- Area
- Aberdeenshire and Moray
- Postcode district
- AB12
- Nation
- Scotland
- Guide price
- From £9,800 inc VAT
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
Gas boiler to heat pump in Portlethen: what to expect
A heat pump suits most Portlethen homes, but the details decide how efficiently it runs. Our survey looks at insulation, radiators and hot water use room by room.
Rear gardens and side returns in Portlethen usually offer a sensible spot for the outdoor unit, checked for airflow and neighbours. Many gas-heated homes in Portlethen have a combi boiler in the kitchen, so the survey starts by finding the right place for a cylinder.
Moving from mains gas to a heat pump means finding cylinder space, deciding what happens to the gas supply and comparing running costs on realistic assumptions.
- Boilers that are old, unreliable or due for replacement
- System or regular boiler homes with an existing airing cupboard
- Combi owners who can find space for a hot water cylinder
What's included
- Removal of the gas boiler, flue and any loft tanks
- System flush and radiator upgrades where the design calls for them
- Capping of the gas pipe at the boiler position where you are giving up gas
- Heat pump cylinder, outdoor unit and weather compensation controls
- Free survey with heat loss calculation and cylinder siting
Installers in Portlethen take out the old boiler and flue and seal the wall opening as part of the job.
Grants and rules for heat pumps in Scotland
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme does not apply in Scotland. Instead, homeowners in Portlethen 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.
Guide prices for replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump in Portlethen
The ranges below are typical installed prices for homes in Aberdeenshire and Moray, including VAT. A survey sets the exact figure, because two similar-looking houses in Portlethen can need quite different radiators and pipework.
| Home | Typical size | Installed guide price |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 bedroom flat or small terrace | 4–5 kW | £9,800–£12,900 |
| 2–3 bedroom terrace or semi | 5–7 kW | £10,800–£13,900 |
| 3 bedroom semi or small detached | 6–9 kW | £12,350–£15,950 |
| 4 bedroom detached | 8–12 kW | £14,400–£18,550 |
| 5+ bedroom or larger older house | 11–16 kW | £17,000–£23,200 |
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.
Winter daylight and heating in Portlethen
On the shortest day Portlethen gets only about 6 hours 42 minutes of daylight, with the sun around 10° up at noon. Long Scottish winters mean the heat pump runs for much of the year, so careful sizing, good controls and correctly sized radiators make a real difference.
The steps for replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump in Portlethen
- Send your postcode and a few details, or use the guide price tool.
- A surveyor visits your Portlethen home, measures every room and checks where the outdoor unit can go.
- You receive a heat loss design and a fixed written quote, with any grant shown where it applies.
- Installers fit the unit, cylinder and any radiator changes, typically over 2–4 days on site.
- The system is commissioned, set up with weather compensation and handed over with the paperwork.
Replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump in Portlethen: questions
Where would the outdoor unit go on a Portlethen house?
Usually at the side or rear, on a level base with space around it for airflow and servicing, away from bedroom windows where possible. The surveyor checks positions at your Portlethen home.
Do you cover Aberdeen as well as Portlethen?
Yes. We arrange surveys and installation in Aberdeen, which is about 6 miles north of Portlethen, and across Aberdeenshire and Moray.
Do I need new radiators for a heat pump in Portlethen?
Often some, not all. Heat pumps run best at lower water temperatures, so rooms with small radiators may need larger ones. The survey of your Portlethen home gives a room-by-room list.
Should I have my gas meter removed?
If gas is used for nothing else, removing the meter ends the gas standing charge, which is about £108 a year at the October to December 2026 price cap. If you still cook on gas or have a gas fire, you will need to keep the supply. Meter removal is arranged through your gas supplier, usually once the heat pump is running; the pipe at the boiler position is capped during the installation.
Will my hot water run out with a heat pump?
Not if the cylinder is sized properly for your household. The survey asks how many people live in the home, how many bathrooms you have and whether you prefer baths or showers, then sizes the cylinder to suit. The heat pump reheats the cylinder on a schedule, often overnight and again during the day, and an immersion heater acts as a backup.