- Area
- Kent
- Postcode district
- CT6
- Nation
- England
- Guide price
- From £9,800 inc VAT
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
What to know about replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump in Herne Bay
Most homes can run on a heat pump if the system is designed properly, and Herne Bay is no different. The key is matching the heat pump and radiators to the home's heat loss.
Rear gardens and side returns in Herne Bay usually offer a sensible spot for the outdoor unit, checked for airflow and neighbours. Many gas-heated homes in Herne Bay have a combi boiler in the kitchen, so the survey starts by finding the right place for a cylinder.
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
- Free survey with heat loss calculation and cylinder siting
- 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
Semi-detached and terraced houses in Herne Bay often have an airing cupboard that can be reused for a heat pump 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 Herne Bay 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.
Guide prices for replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump in Herne Bay
The ranges below are typical installed prices for homes in Kent, including VAT. A survey sets the exact figure, because two similar-looking houses in Herne Bay can need quite different radiators and pipework.
| 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.
Designing for Herne Bay's winters
On the shortest day Herne Bay gets about 7 hours 51 minutes of daylight, and the winter sun reaches only around 15° above the horizon at noon. Winters this far south are milder than in most of the UK, which helps a heat pump run at low flow temperatures for much of the season.
The steps for replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump in Herne Bay
- Tell us about your home: postcode, property type and current heating.
- We book a survey in Herne Bay; 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 Herne Bay: questions
Where would the outdoor unit go on a Herne Bay 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 Herne Bay home.
How long does installation take in Herne Bay?
Most installations take 2–4 days on site. Jobs with several radiator changes or new pipework take longer, and your quote for a Herne Bay home states the expected time.
Do I need new radiators for a heat pump in Herne Bay?
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 Herne Bay home gives a room-by-room list.
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.
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.