- Area
- Surrey
- Postcode district
- RH4
- Nation
- England
- Guide price
- Priced after survey
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
Heat loss survey in Dorking: what to expect
Homes around Dorking range from older terraces to newer estates, and each needs a different design. That is why we survey before we quote.
A surveyor visits your Dorking home to measure each room, window and wall before any heat pump is sized. Homeowners in Dorking thinking about insulation work can use the survey to see how it would change their heat pump size.
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.
- Anyone getting a heat pump quote, as the first step
- Homes with an existing heat pump that seems undersized or expensive to run
- Self-builders and architects who need emitter and system sizes early
What's included
- Hot water cylinder sizing for your household
- Electrical supply and network operator notes
- Outdoor unit siting options and noise check
- Recommended heat pump size and design flow temperature
- Written results in your quote, or a stand-alone report if you order one
Design outdoor temperatures for Dorking and the wider Surrey come from local cold-weather data, not a national average.
Grants and rules for heat pumps in England
Homes in Dorking 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.
What to budget for heat loss surveys in Dorking
Here are typical prices for heat loss surveys in Surrey, 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 | £160–£430 |
Inc VAT. A stand-alone report is for homeowners who want the design without an installation quote.
Short winter days in Dorking and what they mean
Dorking sees roughly 7 hours 52 minutes of daylight in late December against 16 hours 35 minutes in June. Milder southern winters suit heat pumps well, though the system is still sized for a cold snap rather than an average day.
The steps for heat loss surveys in Dorking
- Tell us about your home: postcode, property type and current heating.
- We book a survey in Dorking; 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 Dorking: questions
What size heat pump does a Dorking 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 Dorking home.
Can you service a heat pump in Dorking that someone else installed?
Yes. We arrange servicing and repairs for most air source heat pumps in Dorking, whoever fitted them. Tell us the make and model when you book.
How soon can you survey a home in Dorking?
Survey dates depend on how busy installers are in Surrey. We offer the next available dates when you enquire and confirm them in writing.
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.
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.