- Area
- County Durham
- Postcode district
- DH1
- Nation
- England
- Guide price
- From £9,200 inc VAT
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
Air source heat pump installation in Durham: what to expect
Every property in Durham is different, so the design starts from measurements rather than a rule of thumb. That keeps the system the right size and the running costs predictable.
Homeowners across County Durham can arrange a survey in Durham for a room-by-room design and a written quote before committing to anything. Installers working in Durham plan the order of work so heating and hot water are off for as short a time as practical.
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
- Households with room for a hot water cylinder
- Homes replacing a gas, oil, LPG or electric heating system
What's included
- Radiator and pipework changes where the design needs them
- Free home survey and room-by-room heat loss calculation
- System design, unit sizing and a written quote
- MCS registration and certificate, plus network operator notification
- Removal of the old boiler or heaters
Terraced streets in Durham 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 Durham 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.
There is no VAT on installing a heat pump anywhere in the UK until 31 March 2027. In England most houses can have an air source heat pump under permitted development, provided the unit meets the MCS noise and siting standards; the old 1 m boundary limit was removed on 29 May 2025. We flag listed buildings, flats and sensitive conservation-area positions at survey.
What to budget for air source heat pump installation in Durham
These are guide prices for County Durham, installed and including VAT. Your final price is fixed in a written quote after the survey and depends on the heat loss of the house, the radiators that need changing and where the unit goes.
| Home | Typical size | Installed guide price | After £7,500 grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 bedroom flat or small terrace | 4–5 kW | £9,200–£12,150 | £1,700–£4,650 |
| 2–3 bedroom terrace or semi | 5–7 kW | £10,200–£13,100 | £2,700–£5,600 |
| 3 bedroom semi or small detached | 6–9 kW | £11,650–£15,050 | £4,150–£7,550 |
| 4 bedroom detached | 8–12 kW | £13,600–£17,450 | £6,100–£9,950 |
| 5+ bedroom or larger older house | 11–16 kW | £16,000–£21,850 | £8,500–£14,350 |
Installed, inc VAT: unit, cylinder, controls, minor pipework and commissioning.
How long is the heating season in Durham?
Durham sees roughly 7 hours 13 minutes of daylight in December and 17 hours 19 minutes in June. With a longer heating season than the south, the gains from low flow temperatures and good controls add up over the year.
How installation works in Durham
- Start online with a guide price or call us.
- A home survey in Durham 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 Durham: questions
What size heat pump does a Durham home need?
It depends on the heat loss, not the postcode. As a rough guide, a 3 bedroom semi often needs 6–9 kW, but the room-by-room survey sets the actual size for your Durham home.
Do I need new radiators for a heat pump in Durham?
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 Durham home gives a room-by-room list.
Do you cover Chester-le-Street as well as Durham?
Yes. We arrange surveys and installation in Chester-le-Street, which is about 6 miles north of Durham, and across County Durham.
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.
Can I cancel after accepting the quote?
Nothing is ordered until you accept the written quote. Where the contract is agreed away from our premises, for example at your kitchen table, you can cancel within 14 days under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013. If you ask us to start sooner and then cancel, you pay only for work done up to that point.