- Area
- Devon
- Postcode district
- EX4
- Nation
- England
- Guide price
- From £9,600 inc VAT
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
Air source heat pump installation in Exeter: what to expect
The question for an Exeter home is rarely whether a heat pump can work, but what needs to change to make it work well: radiator sizes, pipework, controls and where the unit goes.
Terraced streets in Exeter often mean a compact unit position at the rear, so siting and sound levels are checked carefully. Many homes in Exeter have a side passage or rear garden with room for an outdoor unit, and the survey checks airflow and distance from neighbouring windows.
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.
- Homes replacing a gas, oil, LPG or electric heating system
- Households with room for a hot water cylinder
- Owners who want one contract covering design, fitting and paperwork
What's included
- Free home survey and room-by-room heat loss calculation
- System design, unit sizing and a written quote
- Removal of the old boiler or heaters
- Outdoor unit, hot water cylinder and weather compensation controls
- Boiler Upgrade Scheme application in England and Wales where eligible
In Exeter, cylinder space is planned with you, often in an airing cupboard, utility room or garage.
Grants and rules for heat pumps in England
Homes in Exeter 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.
Air source heat pump installation costs around Exeter
The ranges below are typical installed prices for homes in Devon, including VAT. A survey sets the exact figure, because two similar-looking houses in Exeter 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 | £9,600–£12,650 | £2,100–£5,150 |
| 2–3 bedroom terrace or semi | 5–7 kW | £10,600–£13,650 | £3,100–£6,150 |
| 3 bedroom semi or small detached | 6–9 kW | £12,100–£15,650 | £4,600–£8,150 |
| 4 bedroom detached | 8–12 kW | £14,150–£18,200 | £6,650–£10,700 |
| 5+ bedroom or larger older house | 11–16 kW | £16,650–£22,750 | £9,150–£15,250 |
Installed, inc VAT: unit, cylinder, controls, minor pipework and commissioning.
Short winter days in Exeter and what they mean
Exeter sees roughly 7 hours 57 minutes of daylight in late December against 16 hours 30 minutes in June. Milder southern winters suit heat pumps well, though the system is still sized for a cold snap rather than an average day.
The steps for air source heat pump installation in Exeter
- Start online with a guide price or call us.
- A home survey in Exeter 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 Exeter: questions
How soon can you survey a home in Exeter?
Survey dates depend on how busy installers are in Devon. We offer the next available dates when you enquire and confirm them in writing.
What size heat pump does an Exeter 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 Exeter home.
Where would the outdoor unit go on an Exeter 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 Exeter home.
Will an air source heat pump be noisy?
Heat pumps are designed to run quietly, but where the unit sits makes a real difference. The survey looks for a position away from bedroom windows and neighbours, with clear airflow, and the installation must pass the MCS noise assessment. The fan is most noticeable on very cold days when the unit works hardest, and a little vapour during the periodic defrost is normal.
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.