- Area
- Fife
- Postcode district
- KY16
- Nation
- Scotland
- Guide price
- From £9,500 inc VAT
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
What to know about replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump in St Andrews
The question for a St Andrews 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.
If your St Andrews home still cooks on gas, we talk through whether to keep the supply or switch to an induction hob. Installers in St Andrews 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.
- Boilers that are old, unreliable or due for replacement
- System or regular boiler homes with an existing airing cupboard
- Combi owners who can find space for a hot water cylinder
What's included
- Heat pump cylinder, outdoor unit and weather compensation controls
- 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
- Free survey with heat loss calculation and cylinder siting
- Removal of the gas boiler, flue and any loft tanks
Many gas-heated homes in St Andrews 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 Scotland
In Scotland, heat pump funding comes through Home Energy Scotland rather than the Boiler Upgrade Scheme: a grant of up to £7,500 (up to £1,500 extra for eligible rural and island homes) and an optional interest-free loan of up to £7,500. For a St Andrews home, apply and receive the written offer before the installation date is fixed.
Installing heat pumps is zero-rated for VAT across the UK until 31 March 2027. Scotland has its own permitted development rules for air source heat pumps and its own building standards, so we confirm what applies to your St Andrews property at survey.
Guide prices for replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump in St Andrews
These are guide prices for Fife, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 bedroom flat or small terrace | 4–5 kW | £9,500–£12,500 |
| 2–3 bedroom terrace or semi | 5–7 kW | £10,500–£13,500 |
| 3 bedroom semi or small detached | 6–9 kW | £12,000–£15,500 |
| 4 bedroom detached | 8–12 kW | £14,000–£18,000 |
| 5+ bedroom or larger older house | 11–16 kW | £16,500–£22,500 |
Installed, inc VAT: unit, cylinder, controls, minor pipework and commissioning. In Scotland, Home Energy Scotland grants of up to £7,500 and interest-free loans may reduce the cost.
Short winter days in St Andrews and what they mean
St Andrews has about 6 hours 52 minutes of daylight at midwinter against 17 hours 43 minutes in midsummer. Heat pumps are designed to keep working well below freezing, but the design temperature for the survey is set for local conditions, not an average day.
What happens after you enquire in St Andrews?
- Tell us about your home: postcode, property type and current heating.
- We book a survey in St Andrews; the surveyor measures rooms, windows and radiators and looks at cylinder space.
- The design and quote arrive in writing, including radiator changes and the outdoor unit position.
- On installation days the old system is removed and the new one fitted and filled.
- We commission the heat pump, show you the controls and register the installation.
Replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump in St Andrews: questions
Do I need new radiators for a heat pump in St Andrews?
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 St Andrews home gives a room-by-room list.
How long does a heat pump survey take in St Andrews?
A home survey in St Andrews 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.
What size heat pump does a St Andrews 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 St Andrews home.
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.