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 Somerset with loft tanks can usually have them removed when an unvented cylinder is fitted. Many homes in Somerset with combi boilers have no airing cupboard, so the survey looks for the most practical cylinder space. In terraced homes around Somerset and across Somerset, slimline cylinders can fit spaces a standard model cannot.
Who it suits
- Larger families or homes with two or more bathrooms
- Every air-to-water heat pump installation, whatever the existing boiler
- Homes with solar PV that want to store daytime electricity as hot water
- Homes replacing a combi boiler that need space found for a cylinder
Grants and rules for heat pumps in England
Homes in Somerset can use the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which takes £7,500 off the cost of an air source heat pump when it replaces fossil-fuel or electric heating. Replacing oil or LPG heating qualifies for £9,000 for installations from 21 July 2026 to 31 March 2027, and air-to-air systems for £2,500. The MCS-certified installer named in your quote applies for the grant and deducts it from the price.
There is no VAT on installing a heat pump anywhere in the UK until 31 March 2027. In England most houses can have an air source heat pump under permitted development, provided the unit meets the MCS noise and siting standards; the old 1 m boundary limit was removed on 29 May 2025. We flag listed buildings, flats and sensitive conservation-area positions at survey.
Heat pump hot water cylinders prices in Somerset
Here are typical prices for heat pump hot water cylinders in Somerset, 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 Somerset
We cover 17 towns in Somerset 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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.
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.
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.