- Area
- Kent
- Postcode district
- CT20
- Nation
- England
- Guide price
- From £9,800 inc VAT
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
Before you book: air source heat pump installation in Folkestone
In Folkestone, 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.
Installers working in Folkestone plan the order of work so heating and hot water are off for as short a time as practical. Terraced streets in Folkestone 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.
- Households with room for a hot water cylinder
- Houses with reasonable insulation, or a plan to improve it
- Owners and landlords in England and Wales eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme
What's included
- Commissioning, handover and a walk-through of the controls
- Boiler Upgrade Scheme application in England and Wales where eligible
- MCS registration and certificate, plus network operator notification
- Removal of the old boiler or heaters
- Outdoor unit, hot water cylinder and weather compensation controls
Many homes in Folkestone 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
In England the Boiler Upgrade Scheme gives £7,500 towards an air source heat pump (£9,000 if it replaces oil or LPG, from 21 July 2026 to 31 March 2027), and since 28 April 2026 a valid EPC is no longer needed. The grant is applied for by the MCS-certified installer and shown as a deduction on your Folkestone quote.
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 Folkestone
The ranges below are typical installed prices for homes in Kent, including VAT. A survey sets the exact figure, because two similar-looking houses in Folkestone 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 | £9,800–£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 Folkestone and what they mean
On the shortest day Folkestone gets about 7 hours 54 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.
From survey to switch-on in Folkestone
- Tell us about your home: postcode, property type and current heating.
- We book a survey in Folkestone; the surveyor measures rooms, windows and radiators and looks at cylinder space.
- The design and quote arrive in writing, including radiator changes and the outdoor unit position.
- On installation days the old system is removed and the new one fitted and filled.
- We commission the heat pump, show you the controls and register the installation.
Air source heat pump installation in Folkestone: questions
Do I need new radiators for a heat pump in Folkestone?
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 Folkestone home gives a room-by-room list.
What size heat pump does a Folkestone 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 Folkestone home.
Do you cover Hythe as well as Folkestone?
Yes. We arrange surveys and installation in Hythe, which is about 4 miles west of Folkestone, and across Kent.
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.
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.