- Area
- Bedfordshire
- Postcode district
- LU6
- Nation
- England
- Guide price
- From £9,700 inc VAT
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
Air source heat pump installation for Dunstable homes
Most homes can run on a heat pump if the system is designed properly, and Dunstable is no different. The key is matching the heat pump and radiators to the home's heat loss.
Terraced streets in Dunstable often mean a compact unit position at the rear, so siting and sound levels are checked carefully. In Dunstable, cylinder space is planned with you, often in an airing cupboard, utility room or garage.
We survey your home, design a heat pump system around its real heat loss, and manage the installation from the first visit to the MCS certificate.
- Owners who want one contract covering design, fitting and paperwork
- Owners and landlords in England and Wales eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme
- Households with room for a hot water cylinder
What's included
- Outdoor unit, hot water cylinder and weather compensation controls
- System design, unit sizing and a written quote
- Removal of the old boiler or heaters
- MCS registration and certificate, plus network operator notification
- Commissioning, handover and a walk-through of the controls
For older properties in Dunstable, the heat loss calculation looks closely at solid walls, single glazing and draughts before any unit is sized.
Grants and rules for heat pumps in England
Homes in Dunstable can use the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which takes £7,500 off the cost of an air source heat pump when it replaces fossil-fuel or electric heating. Replacing oil or LPG heating qualifies for £9,000 for installations from 21 July 2026 to 31 March 2027, and air-to-air systems for £2,500. The MCS-certified installer named in your quote applies for the grant and deducts it from the price.
Installing heat pumps is zero-rated for VAT across the UK until 31 March 2027. Since 29 May 2025, permitted development in England allows up to two air source heat pumps on a house, each up to 1.5 m³, with no blanket 1 m boundary rule — the installation must still meet the MCS planning standards, including the noise check. Listed buildings, flats and some conservation-area positions need extra consent, which we check at survey.
What to budget for air source heat pump installation in Dunstable
The ranges below are typical installed prices for homes in Bedfordshire, including VAT. A survey sets the exact figure, because two similar-looking houses in Dunstable can need quite different radiators and pipework.
| Home | Typical size | Installed guide price | After £7,500 grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 bedroom flat or small terrace | 4–5 kW | £9,700–£12,750 | £2,200–£5,250 |
| 2–3 bedroom terrace or semi | 5–7 kW | £10,700–£13,750 | £3,200–£6,250 |
| 3 bedroom semi or small detached | 6–9 kW | £12,250–£15,800 | £4,750–£8,300 |
| 4 bedroom detached | 8–12 kW | £14,300–£18,350 | £6,800–£10,850 |
| 5+ bedroom or larger older house | 11–16 kW | £16,850–£22,950 | £9,350–£15,450 |
Installed, inc VAT: unit, cylinder, controls, minor pipework and commissioning.
Winter daylight and heating in Dunstable
Dunstable has about 7 hours 46 minutes of daylight at midwinter and 16 hours 43 minutes at midsummer. That swing matters if you pair a heat pump with solar panels: summer generation can cover much of the hot water, winter generation far less.
How installation works in Dunstable
- Send your postcode and a few details, or use the guide price tool.
- A surveyor visits your Dunstable home, measures every room and checks where the outdoor unit can go.
- You receive a heat loss design and a fixed written quote, with any grant shown where it applies.
- Installers fit the unit, cylinder and any radiator changes, typically over 2–4 days on site.
- The system is commissioned, set up with weather compensation and handed over with the paperwork.
Air source heat pump installation in Dunstable: questions
Do I need new radiators for a heat pump in Dunstable?
Often some, not all. Heat pumps run best at lower water temperatures, so rooms with small radiators may need larger ones. The survey of your Dunstable home gives a room-by-room list.
How soon can you survey a home in Dunstable?
Survey dates depend on how busy installers are in Bedfordshire. We offer the next available dates when you enquire and confirm them in writing.
How long does a heat pump survey take in Dunstable?
A home survey in Dunstable usually takes one to two hours. The surveyor measures every heated room, checks windows, walls and radiators, and looks at where the outdoor unit and cylinder can go.
Do I need new radiators for a heat pump?
Not always; many homes keep most of their radiators and change only a few. Because a heat pump runs at a lower water temperature than a boiler, each radiator gives out less heat, so the survey checks every room against its heat loss. Rooms where the existing radiator falls short get a larger one, with a guide price of £250–£450 each, installed and including VAT.
How long does an air source heat pump installation take?
A typical home installation takes 2–4 days on site. It takes longer if several radiators are being replaced, pipework is being upgraded or the cylinder is going in a new location. Your quote sets out the expected programme, including when you will be without heating and hot water. Timings are typical rather than fixed, because older homes sometimes reveal surprises once floorboards are lifted.