The efficiency difference is the main reason to consider it. A panel heater turns one unit of electricity into one unit of heat, so heat costs the full unit rate of 26.32p per kWh at the October to December 2026 price cap. A heat pump with a seasonal efficiency of 3.0 delivers heat for about 8.8p per kWh. Storage heaters on an off-peak tariff narrow the gap, so we compare against your actual tariff, insulation and expected flow temperature.
Owners across Gwent moving off storage heaters can arrange a survey in Gwent that compares running costs on their real tariff. Flats in Gwent heated by storage heaters can often switch, subject to the freeholder's consent and a workable outdoor position. Installers in Gwent work room by room, so you can stay in your home while radiators go in.
Who it suits
- Flats with a suitable wall, balcony or ground-floor space for the unit
- Homes with storage heaters or panel heaters throughout
- Properties with an electric boiler and existing radiators
- Bungalows and houses with suspended timber floors that make pipe runs easier
Grants and rules for heat pumps in Wales
In Wales 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; £2,500 for air-to-air). The MCS-certified installer named in your quote applies to Ofgem for you, and the grant comes off your quote.
Installing heat pumps is zero-rated for VAT across the UK until 31 March 2027. Wales has its own permitted development rules for air source heat pumps, so we check what applies to your property, including listed building and conservation-area constraints, at the survey.
Electric heating to heat pump prices in Gwent
Here are typical prices for replacing electric heating with a heat pump in Gwent, installed and including VAT. Use the guide price tool for a figure based on your home, then a survey confirms it in writing.
| Home | Typical size | Installed guide price | After £7,500 grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 bedroom flat or small terrace | 4–5 kW | £9,500–£12,500 | £2,000–£5,000 |
| 2–3 bedroom terrace or semi | 5–7 kW | £10,500–£13,500 | £3,000–£6,000 |
| 3 bedroom semi or small detached | 6–9 kW | £12,000–£15,500 | £4,500–£8,000 |
| 4 bedroom detached | 8–12 kW | £14,000–£18,000 | £6,500–£10,500 |
| 5+ bedroom or larger older house | 11–16 kW | £16,500–£22,500 | £9,000–£15,000 |
Installed, inc VAT: unit, cylinder, controls, minor pipework and commissioning.
Towns we cover in Gwent
We cover 11 towns in Gwent for replacing electric heating with a heat pump. Each links to local guide prices and the grant position for Wales.
| Town | Postcode district | Nearest town | Midwinter daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newport (Gwent) | NP20 | Risca | 7 h 49 min |
| Cwmbran | NP44 | Pontypool | 7 h 48 min |
| Pontypool | NP4 | Cwmbran | 7 h 47 min |
| Ebbw Vale | NP23 | Tredegar | 7 h 47 min |
| Risca | NP11 | Newport (Gwent) | 7 h 48 min |
| Blackwood | NP12 | Bargoed | 7 h 48 min |
| Abergavenny | NP7 | Crickhowell | 7 h 46 min |
| Caldicot | NP26 | Chepstow | 7 h 49 min |
| Chepstow | NP16 | Caldicot | 7 h 48 min |
| Monmouth | NP25 | Chepstow | 7 h 46 min |
| Tredegar | NP22 | Ebbw Vale | 7 h 47 min |
Replacing electric heating with a heat pump questions
What if I live in a flat?
Many flats can have a heat pump, but you need a suitable outdoor position, such as a balcony, yard or wall bracket, and leaseholders need consent from the freeholder or management company. Planning permission may be needed depending on the nation and the building, which we check at survey. Where a wet system is impractical, an air-to-air heat pump with separate hot water is an alternative.
Do I qualify for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme if I have electric heating?
In England and Wales, owners of existing homes replacing electric heating can qualify, provided the heat pump meets the home's full heating and hot water needs and the other scheme conditions are met. The grant is £7,500 for an air-to-water system. The scheme does not cover Scotland or Northern Ireland; Scotland has separate Home Energy Scotland funding.
How disruptive is fitting radiators in a home that has none?
More disruptive than a boiler swap, but planned. Floorboards are lifted to run pipes, some holes are drilled through walls and radiators are hung room by room. Rooms are worked on in a set order so you can keep living at home, and holes are made good, while redecoration is usually yours. The programme in your quote shows how long each stage typically takes.
Is a heat pump cheaper to run than storage heaters?
It can be, but it depends on your tariff. Direct electric heat costs the full unit rate, 26.32p per kWh at the October to December 2026 price cap, while a heat pump with a seasonal efficiency of 3.0 delivers heat for about 8.8p per kWh. Storage heaters charged on a cheap overnight rate narrow that gap, so the survey compares on your actual tariff, insulation and expected flow temperature.