- Area
- Cheshire
- Postcode district
- WA7
- Nation
- England
- Guide price
- From £9,500 inc VAT
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
Before you book: replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump in Runcorn
A heat pump suits most Runcorn homes, but the details decide how efficiently it runs. Our survey looks at insulation, radiators and hot water use room by room.
Semi-detached and terraced houses in Runcorn often have an airing cupboard that can be reused for a heat pump cylinder. Installers in Runcorn 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.
- 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
- Commissioning, MCS certificate and grant application in England and Wales where eligible
- Free survey with heat loss calculation and cylinder siting
- System flush and radiator upgrades where the design calls for them
- Heat pump cylinder, outdoor unit and weather compensation controls
- Removal of the gas boiler, flue and any loft tanks
Households across Cheshire moving off gas can have a survey in Runcorn that compares running costs on realistic assumptions.
Grants and rules for heat pumps in England
Homes in Runcorn can use the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which takes £7,500 off the cost of an air source heat pump when it replaces fossil-fuel or electric heating. Replacing oil or LPG heating qualifies for £9,000 for installations from 21 July 2026 to 31 March 2027, and air-to-air systems for £2,500. The MCS-certified installer named in your quote applies for the grant and deducts it from the price.
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.
What to budget for replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump in Runcorn
Here are typical prices for replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump in Cheshire, 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.
How long is the heating season in Runcorn?
Runcorn has about 7 hours 30 minutes of daylight at midwinter and 17 hours 00 minutes at midsummer. That swing matters if you pair a heat pump with solar panels: summer generation can cover much of the hot water, winter generation far less.
From survey to switch-on in Runcorn
- Send your postcode and a few details, or use the guide price tool.
- A surveyor visits your Runcorn 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 Runcorn: questions
Do I need new radiators for a heat pump in Runcorn?
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 Runcorn home gives a room-by-room list.
Do you cover Widnes as well as Runcorn?
Yes. We arrange surveys and installation in Widnes, which is about a mile north of Runcorn, and across Cheshire.
What size heat pump does a Runcorn home need?
It depends on the heat loss, not the postcode. As a rough guide, a 3 bedroom semi often needs 6–9 kW, but the room-by-room survey sets the actual size for your Runcorn home.
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.
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.