- Area
- Essex
- Postcode district
- CM7
- Nation
- England
- Guide price
- From £9,800 inc VAT
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
Before you book: replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump in Braintree
Most homes can run on a heat pump if the system is designed properly, and Braintree is no different. The key is matching the heat pump and radiators to the home's heat loss.
Semi-detached and terraced houses in Braintree often have an airing cupboard that can be reused for a heat pump cylinder. Installers in Braintree 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.
- Households ready to give up gas entirely and drop the standing charge
- System or regular boiler homes with an existing airing cupboard
- 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
- Removal of the gas boiler, flue and any loft tanks
- System flush and radiator upgrades where the design calls for them
- Heat pump cylinder, outdoor unit and weather compensation controls
- Capping of the gas pipe at the boiler position where you are giving up gas
If your Braintree home still cooks on gas, we talk through whether to keep the supply or switch to an induction hob.
Grants and rules for heat pumps in England
Homes in Braintree 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.
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 Braintree
Here are typical prices for replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump in Essex, 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 | £9,800–£12,900 | £2,300–£5,400 |
| 2–3 bedroom terrace or semi | 5–7 kW | £10,800–£13,900 | £3,300–£6,400 |
| 3 bedroom semi or small detached | 6–9 kW | £12,350–£15,950 | £4,850–£8,450 |
| 4 bedroom detached | 8–12 kW | £14,400–£18,550 | £6,900–£11,050 |
| 5+ bedroom or larger older house | 11–16 kW | £17,000–£23,200 | £9,500–£15,700 |
Installed, inc VAT: unit, cylinder, controls, minor pipework and commissioning.
Short winter days in Braintree and what they mean
On the shortest day Braintree gets about 7 hours 46 minutes of daylight, with the noon sun around 15° up. The heating season runs from autumn into spring, so a heat pump that is sized correctly and set up with weather compensation does most of its work in steady, cool conditions.
How installation works in Braintree
- Start online with a guide price or call us.
- A home survey in Braintree 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 Braintree: questions
How long does installation take in Braintree?
Most installations take 2–4 days on site. Jobs with several radiator changes or new pipework take longer, and your quote for a Braintree home states the expected time.
Can you service a heat pump in Braintree that someone else installed?
Yes. We arrange servicing and repairs for most air source heat pumps in Braintree, whoever fitted them. Tell us the make and model when you book.
What size heat pump does a Braintree home need?
It depends on the heat loss, not the postcode. As a rough guide, a 3 bedroom semi often needs 6–9 kW, but the room-by-room survey sets the actual size for your Braintree home.
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.
What if my gas boiler is fairly new?
A newer boiler can still be replaced, but the timing is worth weighing. Some owners switch when the boiler needs a major repair; others prefer to plan the change for a convenient time. Across the UK, heat pump installation is zero-rated for VAT until 31 March 2027. A hybrid system, which keeps the boiler alongside a heat pump, is another option, though it is not eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme in England and Wales.