The good news is that many homes keep most of their existing radiators. Older houses were often fitted with radiators larger than they needed, and rooms that have since been insulated may now need less heat. The only way to know is a room-by-room calculation: the heat loss survey works out how much heat each room loses on a cold day and checks whether the radiator already there can deliver it at the chosen flow temperature.
In East Sussex, bay-windowed front rooms are often the rooms that need a larger radiator when moving to a heat pump. Extensions and kitchen-diners around East Sussex with large glazed areas get their own radiator calculation. Radiator fitting in East Sussex is scheduled with your heat pump installation so the system is drained only once.
Who it suits
- Homeowners who want the lowest practical flow temperature for efficiency
- Rooms that already feel slow to heat, such as bay-windowed living rooms
- Rooms with little wall space, where a fan-assisted radiator fits better
- Homes switching from a gas, oil or LPG boiler to a heat pump
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 radiators prices in East Sussex
The ranges below are typical installed prices for homes in East Sussex, including VAT. A survey sets the exact figure, because two similar-looking houses in East Sussex can need quite different radiators and pipework.
| Work | Guide price |
|---|---|
| Replacement radiator, sized for a heat pump (each, fitted) | £260–£460 |
| Upgrade of about 10 radiators | £2,050–£5,150 |
| Pipework upgrade (e.g. microbore to larger bore) | £1,550–£3,600 |
Installed, inc VAT. The survey lists which radiators need changing.
Towns we cover in East Sussex
We cover 14 towns in East Sussex for heat pump radiator upgrades. Each links to local guide prices and the grant position for England.
| Town | Postcode district | Nearest town | Midwinter daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brighton | BN1 | Peacehaven | 7 h 56 min |
| Eastbourne | BN21 | Hailsham | 7 h 57 min |
| Hastings | TN34 | Bexhill-on-Sea | 7 h 56 min |
| Bexhill-on-Sea | TN40 | Battle | 7 h 56 min |
| Hailsham | BN27 | Eastbourne | 7 h 56 min |
| Seaford | BN25 | Newhaven | 7 h 57 min |
| Crowborough | TN6 | Uckfield | 7 h 54 min |
| Peacehaven | BN10 | Newhaven | 7 h 57 min |
| Uckfield | TN22 | Crowborough | 7 h 55 min |
| Lewes | BN7 | Peacehaven | 7 h 56 min |
| Battle | TN33 | Bexhill-on-Sea | 7 h 55 min |
| Heathfield | TN21 | Uckfield | 7 h 55 min |
| Newhaven | BN9 | Seaford | 7 h 57 min |
| Rye | TN31 | Hastings | 7 h 55 min |
Heat pump radiator upgrades questions
Are fan-assisted radiators noisy?
Fan-assisted radiators make a low, steady fan sound when running at higher output, and many have quieter settings for bedrooms at night. They are useful where wall space is short, such as a kitchen with few clear walls. They need a small electrical supply, which we plan into the installation if you choose them.
Can radiators be changed without draining the whole system?
Radiator changes normally mean draining the heating system, which is why they are usually done as part of the heat pump installation. The system is then refilled, flushed, treated with inhibitor and balanced. Doing the radiators at the same time avoids draining twice and means the new radiators are commissioned with the heat pump.
Do I need new radiators for a heat pump?
Not necessarily: many homes keep most of their radiators and replace only a few. The heat loss survey checks each room against its existing radiator at the planned flow temperature. Rooms with large windows, high ceilings or extensions are the usual candidates for an upgrade, while bedrooms often need no change. Your radiator schedule lists every decision.
How much does a heat pump radiator cost?
A replacement radiator sized for a heat pump has a guide price of £250–£450 each, installed and including VAT. Upgrading about ten radiators in a typical home has a guide price of £2,000–£5,000. The final price is fixed in your written quote after the survey, once the radiator schedule shows exactly which radiators change.