- Area
- Aberdeenshire and Moray
- Postcode district
- AB12
- Nation
- Scotland
- Guide price
- Priced after survey
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
Heat loss survey for Portlethen homes
Homes around Portlethen range from older terraces to newer estates, and each needs a different design. That is why we survey before we quote.
For Portlethen homes with extensions or loft conversions, each part of the house is assessed on its own construction. Design outdoor temperatures for Portlethen and the wider Aberdeenshire and Moray come from local cold-weather data, not a national average.
Every heat pump we quote starts with a room-by-room heat loss survey, free with installation enquiries and also available as a stand-alone report.
- Homeowners planning insulation or building work who want to know the effect on heat demand
- Landlords comparing properties before deciding where to switch first
- Self-builders and architects who need emitter and system sizes early
What's included
- Electrical supply and network operator notes
- Room-by-room heat loss calculation using the MCS method
- Written results in your quote, or a stand-alone report if you order one
- Hot water cylinder sizing for your household
- Radiator schedule with any upgrades needed for each room
A surveyor visits your Portlethen home to measure each room, window and wall before any heat pump is sized.
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 Portlethen home, apply and receive the written offer before the installation date is fixed.
There is no VAT on installing a heat pump anywhere in the UK, Scotland included, until 31 March 2027. Scottish permitted development rules and building standards apply, and the surveyor checks the unit position and any listed or conservation-area constraints.
Heat loss survey costs around Portlethen
Here are typical prices for heat loss surveys in Aberdeenshire and Moray, installed and including VAT. Use the guide price tool for a figure based on your home, then a survey confirms it in writing.
| Survey | Guide price |
|---|---|
| Home survey and heat loss calculation with an installation quote | Free |
| Stand-alone heat loss survey and report | £150–£410 |
Inc VAT. A stand-alone report is for homeowners who want the design without an installation quote.
Winter daylight and heating in Portlethen
Portlethen has about 6 hours 42 minutes of daylight at midwinter against 17 hours 54 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.
How installation works in Portlethen
- Tell us about your home: postcode, property type and current heating.
- We book a survey in Portlethen; 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.
Heat loss surveys in Portlethen: questions
What size heat pump does a Portlethen 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 Portlethen home.
How long does installation take in Portlethen?
Most installations take 2–4 days on site. Jobs with several radiator changes or new pipework take longer, and your quote for a Portlethen home states the expected time.
Where would the outdoor unit go on a Portlethen 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 Portlethen home.
Why can't you size the heat pump from my boiler?
Boilers are often much larger than a home's real heat loss, because they are sized for fast hot water and quick warm-ups. Matching a heat pump to the boiler's output usually means an oversized unit that costs more and switches on and off too often. A room-by-room calculation finds the actual heat demand, which is what the heat pump needs to meet.
Will the survey check noise from the outdoor unit?
Yes. The surveyor identifies possible positions for the outdoor unit and carries out the MCS noise assessment, which estimates the sound level at the nearest neighbouring window from the unit's sound power level, distance and any barriers. In England, meeting the MCS planning standards is one of the conditions for permitted development. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own rules, which we check.