A heat loss survey is a room-by-room assessment that calculates how much heat your home loses on a cold day, which tells you what size of heat pump you need and whether your radiators can deliver enough warmth. It follows the MCS method, the standard used for heat pump design across the UK, and it is the foundation for every other decision in your quote.
For Greater Manchester homes with extensions or loft conversions, each part of the house is assessed on its own construction. Houses in Greater Manchester built in different eras can need very different heat pump sizes, which is why each is calculated room by room. The survey in Greater Manchester includes a check of where the outdoor unit could sit and how its sound would reach neighbours.
Who it suits
- Homes with an existing heat pump that seems undersized or expensive to run
- Self-builders and architects who need emitter and system sizes early
- Homeowners planning insulation or building work who want to know the effect on heat demand
- Anyone getting a heat pump quote, as the first step
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 quote.
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 prices in Greater Manchester
These are guide prices for Greater Manchester, installed and including VAT. Your final price is fixed in a written quote after the survey and depends on the heat loss of the house, the radiators that need changing and where the unit goes.
| Survey | Guide price |
|---|---|
| Home survey and heat loss calculation with an installation quote | Free |
| Stand-alone heat loss survey and report | £150–£390 |
Inc VAT. A stand-alone report is for homeowners who want the design without an installation quote.
Towns we cover in Greater Manchester
We cover 29 towns in Greater Manchester for heat loss surveys. Each links to local guide prices and the grant position for England.
| Town | Postcode district | Nearest town | Midwinter daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | M2 | Stretford | 7 h 28 min |
| Oldham | OL1 | Middleton | 7 h 27 min |
| Wigan | WN1 | Golborne | 7 h 27 min |
| Bolton | BL1 | Radcliffe | 7 h 27 min |
| Stockport | SK1 | Denton | 7 h 29 min |
| Rochdale | OL16 | Heywood | 7 h 27 min |
| Sale | M33 | Stretford | 7 h 29 min |
| Bury | BL9 | Radcliffe | 7 h 27 min |
| Altrincham | WA14 | Sale | 7 h 29 min |
| Middleton | M24 | Heywood | 7 h 27 min |
| Ashton-under-Lyne | OL7 | Denton | 7 h 28 min |
| Leigh | WN7 | Atherton | 7 h 28 min |
| Stretford | M32 | Urmston | 7 h 29 min |
| Urmston | M41 | Stretford | 7 h 29 min |
| Eccles | M30 | Swinton | 7 h 28 min |
| Tyldesley | M29 | Atherton | 7 h 28 min |
| Hyde | SK14 | Denton | 7 h 29 min |
| Walkden | M28 | Swinton | 7 h 28 min |
| Prestwich | M25 | Whitefield | 7 h 28 min |
| Radcliffe | M26 | Whitefield | 7 h 27 min |
| Heywood | OL10 | Middleton | 7 h 27 min |
| Denton | M34 | Hyde | 7 h 28 min |
| Saddleworth | OL3 | Oldham | 7 h 27 min |
| Golborne | WA12 | Leigh | 7 h 28 min |
| Whitefield | M45 | Radcliffe | 7 h 27 min |
| Swinton | M27 | Eccles | 7 h 28 min |
| Atherton | M46 | Tyldesley | 7 h 28 min |
| Irlam | M44 | Urmston | 7 h 29 min |
| Horwich | BL6 | Bolton | 7 h 27 min |
Heat loss surveys questions
Is the heat loss survey free?
Yes, for installation enquiries the home survey and heat loss calculation are free, and the results form the basis of your written quote. If you only want the calculation and report, for example for building plans or comparing quotes, a stand-alone heat loss survey has a guide price of £150–£400, including VAT. We confirm which applies when you book.
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.
Can I use the heat loss report to get other quotes?
Yes. A stand-alone heat loss report is yours to use, including sharing it with other installers so their quotes are based on the same figures. Comparing quotes like for like makes it easier to see differences in equipment, radiator upgrades and workmanship terms. The report states the assumptions used wherever construction could not be confirmed.
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.