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 the West Midlands and across the West Midlands, slimline cylinders can fit spaces a standard model cannot. We check mains water pressure and flow at each the West Midlands property before choosing a cylinder. Cylinder sizes for the West Midlands homes are based on the people living there and the bathrooms in daily use.
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
Homes in the West Midlands 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 the West Midlands
The ranges below are typical installed prices for homes in the West Midlands, including VAT. A survey sets the exact figure, because two similar-looking houses in the West Midlands can need quite different radiators and pipework.
| 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 the West Midlands
We cover 28 towns in the West Midlands 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | B3 | Edgbaston | 7 h 39 min |
| Coventry | CV1 | Kenilworth | 7 h 40 min |
| Wolverhampton | WV1 | Willenhall | 7 h 38 min |
| Dudley | DY2 | Brierley Hill | 7 h 39 min |
| Walsall | WS1 | Wednesbury | 7 h 38 min |
| Solihull | B91 | Shirley | 7 h 40 min |
| Sutton Coldfield | B75 | Erdington | 7 h 38 min |
| West Bromwich | B70 | Oldbury | 7 h 39 min |
| Halesowen | B63 | Brierley Hill | 7 h 40 min |
| Stourbridge | DY8 | Brierley Hill | 7 h 40 min |
| Smethwick | B66 | West Bromwich | 7 h 39 min |
| Willenhall | WV13 | Bilston | 7 h 38 min |
| Tipton | DY4 | Dudley | 7 h 39 min |
| Shirley | B90 | Hall Green | 7 h 40 min |
| Brierley Hill | DY5 | Stourbridge | 7 h 39 min |
| Aldridge | WS9 | Walsall | 7 h 38 min |
| Wednesbury | WS10 | Bilston | 7 h 39 min |
| Kingswinford | DY6 | Brierley Hill | 7 h 39 min |
| Bilston | WV14 | Willenhall | 7 h 38 min |
| Edgbaston | B15 | Harborne | 7 h 40 min |
| Erdington | B23 | Sutton Coldfield | 7 h 39 min |
| Great Barr | B43 | Walsall | 7 h 38 min |
| Hall Green | B28 | Shirley | 7 h 40 min |
| Harborne | B17 | Edgbaston | 7 h 40 min |
| Kings Heath | B14 | Moseley | 7 h 40 min |
| Knowle | B93 | Solihull | 7 h 40 min |
| Moseley | B13 | Kings Heath | 7 h 40 min |
| Oldbury | B69 | West Bromwich | 7 h 39 min |
Heat pump hot water cylinders questions
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.
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.