If you have a combi, there is no cylinder at the moment, so the first question is where one can go. If you have a system or regular boiler, you already have a cylinder, but it is unlikely to suit a heat pump, which needs a larger internal coil to heat water at lower temperatures. Regular boilers also have tanks in the loft that can usually be taken out, freeing space.
If your home still cooks on gas, we talk through whether to keep the supply or switch to an induction hob. Many gas-heated homes in Berkshire have a combi boiler in the kitchen, so the survey starts by finding the right place for a cylinder. Households across Berkshire moving off gas can have a survey in Berkshire that compares running costs on realistic assumptions.
Who it suits
- System or regular boiler homes with an existing airing cupboard
- Homes in England and Wales eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme
- Combi owners who can find space for a hot water cylinder
- Households ready to give up gas entirely and drop the standing charge
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.
Gas boiler to heat pump prices in Berkshire
The ranges below are typical installed prices for homes in Berkshire, including VAT. A survey sets the exact figure, because two similar-looking houses in Berkshire can need quite different radiators and pipework.
| Home | Typical size | Installed guide price | After £7,500 grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 bedroom flat or small terrace | 4–5 kW | £10,050–£13,250 | £2,550–£5,750 |
| 2–3 bedroom terrace or semi | 5–7 kW | £11,150–£14,300 | £3,650–£6,800 |
| 3 bedroom semi or small detached | 6–9 kW | £12,700–£16,450 | £5,200–£8,950 |
| 4 bedroom detached | 8–12 kW | £14,850–£19,100 | £7,350–£11,600 |
| 5+ bedroom or larger older house | 11–16 kW | £17,500–£23,850 | £10,000–£16,350 |
Installed, inc VAT: unit, cylinder, controls, minor pipework and commissioning.
Towns we cover in Berkshire
We cover 10 towns in Berkshire for replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump. Each links to local guide prices and the grant position for England.
| Town | Postcode district | Nearest town | Midwinter daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | RG1 | Lower Earley | 7 h 50 min |
| Slough | SL1 | Maidenhead | 7 h 49 min |
| Bracknell | RG12 | Crowthorne | 7 h 50 min |
| Maidenhead | SL6 | Slough | 7 h 49 min |
| Wokingham | RG40 | Crowthorne | 7 h 50 min |
| Newbury | RG14 | Thatcham | 7 h 51 min |
| Lower Earley | RG6 | Reading | 7 h 50 min |
| Crowthorne | RG45 | Sandhurst | 7 h 51 min |
| Thatcham | RG19 | Newbury | 7 h 51 min |
| Sandhurst | GU47 | Crowthorne | 7 h 51 min |
Replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump questions
Do I need to replace the cylinder I already have?
Usually, yes. Older cylinders have a small internal coil designed for water from a boiler at around 60–70°C, and they cannot take in heat quickly enough at the lower temperatures a heat pump runs at. A heat pump cylinder has a larger coil. On its own, a cylinder supplied and fitted has a guide price of £1,200–£2,200, installed and including VAT, though it is normally part of the full system price.
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.
Can a heat pump replace a combi boiler?
Yes, but you need room for a hot water cylinder, because heat pumps store hot water rather than heating it on demand. Most homes find a space in a cupboard, utility room, garage or under the stairs, and compact or combined indoor units help where space is tight. The survey measures the options first, so you know where everything will go before you accept the quote.
What if my gas boiler is fairly new?
A newer boiler can still be replaced, but the timing is worth weighing. Some owners switch when the boiler needs a major repair; others prefer to plan the change for a convenient time. Across the UK, heat pump installation is zero-rated for VAT until 31 March 2027. A hybrid system, which keeps the boiler alongside a heat pump, is another option, though it is not eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme in England and Wales.