- Area
- County Down
- Postcode district
- BT18
- Nation
- Northern Ireland
- Guide price
- From £9,200 inc VAT
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
What to know about replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump in Holywood
A heat pump suits most Holywood homes, but the details decide how efficiently it runs. Our survey looks at insulation, radiators and hot water use room by room.
Installers in Holywood take out the old boiler and flue and seal the wall opening as part of the job. Many gas-heated homes in Holywood 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
- Households ready to give up gas entirely and drop the standing charge
- System or regular boiler homes with an existing airing cupboard
What's included
- Free survey with heat loss calculation and cylinder siting
- 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
- System flush and radiator upgrades where the design calls for them
- Heat pump cylinder, outdoor unit and weather compensation controls
Rear gardens and side returns in Holywood usually offer a sensible spot for the outdoor unit, checked for airflow and neighbours.
Grants and rules for heat pumps in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland does not have a dedicated heat pump grant for homeowners at present, and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme does not apply here. Heat pumps have sometimes been funded through the Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme, so it is worth checking what is open when you enquire about a home in Holywood.
There is no VAT on installing a heat pump in Northern Ireland until 31 March 2027, the same as in Great Britain. Planning and building control here follow Northern Ireland's own rules, so the survey checks the unit position against them.
Guide prices for replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump in Holywood
Guide prices for Holywood and the rest of County Down are shown below, installed and inc VAT. We publish ranges rather than a single figure because design details move the price, and the written quote after survey fixes it.
| Home | Typical size | Installed guide price |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 bedroom flat or small terrace | 4–5 kW | £9,200–£12,150 |
| 2–3 bedroom terrace or semi | 5–7 kW | £10,200–£13,100 |
| 3 bedroom semi or small detached | 6–9 kW | £11,650–£15,050 |
| 4 bedroom detached | 8–12 kW | £13,600–£17,450 |
| 5+ bedroom or larger older house | 11–16 kW | £16,000–£21,850 |
Installed, inc VAT: unit, cylinder, controls, minor pipework and commissioning. No dedicated heat pump grant currently applies in Northern Ireland.
Winter daylight and heating in Holywood
On the shortest day Holywood gets only about 7 hours 14 minutes of daylight and the noon sun sits around 12° above the horizon. Northern winters tend to be longer, so a well-designed, efficient system matters more here because it runs for more of the year.
The steps for replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump in Holywood
- Send your postcode and a few details, or use the guide price tool.
- A surveyor visits your Holywood 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 Holywood: questions
Can you service a heat pump in Holywood that someone else installed?
Yes. We arrange servicing and repairs for most air source heat pumps in Holywood, whoever fitted them. Tell us the make and model when you book.
Do you cover Newtownabbey as well as Holywood?
Yes. We arrange surveys and installation in Newtownabbey, which is about 4 miles north-west of Holywood, and across County Down.
How soon can you survey a home in Holywood?
Survey dates depend on how busy installers are in County Down. We offer the next available dates when you enquire and confirm them in writing.
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.
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.