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.
For West Glamorgan homes with solid floors, the survey plans pipe routes through walls and ceilings to keep disruption predictable. Where a home in West Glamorgan has an airing cupboard, the immersion cylinder can often be swapped for a heat pump cylinder in the same space. Owners across West Glamorgan moving off storage heaters can arrange a survey in West Glamorgan that compares running costs on their real tariff.
Who it suits
- Properties with an electric boiler and existing radiators
- 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
- Owners planning redecoration or other building work at the same time
Grants and rules for heat pumps in Wales
Homes in West Glamorgan can use the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which applies in Wales as well as England: £7,500 towards an air source heat pump, or £9,000 when it replaces oil or LPG heating for installations from 21 July 2026 to 31 March 2027. The MCS-certified installer named in your quote applies and deducts the grant.
There is no VAT on installing a heat pump anywhere in the UK, Wales included, until 31 March 2027. Planning rules for heat pumps in Wales are set by the Welsh Government and differ from England's, so the surveyor checks the unit position against them.
Electric heating to heat pump prices in West Glamorgan
Here are typical prices for replacing electric heating with a heat pump in West Glamorgan, 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 West Glamorgan
We cover 8 towns in West Glamorgan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swansea | SA1 | Mumbles | 7 h 48 min |
| Neath | SA10 | Briton Ferry | 7 h 48 min |
| Briton Ferry | SA12 | Neath | 7 h 48 min |
| Gorseinon | SA4 | Swansea | 7 h 48 min |
| Clydach | SA6 | Pontardawe | 7 h 48 min |
| Mumbles | SA3 | Swansea | 7 h 49 min |
| Pontardawe | SA8 | Clydach | 7 h 47 min |
| Port Talbot | SA12 | Briton Ferry | 7 h 49 min |
Replacing electric heating with a heat pump questions
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.
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 keep my electric immersion cylinder?
Usually not for heating by the heat pump, because a standard immersion cylinder has no coil, or one too small to take heat at low flow temperatures. A heat pump cylinder replaces it, often in the same cupboard, and keeps an immersion element as backup. If you choose an air-to-air system instead, which does not make hot water, the existing cylinder stays in use.