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.
Homeowners in Hampshire get a walkthrough of their controls at handover, with a simple written guide to keep. Across Hampshire and Hampshire, heating curves are fine-tuned after the first cold spell to suit how each house responds. If an existing heat pump in Hampshire feels costly to run, a controls check is often the first thing to look at.
Who it suits
- Existing heat pumps that feel expensive to run or slow to respond
- Homes with solar PV or a battery that want hot water timed to match
- Households considering a heat pump or time-of-use electricity tariff
- Homes with an extension, loft room or areas heated at different times
Grants and rules for heat pumps in England
Homes in Hampshire 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 Hampshire
We cover 23 towns in Hampshire 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southampton | SO14 | Totton | 7 h 56 min |
| Portsmouth | PO1 | Gosport | 7 h 57 min |
| Basingstoke | RG21 | Alton | 7 h 52 min |
| Gosport | PO12 | Portsmouth | 7 h 57 min |
| Waterlooville | PO7 | Havant | 7 h 56 min |
| Farnborough | GU14 | Aldershot | 7 h 52 min |
| Eastleigh | SO50 | Southampton | 7 h 55 min |
| Winchester | SO23 | Eastleigh | 7 h 54 min |
| Havant | PO9 | Waterlooville | 7 h 56 min |
| Andover | SP10 | Winchester | 7 h 52 min |
| Fareham | PO16 | Gosport | 7 h 56 min |
| Aldershot | GU11 | Farnborough | 7 h 52 min |
| Fleet | GU51 | Farnborough | 7 h 52 min |
| Totton | SO40 | Southampton | 7 h 55 min |
| New Milton | BH25 | Lymington | 7 h 57 min |
| Bordon | GU35 | Alton | 7 h 53 min |
| Yateley | GU46 | Fleet | 7 h 51 min |
| Alton | GU34 | Bordon | 7 h 53 min |
| Romsey | SO51 | Totton | 7 h 55 min |
| Fordingbridge | SP6 | Ringwood | 7 h 55 min |
| Lymington | SO41 | New Milton | 7 h 57 min |
| Petersfield | GU31 | Bordon | 7 h 55 min |
| Ringwood | BH24 | Fordingbridge | 7 h 56 min |
Heat pump controls and tariffs questions
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.
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.
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.