We cover 10 towns and cities in Northumberland, including Blyth, Cramlington, Ashington and Bedlington. 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 Northumberland
Heat pump services in Northumberland
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 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.
Guide prices in Northumberland
| Home | Typical size | Installed guide price | After £7,500 grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 bedroom flat or small terrace | 4–5 kW | £9,400–£12,400 | £1,900–£4,900 |
| 2–3 bedroom terrace or semi | 5–7 kW | £10,400–£13,350 | £2,900–£5,850 |
| 3 bedroom semi or small detached | 6–9 kW | £11,900–£15,350 | £4,400–£7,850 |
| 4 bedroom detached | 8–12 kW | £13,850–£17,800 | £6,350–£10,300 |
| 5+ bedroom or larger older house | 11–16 kW | £16,350–£22,300 | £8,850–£14,800 |
Installed, inc VAT: unit, cylinder, controls, minor pipework and commissioning.
Questions
Are air source heat pumps noisy?
Air source heat pumps make some noise, mainly a low hum from the fan and compressor, but they are designed to run quietly. How noticeable it is depends on the model, how hard the unit is working and where it is sited. That is why siting matters and why the installation is checked with the MCS noise assessment for neighbouring homes. You may hear a little more for a few minutes during a defrost cycle in cold weather.
How do heat pump repairs work, and what do they cost?
Heat pump repairs start with a fault-finding visit, charged at a rate agreed before we attend; as a guide price, the first hour is £90–£180, including VAT. The engineer diagnoses the fault and gives you a price for the repair before any further work. Typical repairs, from sensors and valves to fans, pumps and control boards, have a guide price range of £90–£1,100, including VAT, depending on the part. See heat pump repairs.
Where will the outdoor unit go?
The outdoor unit goes where it has free airflow, a solid base or wall brackets, a short pipe run to the house and somewhere for condensate water to drain. A typical unit is roughly 1 m wide. We also keep it away from neighbours' windows where possible, because siting and the MCS noise check both matter. Common positions are a side wall, back garden or yard, and we agree the spot with you at survey. See noise and siting.
Do I need planning permission for a heat pump in England?
In England, an air source heat pump on a house usually does not need planning permission, because it counts as permitted development if it meets set conditions. Since 29 May 2025, permitted development allows up to two air source heat pumps on a house, each outdoor unit up to 1.5 m³, and the old rule requiring permission within 1 m of a boundary has been removed. The installation must still meet the MCS planning standards, including the noise assessment. Flats, listed buildings and some positions may need permission, which we check at survey.