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.
In terraced homes around the Scottish Borders and across the Scottish Borders, slimline cylinders can fit spaces a standard model cannot. Many homes in the Scottish Borders with combi boilers have no airing cupboard, so the survey looks for the most practical cylinder space. Cylinder sizes for the Scottish Borders homes are based on the people living there and the bathrooms in daily use.
Who it suits
- Households with older vented cylinders and loft tanks who want mains-pressure showers
- Every air-to-water heat pump installation, whatever the existing boiler
- Larger families or homes with two or more bathrooms
- Homes with solar PV that want to store daytime electricity as hot water
Grants and rules for heat pumps in Scotland
In Scotland, heat pump funding comes through Home Energy Scotland rather than the Boiler Upgrade Scheme: a grant of up to £7,500 (up to £1,500 extra for eligible rural and island homes) and an optional interest-free loan of up to £7,500. For a home in the Scottish Borders, apply and receive the written offer before the installation date is fixed.
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 the Scottish Borders
The ranges below are typical installed prices for homes in the Scottish Borders, including VAT. A survey sets the exact figure, because two similar-looking houses in the Scottish Borders can need quite different radiators and pipework.
| Work | Guide price |
|---|---|
| Heat pump hot water cylinder (supplied and fitted) | £1,200–£2,250 |
Supplied and fitted, inc VAT. Included in every full system price.
Towns we cover in the Scottish Borders
We cover 8 towns in the Scottish Borders 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duns | TD11 | Eyemouth | 7 h 00 min |
| Eyemouth | TD14 | Duns | 6 h 58 min |
| Galashiels | TD1 | Selkirk | 7 h 02 min |
| Hawick | TD9 | Selkirk | 7 h 04 min |
| Jedburgh | TD8 | Kelso | 7 h 04 min |
| Kelso | TD5 | Jedburgh | 7 h 02 min |
| Peebles | EH45 | Penicuik | 7 h 01 min |
| Selkirk | TD7 | Galashiels | 7 h 03 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.
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.
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.
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.