- Area
- Highlands and Islands
- Postcode district
- KW15
- Nation
- Scotland
- Guide price
- From £10,650 inc VAT
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
What to know about air source heat pump installation in Kirkwall
Most homes can run on a heat pump if the system is designed properly, and Kirkwall is no different. The key is matching the heat pump and radiators to the home's heat loss.
For older properties in Kirkwall, the heat loss calculation looks closely at solid walls, single glazing and draughts before any unit is sized. Terraced streets in Kirkwall often mean a compact unit position at the rear, so siting and sound levels are checked carefully.
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.
- Houses with reasonable insulation, or a plan to improve it
- Homes replacing a gas, oil, LPG or electric heating system
- Owners who want one contract covering design, fitting and paperwork
What's included
- Radiator and pipework changes where the design needs them
- System design, unit sizing and a written quote
- Free home survey and room-by-room heat loss calculation
- MCS registration and certificate, plus network operator notification
- Commissioning, handover and a walk-through of the controls
Many homes in Kirkwall 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 Scotland
In Scotland, heat pump funding comes through Home Energy Scotland rather than the Boiler Upgrade Scheme: a grant of up to £7,500 (up to £1,500 extra for eligible rural and island homes) and an optional interest-free loan of up to £7,500. For a Kirkwall home, apply and receive the written offer before the installation date is fixed.
Installing heat pumps is zero-rated for VAT across the UK until 31 March 2027. Scotland has its own permitted development rules for air source heat pumps and its own building standards, so we confirm what applies to your Kirkwall property at survey.
What to budget for air source heat pump installation in Kirkwall
These are guide prices for the Highlands and Islands, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 bedroom flat or small terrace | 4–5 kW | £10,650–£14,000 |
| 2–3 bedroom terrace or semi | 5–7 kW | £11,750–£15,100 |
| 3 bedroom semi or small detached | 6–9 kW | £13,450–£17,350 |
| 4 bedroom detached | 8–12 kW | £15,700–£20,150 |
| 5+ bedroom or larger older house | 11–16 kW | £18,500–£25,200 |
Installed, inc VAT: unit, cylinder, controls, minor pipework and commissioning. In Scotland, Home Energy Scotland grants of up to £7,500 and interest-free loans may reduce the cost.
Winter daylight and heating in Kirkwall
On the shortest day Kirkwall gets only about 6 hours 11 minutes of daylight, with the sun around 8° up at noon. Long Scottish winters mean the heat pump runs for much of the year, so careful sizing, good controls and correctly sized radiators make a real difference.
What happens after you enquire in Kirkwall?
- Start online with a guide price or call us.
- A home survey in Kirkwall 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.
Kirkwall is in an area we cover by arrangement, so survey dates and any travel costs are confirmed individually in your quote.
Air source heat pump installation in Kirkwall: questions
How long does a heat pump survey take in Kirkwall?
A home survey in Kirkwall 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.
Where would the outdoor unit go on a Kirkwall 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 Kirkwall home.
Can you service a heat pump in Kirkwall that someone else installed?
Yes. We arrange servicing and repairs for most air source heat pumps in Kirkwall, whoever fitted them. Tell us the make and model when you book.
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.