- Area
- Cornwall
- Postcode district
- TR18
- Nation
- England
- Guide price
- From £9,800 inc VAT
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
What to know about replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump in Penzance
Every property in Penzance is different, so the design starts from measurements rather than a rule of thumb. That keeps the system the right size and the running costs predictable.
Many gas-heated homes in Penzance have a combi boiler in the kitchen, so the survey starts by finding the right place for a cylinder. Rear gardens and side returns in Penzance usually offer a sensible spot for the outdoor unit, checked for airflow and neighbours.
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.
- Homes in England and Wales eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme
- Boilers that are old, unreliable or due for replacement
- Households ready to give up gas entirely and drop the standing charge
What's included
- System flush and radiator upgrades where the design calls for them
- Removal of the gas boiler, flue and any loft tanks
- Capping of the gas pipe at the boiler position where you are giving up gas
- Commissioning, MCS certificate and grant application in England and Wales where eligible
- Heat pump cylinder, outdoor unit and weather compensation controls
Households across Cornwall moving off gas can have a survey in Penzance that compares running costs on realistic assumptions.
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 Penzance 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.
Gas boiler to heat pump costs around Penzance
These are guide prices for Cornwall, 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 | £9,800–£12,900 | £2,300–£5,400 |
| 2–3 bedroom terrace or semi | 5–7 kW | £10,800–£13,900 | £3,300–£6,400 |
| 3 bedroom semi or small detached | 6–9 kW | £12,350–£15,950 | £4,850–£8,450 |
| 4 bedroom detached | 8–12 kW | £14,400–£18,550 | £6,900–£11,050 |
| 5+ bedroom or larger older house | 11–16 kW | £17,000–£23,200 | £9,500–£15,700 |
Installed, inc VAT: unit, cylinder, controls, minor pipework and commissioning.
Winter daylight and heating in Penzance
On the shortest day Penzance gets about 8 hours 03 minutes of daylight, and the winter sun reaches only around 16° above the horizon at noon. Winters this far south are milder than in most of the UK, which helps a heat pump run at low flow temperatures for much of the season.
How installation works in Penzance
- Send your postcode and a few details, or use the guide price tool.
- A surveyor visits your Penzance 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 Penzance: questions
Where would the outdoor unit go on a Penzance 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 Penzance home.
Do I need new radiators for a heat pump in Penzance?
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 Penzance home gives a room-by-room list.
Can you service a heat pump in Penzance that someone else installed?
Yes. We arrange servicing and repairs for most air source heat pumps in Penzance, whoever fitted them. Tell us the make and model when you book.
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.
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.