- Area
- Kent
- Postcode district
- ME16
- Nation
- England
- Guide price
- From £9,800 inc VAT
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
Air source heat pump installation in Maidstone: what to expect
The question for a Maidstone 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.
For older properties in Maidstone, the heat loss calculation looks closely at solid walls, single glazing and draughts before any unit is sized. Terraced streets in Maidstone 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.
- 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
- Boiler Upgrade Scheme application in England and Wales where eligible
- Outdoor unit, hot water cylinder and weather compensation controls
- Removal of the old boiler or heaters
- MCS registration and certificate, plus network operator notification
- Commissioning, handover and a walk-through of the controls
Many homes in Maidstone 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 Maidstone 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 Maidstone
These are guide prices for Kent, 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 Maidstone and what they mean
On the shortest day Maidstone gets about 7 hours 52 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.
What happens after you enquire in Maidstone?
- Tell us about your home: postcode, property type and current heating.
- We book a survey in Maidstone; 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 Maidstone: questions
How long does installation take in Maidstone?
Most installations take 2–4 days on site. Jobs with several radiator changes or new pipework take longer, and your quote for a Maidstone home states the expected time.
Do you cover Rochester as well as Maidstone?
Yes. We arrange surveys and installation in Rochester, which is about 8 miles north of Maidstone, and across Kent.
How long does a heat pump survey take in Maidstone?
A home survey in Maidstone 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.
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.