- Area
- East Sussex
- Postcode district
- BN21
- Nation
- England
- Guide price
- From £9,800 inc VAT
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
What to know about air source heat pump installation in Eastbourne
In Eastbourne, as anywhere in the UK, the heat pumps that perform well are the ones designed around low flow temperatures and sized from a proper heat loss calculation.
Homeowners across East Sussex can arrange a survey in Eastbourne for a room-by-room design and a written quote before committing to anything. For older properties in Eastbourne, the heat loss calculation looks closely at solid walls, single glazing and draughts before any unit is sized.
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.
- Households with room for a hot water cylinder
- Owners and landlords in England and Wales eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme
- Houses with reasonable insulation, or a plan to improve it
What's included
- Removal of the old boiler or heaters
- Free home survey and room-by-room heat loss calculation
- System design, unit sizing and a written quote
- Outdoor unit, hot water cylinder and weather compensation controls
- Commissioning, handover and a walk-through of the controls
Many homes in Eastbourne have a side passage or rear garden with room for an outdoor unit, and the survey checks airflow and distance from neighbouring windows.
Grants and rules for heat pumps in England
Homes in Eastbourne 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 costs around Eastbourne
These are guide prices for East Sussex, 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 | £9,800–£12,900 | £2,300–£5,400 |
| 2–3 bedroom terrace or semi | 5–7 kW | £10,800–£13,900 | £3,300–£6,400 |
| 3 bedroom semi or small detached | 6–9 kW | £12,350–£15,950 | £4,850–£8,450 |
| 4 bedroom detached | 8–12 kW | £14,400–£18,550 | £6,900–£11,050 |
| 5+ bedroom or larger older house | 11–16 kW | £17,000–£23,200 | £9,500–£15,700 |
Installed, inc VAT: unit, cylinder, controls, minor pipework and commissioning.
Short winter days in Eastbourne and what they mean
On the shortest day Eastbourne gets about 7 hours 57 minutes of daylight, and the winter sun reaches only around 16° 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.
How installation works in Eastbourne
- Send your postcode and a few details, or use the guide price tool.
- A surveyor visits your Eastbourne 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 Eastbourne: questions
Do you cover Hailsham as well as Eastbourne?
Yes. We arrange surveys and installation in Hailsham, which is about 7 miles north of Eastbourne, and across East Sussex.
How long does installation take in Eastbourne?
Most installations take 2–4 days on site. Jobs with several radiator changes or new pipework take longer, and your quote for an Eastbourne home states the expected time.
What size heat pump does an Eastbourne 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 Eastbourne home.
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.
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.