- Area
- Cambridgeshire
- Postcode district
- CB2
- Nation
- England
- Guide price
- Priced after survey
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
Before you book: heat loss surveys in Cambridge
The question for a Cambridge 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.
Design outdoor temperatures for Cambridge and the wider Cambridgeshire come from local cold-weather data, not a national average. For Cambridge homes with extensions or loft conversions, each part of the house is assessed on its own construction.
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.
- Homes with an existing heat pump that seems undersized or expensive to run
- Landlords comparing properties before deciding where to switch first
- Homeowners planning insulation or building work who want to know the effect on heat demand
What's included
- Radiator schedule with any upgrades needed for each room
- 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
- Recommended heat pump size and design flow temperature
Houses in Cambridge built in different eras can need very different heat pump sizes, which is why each is calculated room by room.
Grants and rules for heat pumps in England
Homes in Cambridge 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.
Heat loss survey costs around Cambridge
The ranges below are typical installed prices for homes in Cambridgeshire, including VAT. A survey sets the exact figure, because two similar-looking houses in Cambridge can need quite different radiators and pipework.
| 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.
Designing for Cambridge's winters
On the shortest day Cambridge gets about 7 hours 42 minutes of daylight, with the noon sun around 14° up. The heating season runs from autumn into spring, so a heat pump that is sized correctly and set up with weather compensation does most of its work in steady, cool conditions.
From survey to switch-on in Cambridge
- Send your postcode and a few details, or use the guide price tool.
- A surveyor visits your Cambridge 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.
Heat loss surveys in Cambridge: questions
How long does installation take in Cambridge?
Most installations take 2–4 days on site. Jobs with several radiator changes or new pipework take longer, and your quote for a Cambridge home states the expected time.
Do you cover Royston as well as Cambridge?
Yes. We arrange surveys and installation in Royston, which is about 12 miles south-west of Cambridge, and across Cambridgeshire.
Do I need new radiators for a heat pump in Cambridge?
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 Cambridge home gives a room-by-room list.
How long does a heat loss survey take?
A typical survey takes 1–3 hours on site, depending on the size and complexity of the home. Larger or older houses with mixed construction, extensions or many rooms take longer. The calculations and design are completed afterwards, and the results are included in your quote or stand-alone report.
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.