Most heat pump cylinders are unvented, meaning they run at mains water pressure and give strong flow from every tap without a cold water tank in the loft. Unvented cylinders have safety controls that must be fitted and checked by someone qualified to work on them. We size the cylinder from your household and bathrooms, confirm your mains water supply can support it, and plan the space, pipework and discharge route at the survey.
Many homes in Argyll and Bute with combi boilers have no airing cupboard, so the survey looks for the most practical cylinder space. In terraced homes around Argyll and Bute and across Argyll and Bute, slimline cylinders can fit spaces a standard model cannot. Older houses in Argyll and Bute with loft tanks can usually have them removed when an unvented cylinder is fitted.
Who it suits
- Every air-to-water heat pump installation, whatever the existing boiler
- Homes with solar PV that want to store daytime electricity as hot water
- Larger families or homes with two or more bathrooms
- Households with older vented cylinders and loft tanks who want mains-pressure showers
Grants and rules for heat pumps in Scotland
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme does not apply in Scotland. Instead, homeowners in Argyll and Bute can apply to Home Energy Scotland for a grant of up to £7,500 towards a heat pump, with up to £1,500 more for eligible rural and island homes, plus an optional interest-free loan of up to £7,500. You need a written funding offer before any work starts.
Installing heat pumps is zero-rated for VAT across the UK until 31 March 2027. Scotland has its own permitted development rules for air source heat pumps and its own building standards, so we confirm what applies to your property at survey.
Heat pump hot water cylinders prices in Argyll and Bute
Here are typical prices for heat pump hot water cylinders in Argyll and Bute, installed and including VAT. Use the guide price tool for a figure based on your home, then a survey confirms it in writing.
| Work | Guide price |
|---|---|
| Heat pump hot water cylinder (supplied and fitted) | £1,300–£2,400 |
Supplied and fitted, inc VAT. Included in every full system price.
Towns we cover in Argyll and Bute
We cover 6 towns in Argyll and Bute for heat pump hot water cylinders. Each links to local guide prices and the grant position for Scotland.
| Town | Postcode district | Nearest town | Midwinter daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campbeltown | PA28 | Girvan | 7 h 04 min |
| Dunoon | PA23 | Gourock | 6 h 57 min |
| Helensburgh | G84 | Greenock | 6 h 57 min |
| Lochgilphead | PA31 | Dunoon | 6 h 56 min |
| Oban | PA34 | Lochgilphead | 6 h 51 min |
| Rothesay | PA20 | – | 6 h 59 min |
Heat pump hot water cylinders questions
Can I keep my existing hot water cylinder with a heat pump?
Usually not. Cylinders designed for boilers have a small coil that cannot transfer heat quickly at heat pump temperatures, so the water would reheat slowly and efficiency would suffer. A heat pump cylinder has a much larger coil. The new cylinder can often go in the same cupboard, though, if there is enough height and floor space.
Will I run out of hot water with a heat pump?
Not if the cylinder is sized to how your household uses hot water. Unlike a combi, hot water is stored, so very heavy use, such as several long showers back to back, can use up the stored volume before it reheats. Sizing for your busiest period, and timing reheats sensibly, avoids this for most homes.
How much does a heat pump cylinder cost?
A heat pump hot water cylinder has a guide price of £1,200–£2,200, installed and including VAT. In a full heat pump installation the cylinder is already included in the system guide price, so this figure mainly applies where a cylinder is replaced on its own. Capacity, coil design and the pipework needed affect where your price sits.
Do I need good water pressure for an unvented cylinder?
Yes. An unvented cylinder runs at mains pressure, so it needs enough incoming pressure and flow to supply your taps and showers well. We measure your mains supply at the survey. If flow is low, options include a different cylinder type or an upgrade to the incoming supply pipe, which we explain before you commit.