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 Somerset and Somerset, heating curves are fine-tuned after the first cold spell to suit how each house responds. Hot water schedules in Somerset can be timed to suit shift work, school runs or working from home. For Somerset homes with extensions, we plan zones so the new space heats properly without making the heat pump cycle.
Who it suits
- Every new heat pump installation, set up at commissioning
- Existing heat pumps that feel expensive to run or slow to respond
- Homes with an extension, loft room or areas heated at different times
- Homes with solar PV or a battery that want hot water timed to match
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 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.
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 Somerset
We cover 17 towns in Somerset 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bath | BA1 | Keynsham | 7 h 51 min |
| Weston-super-Mare | BS23 | Burnham-on-Sea | 7 h 51 min |
| Taunton | TA1 | Bridgwater | 7 h 54 min |
| Yeovil | BA20 | Sherborne | 7 h 55 min |
| Bridgwater | TA6 | Burnham-on-Sea | 7 h 53 min |
| Portishead | BS20 | Nailsea | 7 h 50 min |
| Frome | BA11 | Warminster | 7 h 52 min |
| Burnham-on-Sea | TA8 | Weston-super-Mare | 7 h 52 min |
| Clevedon | BS21 | Nailsea | 7 h 50 min |
| Nailsea | BS48 | Portishead | 7 h 50 min |
| Keynsham | BS31 | Kingswood | 7 h 50 min |
| Chard | TA20 | Taunton | 7 h 56 min |
| Glastonbury | BA6 | Street | 7 h 53 min |
| Minehead | TA24 | Burnham-on-Sea | 7 h 53 min |
| Shepton Mallet | BA4 | Wells | 7 h 53 min |
| Street | BA16 | Glastonbury | 7 h 53 min |
| Wells | BA5 | Shepton Mallet | 7 h 52 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.
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.
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.