- Area
- Greater Manchester
- Postcode district
- WA14
- Nation
- England
- Guide price
- Priced after survey
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
What to know about heat loss surveys in Altrincham
The question for an Altrincham 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.
Homeowners in Altrincham thinking about insulation work can use the survey to see how it would change their heat pump size. For Altrincham 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.
- Self-builders and architects who need emitter and system sizes early
- Homes with an existing heat pump that seems undersized or expensive to run
- 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
- Outdoor unit siting options and noise check
- Recommended heat pump size and design flow temperature
- Hot water cylinder sizing for your household
Houses in Altrincham 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
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 Altrincham 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 costs around Altrincham
Guide prices for Altrincham and the rest of Greater Manchester are shown below, installed and inc VAT. We publish ranges rather than a single figure because design details move the price, and the written quote after survey fixes it.
| 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.
Winter daylight and heating in Altrincham
On the shortest day Altrincham gets about 7 hours 29 minutes of daylight, with the noon sun around 13° 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.
What happens after you enquire in Altrincham?
- Send your postcode and a few details, or use the guide price tool.
- A surveyor visits your Altrincham 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 Altrincham: questions
Do I need new radiators for a heat pump in Altrincham?
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 Altrincham home gives a room-by-room list.
How soon can you survey a home in Altrincham?
Survey dates depend on how busy installers are in Greater Manchester. We offer the next available dates when you enquire and confirm them in writing.
Do you cover Sale as well as Altrincham?
Yes. We arrange surveys and installation in Sale, which is about 3 miles north of Altrincham, and across Greater Manchester.
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.
What is a design flow temperature?
The design flow temperature is the temperature of the water sent to your radiators or underfloor heating on the coldest design day. Heat pumps are more efficient at lower flow temperatures, typically around 35–50°C. Choosing it is a balance: a lower figure improves efficiency but can mean larger radiators in some rooms, so the design shows both.