- Area
- Dorset
- Postcode district
- BH6
- Nation
- England
- Guide price
- From £9,600 inc VAT
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
Gas boiler to heat pump in Christchurch: what to expect
The question for a Christchurch home is rarely whether a heat pump can work, but what needs to change to make it work well: radiator sizes, pipework, controls and where the unit goes.
Households across Dorset moving off gas can have a survey in Christchurch that compares running costs on realistic assumptions. Installers in Christchurch take out the old boiler and flue and seal the wall opening as part of the job.
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
- Combi owners who can find space for a hot water cylinder
What's included
- Removal of the gas boiler, flue and any loft tanks
- 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
- Heat pump cylinder, outdoor unit and weather compensation controls
- Commissioning, MCS certificate and grant application in England and Wales where eligible
Many gas-heated homes in Christchurch have a combi boiler in the kitchen, so the survey starts by finding the right place for a cylinder.
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 Christchurch 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.
What to budget for replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump in Christchurch
These are guide prices for Dorset, 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 | £9,600–£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 Christchurch and what they mean
Christchurch 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.
From survey to switch-on in Christchurch
- Start online with a guide price or call us.
- A home survey in Christchurch 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 Christchurch: questions
Where would the outdoor unit go on a Christchurch 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 Christchurch home.
How long does installation take in Christchurch?
Most installations take 2–4 days on site. Jobs with several radiator changes or new pipework take longer, and your quote for a Christchurch home states the expected time.
How long does a heat pump survey take in Christchurch?
A home survey in Christchurch 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.
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.