Heat pumps work differently from boilers. A boiler typically heats a home in bursts, switching on hard for a few hours in the morning and evening. A heat pump is usually most efficient running 'low and slow': keeping water at a modest temperature for longer and holding rooms at a steady temperature rather than reheating them from cold. Many people find this takes a week or two to get used to.
For Bedfordshire homes with extensions, we plan zones so the new space heats properly without making the heat pump cycle. Homeowners in Bedfordshire get a walkthrough of their controls at handover, with a simple written guide to keep. If an existing heat pump in Bedfordshire feels costly to run, a controls check is often the first thing to look at.
Who it suits
- Households considering a heat pump or time-of-use electricity tariff
- Existing heat pumps that feel expensive to run or slow to respond
- Homes with an extension, loft room or areas heated at different times
- Every new heat pump installation, set up at commissioning
Grants and rules for heat pumps in England
Homes in Bedfordshire 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.
Prices
Weather-compensating controls and set-up are included in every full system price. See the guide prices for full systems.
Towns we cover in Bedfordshire
We cover 9 towns in Bedfordshire for heat pump controls and tariffs. Each links to local guide prices and the grant position for England.
| Town | Postcode district | Nearest town | Midwinter daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luton | LU1 | Dunstable | 7 h 46 min |
| Bedford | MK40 | Kempston | 7 h 43 min |
| Dunstable | LU6 | Luton | 7 h 46 min |
| Leighton Buzzard | LU7 | Dunstable | 7 h 45 min |
| Ampthill | MK45 | Flitwick | 7 h 44 min |
| Kempston | MK42 | Bedford | 7 h 43 min |
| Biggleswade | SG18 | Sandy | 7 h 43 min |
| Flitwick | MK45 | Ampthill | 7 h 44 min |
| Sandy | SG19 | Biggleswade | 7 h 43 min |
Heat pump controls and tariffs questions
Why are my radiators only warm, not hot?
That is normal for a heat pump. It heats radiators to a lower temperature than a boiler, so they feel warm rather than hot to the touch, while running longer to keep the room at a steady temperature. If rooms reach the temperature you set, the system is working as designed. If a room stays cold, the settings or radiator size may need checking.
Should I turn my heat pump off at night?
Usually not. Switching off lets the house cool, and the heat pump then has to run at a higher flow temperature to recover, which lowers efficiency. A small set-back of 1–2°C overnight is generally more economical. Homes with very good insulation or a time-of-use tariff may suit different patterns, which we can set up.
How should I set the hot water on a heat pump?
Most households heat hot water once or twice a day at set times rather than on demand. Timing the main heat for a cheaper tariff period, or for the middle of the day when solar panels generate, helps keep costs down. A weekly legionella cycle raises the water temperature higher, and we schedule it at a sensible time.
Is a heat pump tariff a good idea?
A heat pump or time-of-use tariff can lower running costs if your household can shift hot water heating and some space heating into the cheaper periods. Whether it suits you depends on the rates, the standing charge, your routine and whether you have a battery. Compare the total expected cost on your own usage, not only the headline rate.