- Area
- Berkshire
- Postcode district
- RG1
- Nation
- England
- Guide price
- From £10,050 inc VAT
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
Before you book: replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump in Reading
The question for a Reading home is rarely whether a heat pump can work, but what needs to change to make it work well: radiator sizes, pipework, controls and where the unit goes.
Semi-detached and terraced houses in Reading often have an airing cupboard that can be reused for a heat pump cylinder. Installers in Reading take out the old boiler and flue and seal the wall opening as part of the job.
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.
- Households ready to give up gas entirely and drop the standing charge
- Boilers that are old, unreliable or due for replacement
- Homes in England and Wales eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme
What's included
- Capping of the gas pipe at the boiler position where you are giving up gas
- Removal of the gas boiler, flue and any loft tanks
- Heat pump cylinder, outdoor unit and weather compensation controls
- System flush and radiator upgrades where the design calls for them
- Free survey with heat loss calculation and cylinder siting
Many gas-heated homes in Reading have a combi boiler in the kitchen, so the survey starts by finding the right place for a cylinder.
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 Reading quote.
There is no VAT on installing a heat pump anywhere in the UK until 31 March 2027. In England most houses can have an air source heat pump under permitted development, provided the unit meets the MCS noise and siting standards; the old 1 m boundary limit was removed on 29 May 2025. We flag listed buildings, flats and sensitive conservation-area positions at survey.
What to budget for replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump in Reading
These are guide prices for Berkshire, installed and including VAT. Your final price is fixed in a written quote after the survey and depends on the heat loss of the house, the radiators that need changing and where the unit goes.
| 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.
Short winter days in Reading and what they mean
Reading sees roughly 7 hours 50 minutes of daylight in late December against 16 hours 38 minutes in June. Milder southern winters suit heat pumps well, though the system is still sized for a cold snap rather than an average day.
What happens after you enquire in Reading?
- Send your postcode and a few details, or use the guide price tool.
- A surveyor visits your Reading 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 Reading: questions
How long does installation take in Reading?
Most installations take 2–4 days on site. Jobs with several radiator changes or new pipework take longer, and your quote for a Reading home states the expected time.
How long does a heat pump survey take in Reading?
A home survey in Reading usually takes one to two hours. The surveyor measures every heated room, checks windows, walls and radiators, and looks at where the outdoor unit and cylinder can go.
Where would the outdoor unit go on a Reading 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 Reading home.
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.
Is there a grant to replace a gas boiler with a heat pump?
In England and Wales, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme gives £7,500 towards an air-to-water heat pump that replaces a gas boiler, for eligible owners of existing homes. The MCS-certified installer applies to Ofgem and deducts the grant from your quote, and Ofgem contacts you to confirm. Scotland has separate Home Energy Scotland funding, and Northern Ireland has no dedicated homeowner grant at present.