- Area
- Lancashire
- Postcode district
- BB3
- Nation
- England
- Guide price
- From £9,300 inc VAT
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
Gas boiler to heat pump for Darwen homes
In Darwen, as anywhere in the UK, the heat pumps that perform well are the ones designed around low flow temperatures and sized from a proper heat loss calculation.
Many gas-heated homes in Darwen have a combi boiler in the kitchen, so the survey starts by finding the right place for a cylinder. Installers in Darwen 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.
- Homes in England and Wales eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme
- Boilers that are old, unreliable or due for replacement
- Households ready to give up gas entirely and drop the standing charge
What's included
- Heat pump cylinder, outdoor unit and weather compensation controls
- Free survey with heat loss calculation and cylinder siting
- System flush and radiator upgrades where the design calls for them
- Removal of the gas boiler, flue and any loft tanks
- Capping of the gas pipe at the boiler position where you are giving up gas
Semi-detached and terraced houses in Darwen often have an airing cupboard that can be reused for a heat pump cylinder.
Grants and rules for heat pumps in England
Homes in Darwen 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.
Guide prices for replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump in Darwen
The ranges below are typical installed prices for homes in Lancashire, including VAT. A survey sets the exact figure, because two similar-looking houses in Darwen 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 | £9,300–£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 Darwen's winters
Darwen sees roughly 7 hours 26 minutes of daylight in December and 17 hours 05 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.
What happens after you enquire in Darwen?
- Send your postcode and a few details, or use the guide price tool.
- A surveyor visits your Darwen home, measures every room and checks where the outdoor unit can go.
- You receive a heat loss design and a fixed written quote, with any grant shown where it applies.
- Installers fit the unit, cylinder and any radiator changes, typically over 2–4 days on site.
- The system is commissioned, set up with weather compensation and handed over with the paperwork.
Replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump in Darwen: questions
Do you cover Blackburn as well as Darwen?
Yes. We arrange surveys and installation in Blackburn, which is about 4 miles north of Darwen, and across Lancashire.
Where would the outdoor unit go on a Darwen 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 Darwen home.
How long does installation take in Darwen?
Most installations take 2–4 days on site. Jobs with several radiator changes or new pipework take longer, and your quote for a Darwen 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.
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.