Replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump means removing the boiler and installing an air-to-water heat pump that heats your radiators and a stored hot water cylinder instead. Most UK homes heat with mains gas, so this is the switch many households are weighing up, and the existing radiators and pipework can often be reused with some changes. What needs most planning depends on the type of boiler you have now.
Installers in Cumbria take out the old boiler and flue and seal the wall opening as part of the job. Rear gardens and side returns in Cumbria usually offer a sensible spot for the outdoor unit, checked for airflow and neighbours. If your home still cooks on gas, we talk through whether to keep the supply or switch to an induction hob.
Who it suits
- Boilers that are old, unreliable or due for replacement
- 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
Grants and rules for heat pumps in England
Homes in Cumbria 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 Cumbria
Here are typical prices for replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump in Cumbria, 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.
Towns we cover in Cumbria
We cover 10 towns in Cumbria for replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump. Each links to local guide prices and the grant position for England.
| Town | Postcode district | Nearest town | Midwinter daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlisle | CA3 | Penrith | 7 h 11 min |
| Barrow-in-Furness | LA14 | Ulverston | 7 h 21 min |
| Kendal | LA9 | Windermere | 7 h 18 min |
| Whitehaven | CA28 | Workington | 7 h 15 min |
| Workington | CA14 | Whitehaven | 7 h 14 min |
| Penrith | CA11 | Keswick | 7 h 14 min |
| Cockermouth | CA13 | Workington | 7 h 14 min |
| Keswick | CA12 | Cockermouth | 7 h 15 min |
| Ulverston | LA12 | Barrow-in-Furness | 7 h 20 min |
| Windermere | LA23 | Kendal | 7 h 18 min |
Replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump questions
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.
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.
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.
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.