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.
Across Essex and Essex, heating curves are fine-tuned after the first cold spell to suit how each house responds. If an existing heat pump in Essex feels costly to run, a controls check is often the first thing to look at. We set up weather compensation for each Essex home from its own heat loss design, not a factory default.
Who it suits
- Homes with solar PV or a battery that want hot water timed to match
- Homes with an extension, loft room or areas heated at different times
- Households considering a heat pump or time-of-use electricity tariff
- Existing heat pumps that feel expensive to run or slow to respond
Grants and rules for heat pumps in England
Homes in Essex 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.
There is no VAT on installing a heat pump anywhere in the UK until 31 March 2027. In England most houses can have an air source heat pump under permitted development, provided the unit meets the MCS noise and siting standards; the old 1 m boundary limit was removed on 29 May 2025. We flag listed buildings, flats and sensitive conservation-area positions 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 Essex
We cover 22 towns in Essex 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southend-on-Sea | SS1 | Rayleigh | 7 h 49 min |
| Basildon | SS16 | Stanford-le-Hope | 7 h 49 min |
| Colchester | CO1 | Coggeshall | 7 h 46 min |
| Chelmsford | CM1 | Billericay | 7 h 47 min |
| Harlow | CM20 | Hoddesdon | 7 h 47 min |
| Braintree | CM7 | Coggeshall | 7 h 46 min |
| Clacton-on-Sea | CO15 | Harwich | 7 h 47 min |
| South Benfleet | SS7 | Canvey Island | 7 h 49 min |
| Canvey Island | SS8 | South Benfleet | 7 h 49 min |
| Billericay | CM12 | Basildon | 7 h 48 min |
| Rayleigh | SS6 | South Benfleet | 7 h 49 min |
| Stanford-le-Hope | SS17 | Basildon | 7 h 49 min |
| Wickford | SS12 | Rayleigh | 7 h 48 min |
| Witham | CM8 | Maldon | 7 h 46 min |
| Maldon | CM9 | Witham | 7 h 47 min |
| Harwich | CO12 | Felixstowe | 7 h 45 min |
| Saffron Walden | CB10 | Great Dunmow | 7 h 44 min |
| Burnham-on-Crouch | CM0 | Southend-on-Sea | 7 h 48 min |
| Coggeshall | CM8 | Witham | 7 h 46 min |
| Great Dunmow | CM6 | Braintree | 7 h 46 min |
| Halstead | CO9 | Coggeshall | 7 h 45 min |
| Loughton | IG10 | Chingford | 7 h 48 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.
What flow temperature should my heat pump run at?
It depends on the design: the flow temperature is set so your radiators or underfloor heating can heat each room on a cold day. Well-designed systems typically run at around 35–50°C at their coldest, and lower in milder weather through weather compensation. Your design paperwork states the design flow temperature, and we set the heating curve to match it.
Can I control my heat pump from my phone?
Many heat pumps offer an app or work with smart thermostats, letting you change temperatures, set schedules and see energy use from your phone. Features vary by make and model, and app control usually needs a reliable internet connection at home. The heating keeps running on its own settings if the connection drops.
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.