- Area
- Hertfordshire
- Postcode district
- SG6
- Nation
- England
- Guide price
- From £10,000 inc VAT
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
Before you book: replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump in Hitchin
The question for a Hitchin 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.
Many gas-heated homes in Hitchin have a combi boiler in the kitchen, so the survey starts by finding the right place for a cylinder. Rear gardens and side returns in Hitchin 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.
- Combi owners who can find space for a hot water cylinder
- System or regular boiler homes with an existing airing cupboard
- Homes in England and Wales eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme
What's included
- System flush and radiator upgrades where the design calls for them
- Heat pump cylinder, outdoor unit and weather compensation controls
- Free survey with heat loss calculation and cylinder siting
- Removal of the gas boiler, flue and any loft tanks
- Commissioning, MCS certificate and grant application in England and Wales where eligible
If your Hitchin 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 Hitchin 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.
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.
Gas boiler to heat pump costs around Hitchin
Here are typical prices for replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump in Hertfordshire, 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 | £10,000–£13,150 | £2,500–£5,650 |
| 2–3 bedroom terrace or semi | 5–7 kW | £11,050–£14,200 | £3,550–£6,700 |
| 3 bedroom semi or small detached | 6–9 kW | £12,600–£16,300 | £5,100–£8,800 |
| 4 bedroom detached | 8–12 kW | £14,700–£18,900 | £7,200–£11,400 |
| 5+ bedroom or larger older house | 11–16 kW | £17,350–£23,650 | £9,850–£16,150 |
Installed, inc VAT: unit, cylinder, controls, minor pipework and commissioning.
Short winter days in Hitchin and what they mean
Hitchin has about 7 hours 45 minutes of daylight at midwinter and 16 hours 43 minutes at midsummer. That swing matters if you pair a heat pump with solar panels: summer generation can cover much of the hot water, winter generation far less.
What happens after you enquire in Hitchin?
- Start online with a guide price or call us.
- A home survey in Hitchin 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 Hitchin: questions
Where would the outdoor unit go on a Hitchin 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 Hitchin home.
What size heat pump does a Hitchin 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 Hitchin home.
How long does installation take in Hitchin?
Most installations take 2–4 days on site. Jobs with several radiator changes or new pipework take longer, and your quote for a Hitchin home states the expected time.
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.
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.