- Area
- Greater Manchester
- Postcode district
- M46
- Nation
- England
- Guide price
- From £9,300 inc VAT
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
Gas boiler to heat pump in Atherton: what to expect
The question for an Atherton 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 Atherton home still cooks on gas, we talk through whether to keep the supply or switch to an induction hob. Rear gardens and side returns in Atherton 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.
- Boilers that are old, unreliable or due for replacement
- Households ready to give up gas entirely and drop the standing charge
- System or regular boiler homes with an existing airing cupboard
What's included
- Capping of the gas pipe at the boiler position where you are giving up gas
- Removal of the gas boiler, flue and any loft tanks
- Commissioning, MCS certificate and grant application in England and Wales where eligible
- Free survey with heat loss calculation and cylinder siting
- Heat pump cylinder, outdoor unit and weather compensation controls
Many gas-heated homes in Atherton 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 Atherton 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.
Guide prices for replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump in Atherton
These are guide prices for Greater Manchester, 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 | £9,300–£12,250 | £1,800–£4,750 |
| 2–3 bedroom terrace or semi | 5–7 kW | £10,300–£13,250 | £2,800–£5,750 |
| 3 bedroom semi or small detached | 6–9 kW | £11,750–£15,200 | £4,250–£7,700 |
| 4 bedroom detached | 8–12 kW | £13,700–£17,650 | £6,200–£10,150 |
| 5+ bedroom or larger older house | 11–16 kW | £16,150–£22,050 | £8,650–£14,550 |
Installed, inc VAT: unit, cylinder, controls, minor pipework and commissioning.
Designing for Atherton's winters
Atherton sees roughly 7 hours 28 minutes of daylight in December and 17 hours 03 minutes in June. With a longer heating season than the south, the gains from low flow temperatures and good controls add up over the year.
How installation works in Atherton
- Tell us about your home: postcode, property type and current heating.
- We book a survey in Atherton; 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 Atherton: questions
What size heat pump does an Atherton 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 Atherton home.
Can you service a heat pump in Atherton that someone else installed?
Yes. We arrange servicing and repairs for most air source heat pumps in Atherton, whoever fitted them. Tell us the make and model when you book.
Do I need new radiators for a heat pump in Atherton?
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 Atherton home gives a room-by-room list.
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.
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.