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.
Where a home in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde has an airing cupboard, the immersion cylinder can often be swapped for a heat pump cylinder in the same space. Installers in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde work room by room, so you can stay in your home while radiators go in. Bungalows around Renfrewshire and Inverclyde with suspended timber floors usually make running new pipework simpler.
Who it suits
- Owners planning redecoration or other building work at the same time
- Bungalows and houses with suspended timber floors that make pipe runs easier
- Flats with a suitable wall, balcony or ground-floor space for the unit
- Homes with storage heaters or panel heaters throughout
Grants and rules for heat pumps in Scotland
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme does not apply in Scotland. Instead, homeowners in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde can apply to Home Energy Scotland for a grant of up to £7,500 towards a heat pump, with up to £1,500 more for eligible rural and island homes, plus an optional interest-free loan of up to £7,500. You need a written funding offer before any work starts.
There is no VAT on installing a heat pump anywhere in the UK, Scotland included, until 31 March 2027. Scottish permitted development rules and building standards apply, and the surveyor checks the unit position and any listed or conservation-area constraints.
Electric heating to heat pump prices in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde
Here are typical prices for replacing electric heating with a heat pump in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 bedroom flat or small terrace | 4–5 kW | £9,500–£12,500 |
| 2–3 bedroom terrace or semi | 5–7 kW | £10,500–£13,500 |
| 3 bedroom semi or small detached | 6–9 kW | £12,000–£15,500 |
| 4 bedroom detached | 8–12 kW | £14,000–£18,000 |
| 5+ bedroom or larger older house | 11–16 kW | £16,500–£22,500 |
Installed, inc VAT: unit, cylinder, controls, minor pipework and commissioning. In Scotland, Home Energy Scotland grants of up to £7,500 and interest-free loans may reduce the cost.
Towns we cover in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde
We cover 10 towns in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde for replacing electric heating with a heat pump. Each links to local guide prices and the grant position for Scotland.
| Town | Postcode district | Nearest town | Midwinter daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paisley | PA2 | Barrhead | 6 h 59 min |
| Greenock | PA15 | Gourock | 6 h 57 min |
| Newton Mearns | G77 | Barrhead | 7 h 00 min |
| Renfrew | PA4 | Erskine | 6 h 58 min |
| Barrhead | G78 | Paisley | 6 h 59 min |
| Johnstone | PA5 | Bridge of Weir | 6 h 59 min |
| Erskine | PA8 | Renfrew | 6 h 58 min |
| Bridge of Weir | PA11 | Johnstone | 6 h 59 min |
| Gourock | PA19 | Greenock | 6 h 57 min |
| Port Glasgow | PA14 | Greenock | 6 h 58 min |
Replacing electric heating with a heat pump questions
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.
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.
Can I replace storage heaters with a heat pump?
Yes. Storage heaters are removed and replaced with an air-to-water heat pump connected to new radiators or underfloor heating and a hot water cylinder. Because there is no existing wet system, pipework has to be run to each room, so the job is larger than a boiler swap. The survey plans pipe routes and radiator sizes before you receive a written quote.
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.