- Area
- Hertfordshire
- Postcode district
- SG6
- Nation
- England
- Guide price
- Priced after survey
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
Heat loss survey in Hitchin: what to expect
The question for a Hitchin 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.
For Hitchin homes with extensions or loft conversions, each part of the house is assessed on its own construction. A surveyor visits your Hitchin home to measure each room, window and wall before any heat pump is sized.
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
- Self-builders and architects who need emitter and system sizes early
- Homes with an existing heat pump that seems undersized or expensive to run
What's included
- Recommended heat pump size and design flow temperature
- Radiator schedule with any upgrades needed for each room
- Hot water cylinder sizing for your household
- Written results in your quote, or a stand-alone report if you order one
- Electrical supply and network operator notes
The survey in Hitchin includes a check of where the outdoor unit could sit and how its sound would reach neighbours.
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 Hitchin 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.
What to budget for heat loss surveys in Hitchin
The ranges below are typical installed prices for homes in Hertfordshire, including VAT. A survey sets the exact figure, because two similar-looking houses in Hitchin 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 | £160–£420 |
Inc VAT. A stand-alone report is for homeowners who want the design without an installation quote.
Winter daylight and heating in Hitchin
On the shortest day Hitchin gets about 7 hours 45 minutes of daylight, with the noon sun around 15° 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 Hitchin
- Send your postcode and a few details, or use the guide price tool.
- A surveyor visits your Hitchin 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 Hitchin: questions
Where would the outdoor unit go on a Hitchin 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 Hitchin home.
How long does a heat pump survey take in Hitchin?
A home survey in Hitchin usually takes one to two hours. The surveyor measures every heated room, checks windows, walls and radiators, and looks at where the outdoor unit and cylinder can go.
Do you cover Letchworth Garden City as well as Hitchin?
Yes. We arrange surveys and installation in Letchworth Garden City, which is about 3 miles north-east of Hitchin, and across Hertfordshire.
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.
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.