneration Certification Scheme is the quality standard for renewable heating installations. MCS-certified installers are assessed on how they design and install systems - and an MCS installation is required to claim the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant.

RECC Registered RECC Registered

RECC membership

The Renewable Energy Consumer Code is approved by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute. Members commit to clear information, fair contracts and protection for your deposit, with access to independent dispute resolution if something goes wrong. Our RECC member number is 00079771.

Is my home suitable?

Most homes can have a heat pump, including older properties - but it pays to check. Our survey looks at:

  • Insulation - how well your home holds on to heat
  • Radiators and pipework - whether they're sized for lower flow temperatures, or if underfloor heating is an option
  • Outdoor space - a suitable spot for the outdoor unit
  • Indoor space - room for a hot water cylinder and controls
  • Heat loss - a room-by-room calculation so the system is sized correctly

We can advise on what's needed and whether a heat pump is right for you.

Book a heat pump survey
Cotswold Heating & Renewables site board outside a red-brick home during an install

Wider renewable options

Ground source heat pumps

Ground source heat pumps take heat from the ground through buried pipework. They suit properties with enough land, and are also eligible for a Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant.

Ask about ground source →

Air-to-air heat pumps

Air-to-air systems heat and cool rooms directly, and can qualify for a £2,500 grant.

Air conditioning →

Hot water cylinders

Heat pumps need a hot water cylinder to store hot water. We supply and install cylinders sized for your household.

Get a quote →

Underfloor heating

Underfloor heating runs at low temperatures, making it a natural partner for a heat pump.

Underfloor heating →

Heat pump projects

See how we've installed air source heat pumps, cylinders and underfloor heating for homes across the area.

Air source heat pump unit installed outside a Cotswold stone home
Renewables

Air source heat pump and cylinder installation

Replacing existing heating with a lower-carbon air source heat pump, including hot water.

Underfloor heating pipework laid in castellated insulation panels across a new-build room
Renewables · Underfloor heating

New build underfloor heating

Underfloor heating throughout the ground floor of a new-build home, ready for a low-temperature heat source.

Renewables

Air source heat pump and cylinder installation

The brief
Replace the existing heating with a lower-carbon air source heat pump, including hot water.
Our approach
We sited the outdoor unit, installed a new hot water cylinder, controls and pipework in a dedicated plant space, and commissioned the system.
The result
A complete heat pump system providing heating and hot water, with neat, accessible pipework and controls.
Air source heat pump unit installed outside a Cotswold stone home
Heat pump cylinder and controls
Expansion vessel and pipework in the plant space
New hot water cylinder installation
Renewables · Underfloor heating

New build underfloor heating

The brief
Underfloor heating throughout the ground floor of a new-build home, ready for a low-temperature heat source.
Our approach
We designed the pipe layouts and zones, laid insulation and pipework room by room, and installed and pressure-tested the manifold before screeding.
The result
Even, radiator-free warmth across the ground floor, designed to run efficiently at low flow temperatures.
Underfloor heating pipework laid in castellated insulation panels across a new-build room, with blockwork walls and French doors
Pipes laid on insulation throughout the ground floor
Underfloor heating loops laid room by room
Manifold installed within the studwork

Frequently asked questions

Are air source heat pumps noisy?

Modern heat pumps are designed to run quietly - many are similar to a fridge or a quiet conversation when running. We'll choose a sensible spot for the outdoor unit, away from bedrooms and neighbours where possible.

Do heat pumps work in cold weather?

Yes. Air source heat pumps are designed to keep extracting heat from the air well below freezing. A correctly sized system, designed from a proper heat loss calculation, will keep your home warm through winter.

Can a heat pump work with underfloor heating?

Yes - underfloor heating is an ideal partner because it runs at lower temperatures, which helps a heat pump work efficiently. See our underfloor heating page.

Will I need new radiators?

Sometimes. Heat pumps run at lower temperatures than boilers, so some rooms may need larger radiators to stay warm. Our survey calculates the heat each room needs and tells you exactly what, if anything, should change.

Do I need planning permission?

In England, many domestic air source heat pumps are permitted development, provided certain conditions are met - for example on siting and noise. Listed buildings and conservation areas can have extra rules. We'll check this during your survey.

How much does an air source heat pump cost?

Across the UK, a typical air source heat pump installation costs somewhere between £10,000 and £18,000 before the grant, with most landing around £13,000. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant comes straight off that figure: £7,500 for most homes, or £9,000 if you currently heat with oil or LPG and have no mains gas connection. That puts the amount most homeowners actually pay somewhere between £4,000 and £8,500. What moves the figure is the size of your home, whether any radiators or pipework need changing, and where the outdoor unit can go. We give you a fixed price after the survey, with the grant already applied.

Will a heat pump cost more to run than my gas boiler?

A heat pump typically produces around three units of heat for every unit of electricity it uses, and a well designed system does better than that. Against mains gas, running costs usually come out similar or slightly lower, and the gap widens if you move to one of the electricity tariffs aimed at heat pump owners. Against oil or LPG, the saving is clearer. How well your home holds heat and how carefully the system is set up matter more than the badge on the unit, which is why we size everything from a room-by-room heat loss calculation rather than a rule of thumb.

How long does the installation take?

Most installations take two to four days on site, after a heat loss survey that takes a few hours on an earlier visit. That covers siting the outdoor unit, fitting the cylinder and controls, any pipework or radiator changes, and commissioning the system. You will be without heating and hot water for part of that, and we will tell you exactly when, so you can plan around it.

Do I need an Energy Performance Certificate to get the grant?

Yes, a valid EPC is needed for the property. What you do not need is insulation work done first. The old rule requiring an EPC with no outstanding loft or cavity wall insulation recommendations was dropped in May 2024, though plenty of websites still say otherwise. Insulation will still make your heat pump cheaper to run, so it is worth doing on its own merits, but it is no longer a condition of the grant. We check your EPC as part of the survey.

Can I keep my existing hot water cylinder?

Usually not. A heat pump runs at a lower temperature than a boiler, so it needs a cylinder with a larger coil and more stored volume to heat water efficiently. As a rough guide, a three bedroom house usually needs around 200 litres. If you currently have a combi boiler and no cylinder at all, you will need both the cylinder and somewhere to put it, which is the thing that most often surprises homeowners. We identify the space at survey stage, before you commit to anything.

How does the grant application work?

You do not apply yourself. Only MCS certified installers can submit a Boiler Upgrade Scheme application, so we handle the paperwork, claim the grant and take it off your invoice. Vouchers are time limited, typically three months for an air source heat pump, which sits comfortably inside our normal lead times. One grant is available per property.

Does a heat pump need servicing?

Yes, once a year, the same as a boiler. There is no combustion, so no flue and no gas safety check, but an annual service keeps the system running efficiently and, importantly, keeps the manufacturer warranty valid. Most manufacturers can and do ask for proof of servicing if you make a claim. A well maintained heat pump should last around twenty years, comfortably longer than a gas boiler.

What Local Homeowners Say

4.9 / 5 average rating from local customers

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Government grant

Warm, efficient home, one local team you can trust

Tell us about your job and get a free, no-obligation quote. As MCS-certified installers, we'll check what grant you qualify for and handle all the paperwork. We make getting a fixed price with no pressure and no surprises easy. Prefer to talk it through first? Use the form above for a call back, or call us on 01789 700026.

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