- Area
- Berkshire
- Postcode district
- RG1
- Nation
- England
- Guide price
- From £10,050 inc VAT
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
Air source heat pump installation in Reading: what to expect
Most homes can run on a heat pump if the system is designed properly, and Reading is no different. The key is matching the heat pump and radiators to the home's heat loss.
For older properties in Reading, the heat loss calculation looks closely at solid walls, single glazing and draughts before any unit is sized. In Reading, 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 and landlords in England and Wales eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme
- Homes replacing a gas, oil, LPG or electric heating system
- Owners who want one contract covering design, fitting and paperwork
What's included
- Outdoor unit, hot water cylinder and weather compensation controls
- Radiator and pipework changes where the design needs them
- Free home survey and room-by-room heat loss calculation
- Commissioning, handover and a walk-through of the controls
- Removal of the old boiler or heaters
Terraced streets in Reading often mean a compact unit position at the rear, so siting and sound levels are checked carefully.
Grants and rules for heat pumps in England
Homes in Reading 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.
Air source heat pump installation prices in Reading
Here are typical prices for air source heat pump installation in Berkshire, installed and including VAT. Use the guide price tool for a figure based on your home, then a survey confirms it in writing.
| Home | Typical size | Installed guide price | After £7,500 grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 bedroom flat or small terrace | 4–5 kW | £10,050–£13,250 | £2,550–£5,750 |
| 2–3 bedroom terrace or semi | 5–7 kW | £11,150–£14,300 | £3,650–£6,800 |
| 3 bedroom semi or small detached | 6–9 kW | £12,700–£16,450 | £5,200–£8,950 |
| 4 bedroom detached | 8–12 kW | £14,850–£19,100 | £7,350–£11,600 |
| 5+ bedroom or larger older house | 11–16 kW | £17,500–£23,850 | £10,000–£16,350 |
Installed, inc VAT: unit, cylinder, controls, minor pipework and commissioning.
How long is the heating season in Reading?
On the shortest day Reading gets about 7 hours 50 minutes of daylight, and the winter sun reaches only around 15° above the horizon at noon. Winters this far south are milder than in most of the UK, which helps a heat pump run at low flow temperatures for much of the season.
The steps for air source heat pump installation in Reading
- Start online with a guide price or call us.
- A home survey in Reading gives us the room-by-room heat loss.
- Your written quote sets out the design, the price and the grant position where you live.
- Installation is booked for dates that suit you; most homes take 2–4 days on site.
- After commissioning you get a handover of the controls and settings, plus the certificates.
Air source heat pump installation in Reading: questions
Do you cover Lower Earley as well as Reading?
Yes. We arrange surveys and installation in Lower Earley, which is about 3 miles south-east of Reading, and across Berkshire.
Where would the outdoor unit go on a Reading house?
Usually at the side or rear, on a level base with space around it for airflow and servicing, away from bedroom windows where possible. The surveyor checks positions at your Reading home.
How soon can you survey a home in Reading?
Survey dates depend on how busy installers are in Berkshire. We offer the next available dates when you enquire and confirm them in writing.
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.