- Area
- Dorset
- Postcode district
- BH2
- Nation
- England
- Guide price
- From £9,600 inc VAT
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
Gas boiler to heat pump in Bournemouth: what to expect
A heat pump suits most Bournemouth 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 Bournemouth often have an airing cupboard that can be reused for a heat pump cylinder. Rear gardens and side returns in Bournemouth 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.
- System or regular boiler homes with an existing airing cupboard
- Boilers that are old, unreliable or due for replacement
- Homes in England and Wales eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme
What's included
- Commissioning, MCS certificate and grant application in England and Wales where eligible
- Heat pump cylinder, outdoor unit and weather compensation controls
- Free survey with heat loss calculation and cylinder siting
- System flush and radiator upgrades where the design calls for them
- Capping of the gas pipe at the boiler position where you are giving up gas
Installers in Bournemouth take out the old boiler and flue and seal the wall opening as part of the job.
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 Bournemouth quote.
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 Bournemouth
Guide prices for Bournemouth and the rest of Dorset 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 | After £7,500 grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 bedroom flat or small terrace | 4–5 kW | £9,600–£12,650 | £2,100–£5,150 |
| 2–3 bedroom terrace or semi | 5–7 kW | £10,600–£13,650 | £3,100–£6,150 |
| 3 bedroom semi or small detached | 6–9 kW | £12,100–£15,650 | £4,600–£8,150 |
| 4 bedroom detached | 8–12 kW | £14,150–£18,200 | £6,650–£10,700 |
| 5+ bedroom or larger older house | 11–16 kW | £16,650–£22,750 | £9,150–£15,250 |
Installed, inc VAT: unit, cylinder, controls, minor pipework and commissioning.
Short winter days in Bournemouth and what they mean
Bournemouth sees roughly 7 hours 57 minutes of daylight in late December against 16 hours 30 minutes in June. Milder southern winters suit heat pumps well, though the system is still sized for a cold snap rather than an average day.
What happens after you enquire in Bournemouth?
- Send your postcode and a few details, or use the guide price tool.
- A surveyor visits your Bournemouth 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 Bournemouth: questions
How long does installation take in Bournemouth?
Most installations take 2–4 days on site. Jobs with several radiator changes or new pipework take longer, and your quote for a Bournemouth home states the expected time.
Do you cover Christchurch as well as Bournemouth?
Yes. We arrange surveys and installation in Christchurch, which is about 4 miles east of Bournemouth, and across Dorset.
Can you service a heat pump in Bournemouth that someone else installed?
Yes. We arrange servicing and repairs for most air source heat pumps in Bournemouth, whoever fitted them. Tell us the make and model when you book.
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.
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.