- Area
- County Durham
- Postcode district
- DL1
- Nation
- England
- Guide price
- From £9,200 inc VAT
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
Gas boiler to heat pump in Darlington: what to expect
Most homes can run on a heat pump if the system is designed properly, and Darlington is no different. The key is matching the heat pump and radiators to the home's heat loss.
Households across County Durham moving off gas can have a survey in Darlington that compares running costs on realistic assumptions. If your Darlington home still cooks on gas, we talk through whether to keep the supply or switch to an induction hob.
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
- System or regular boiler homes with an existing airing cupboard
- Households ready to give up gas entirely and drop the standing charge
What's included
- Removal of the gas boiler, flue and any loft tanks
- Free survey with heat loss calculation and cylinder siting
- Heat pump cylinder, outdoor unit and weather compensation controls
- Commissioning, MCS certificate and grant application in England and Wales where eligible
- System flush and radiator upgrades where the design calls for them
Semi-detached and terraced houses in Darlington often have an airing cupboard that can be reused for a heat pump cylinder.
Grants and rules for heat pumps in England
Homes in Darlington 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.
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 prices in Darlington
These are guide prices for County Durham, 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 | £9,200–£12,150 | £1,700–£4,650 |
| 2–3 bedroom terrace or semi | 5–7 kW | £10,200–£13,100 | £2,700–£5,600 |
| 3 bedroom semi or small detached | 6–9 kW | £11,650–£15,050 | £4,150–£7,550 |
| 4 bedroom detached | 8–12 kW | £13,600–£17,450 | £6,100–£9,950 |
| 5+ bedroom or larger older house | 11–16 kW | £16,000–£21,850 | £8,500–£14,350 |
Installed, inc VAT: unit, cylinder, controls, minor pipework and commissioning.
Designing for Darlington's winters
On the shortest day Darlington gets only about 7 hours 16 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.
From survey to switch-on in Darlington
- Start online with a guide price or call us.
- A home survey in Darlington gives us the room-by-room heat loss.
- Your written quote sets out the design, the price and the grant position where you live.
- Installation is booked for dates that suit you; most homes take 2–4 days on site.
- After commissioning you get a handover of the controls and settings, plus the certificates.
Replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump in Darlington: questions
Do I need new radiators for a heat pump in Darlington?
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 Darlington home gives a room-by-room list.
Do you cover Newton Aycliffe as well as Darlington?
Yes. We arrange surveys and installation in Newton Aycliffe, which is about 7 miles north of Darlington, and across County Durham.
How long does a heat pump survey take in Darlington?
A home survey in Darlington 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.
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.
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.