We cover 22 towns and cities in Essex, including Southend-on-Sea, Basildon, Colchester and Chelmsford. Every installation is designed from a room-by-room heat loss calculation, so the heat pump, radiators and cylinder are sized for the house rather than guessed.
Towns we cover in Essex
Heat pump services in Essex
Grants and rules for heat pumps in England
Homes in Essex 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.
Guide prices in Essex
| 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.
Questions
Is there a heat pump grant in Northern Ireland?
There is no dedicated heat pump grant for homeowners in Northern Ireland at present. Heat pumps have sometimes been funded through the Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme, so it is worth checking what is open when you enquire. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme covers England and Wales only, and Home Energy Scotland funding is for Scotland. Your written quote for a Northern Ireland home shows the price with no grant deducted unless funding has been confirmed.
How long does an air source heat pump last?
An air source heat pump typically lasts 15–20 years, depending on the model, how it is used and how well it is maintained. Annual servicing helps it run efficiently and is often a condition of the manufacturer warranty. Parts such as pumps, sensors and fans can be replaced during its life. When an outdoor unit reaches the end of its life, a like-for-like replacement is a guide price of £6,000–£9,500, installed and including VAT.
Who is eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?
You are usually eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme if you own an existing home in England or Wales, including as a landlord, and are replacing fossil-fuel or electric heating. The new system must meet the home's full heating and hot water needs. Most new builds, social housing, homes already funded for a heat pump and hybrid systems are not eligible. Air-to-air heat pumps in homes can get a separate £2,500 grant from 28 April 2026. We check eligibility at survey.
Do air source heat pumps work in cold weather?
Yes, air source heat pumps are designed to keep working well below freezing and can heat your home through a UK winter. The system is sized for a cold design day in your area, so it is designed to cope on the coldest days. Efficiency falls as the outside temperature drops, and the unit periodically defrosts its outdoor coil, when a little vapour is normal. See how air source heat pumps work.