Every air-to-water heat pump installation needs a cylinder, because there is no heat pump equivalent of a combi boiler that heats water instantly. If you have a combi now, the main design question is where the cylinder will go. If you already have a cylinder, it will almost always need replacing with a heat pump model, though the same cupboard can often be reused if it is large enough.
Older houses in Cumbria with loft tanks can usually have them removed when an unvented cylinder is fitted. We check mains water pressure and flow at each Cumbria property before choosing a cylinder. Discharge pipe routes are planned at the survey so a Cumbria cylinder can drain safely to the outside.
Who it suits
- Every air-to-water heat pump installation, whatever the existing boiler
- Households with older vented cylinders and loft tanks who want mains-pressure showers
- Homes replacing a combi boiler that need space found for a cylinder
- Larger families or homes with two or more bathrooms
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.
Heat pump hot water cylinders prices in Cumbria
Here are typical prices for heat pump hot water cylinders in Cumbria, 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) | £1,200–£2,200 |
Supplied and fitted, inc VAT. Included in every full system price.
Towns we cover in Cumbria
We cover 10 towns in Cumbria for heat pump hot water cylinders. Each links to local guide prices and the grant position for England.
| Town | Postcode district | Nearest town | Midwinter daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlisle | CA3 | Penrith | 7 h 11 min |
| Barrow-in-Furness | LA14 | Ulverston | 7 h 21 min |
| Kendal | LA9 | Windermere | 7 h 18 min |
| Whitehaven | CA28 | Workington | 7 h 15 min |
| Workington | CA14 | Whitehaven | 7 h 14 min |
| Penrith | CA11 | Keswick | 7 h 14 min |
| Cockermouth | CA13 | Workington | 7 h 14 min |
| Keswick | CA12 | Cockermouth | 7 h 15 min |
| Ulverston | LA12 | Barrow-in-Furness | 7 h 20 min |
| Windermere | LA23 | Kendal | 7 h 18 min |
Heat pump hot water cylinders questions
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.
I have a combi boiler. Where will the cylinder go?
Moving from a combi to a heat pump means finding space for a cylinder, usually somewhere around 600 mm square and up to about 2 m tall. Common choices are a bedroom or landing cupboard, a utility room, under the stairs or an integral garage. The surveyor looks at your layout and suggests options, including slimline models where space is tight.
Does a heat pump cylinder need servicing?
Yes. An unvented cylinder's safety devices should be checked every year, including the relief valves, the expansion vessel charge and the discharge pipework. This is normally done as part of the annual heat pump service, and it is often a condition of the cylinder manufacturer's warranty. Keep the cylinder paperwork with your heat pump handover documents.
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.