A heat pump hot water cylinder is an insulated tank that stores hot water heated by the heat pump, with a much larger internal coil than a cylinder designed for a boiler. Heat pumps heat water to a lower temperature than boilers, typically around 45–55°C, so a bigger coil is needed to pass heat into the stored water quickly. A standard boiler cylinder would heat slowly and make the heat pump work harder than it should.
In terraced homes around Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire and across Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire, slimline cylinders can fit spaces a standard model cannot. Discharge pipe routes are planned at the survey so a Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire cylinder can drain safely to the outside. Many homes in Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire with combi boilers have no airing cupboard, so the survey looks for the most practical cylinder space.
Who it suits
- Every air-to-water heat pump installation, whatever the existing boiler
- Homes replacing a combi boiler that need space found for a cylinder
- Households with older vented cylinders and loft tanks who want mains-pressure showers
- Homes with solar PV that want to store daytime electricity as hot water
Grants and rules for heat pumps in Scotland
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme does not apply in Scotland. Instead, homeowners in Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire 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.
There is no VAT on installing a heat pump anywhere in the UK, Scotland included, until 31 March 2027. Scottish permitted development rules and building standards apply, and the surveyor checks the unit position and any listed or conservation-area constraints.
Heat pump hot water cylinders prices in Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire
These are guide prices for Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire, installed and including VAT. Your final price is fixed in a written quote after the survey and depends on the heat loss of the house, the radiators that need changing and where the unit goes.
| 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 Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire
We cover 9 towns in Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stirling | FK9 | Bridge of Allan | 6 h 55 min |
| Falkirk | FK1 | Larbert | 6 h 57 min |
| Alloa | FK10 | Stirling | 6 h 55 min |
| Grangemouth | FK3 | Falkirk | 6 h 57 min |
| Bo'ness | EH51 | Grangemouth | 6 h 56 min |
| Bridge of Allan | FK9 | Stirling | 6 h 55 min |
| Callander | FK17 | Dunblane | 6 h 53 min |
| Dunblane | FK15 | Bridge of Allan | 6 h 54 min |
| Larbert | FK5 | Falkirk | 6 h 56 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.
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.
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.