- Area
- Greater London
- Postcode district
- SW12
- Nation
- England
- Guide price
- From £280 inc VAT
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
Heat pump radiators in Balham: what to expect
A heat pump suits most Balham homes, but the details decide how efficiently it runs. Our survey looks at insulation, radiators and hot water use room by room.
Many older houses in Balham still have their original single-panel radiators, so the survey checks each one against the room it heats. For period homes in Balham and across Greater London, column radiators can keep the character of a room while giving enough heat at low temperatures.
We size each radiator to your room-by-room heat loss so a heat pump can heat your home at a low, efficient flow temperature.
- Rooms with little wall space, where a fan-assisted radiator fits better
- Homeowners who want the lowest practical flow temperature for efficiency
- Extensions and loft conversions with large areas of glazing
What's included
- Supply and fitting of new radiators, valves and brackets
- Balancing every radiator so each room heats evenly
- Pipework checks and any agreed pipe upgrades
- Making good around brackets and pipe routes, with any decorating agreed in your quote
- A radiator schedule showing which radiators stay, which change and their outputs
In Balham, bay-windowed front rooms are often the rooms that need a larger radiator when moving 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 Balham 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 Balham
The ranges below are typical installed prices for homes in Greater London, including VAT. A survey sets the exact figure, because two similar-looking houses in Balham can need quite different radiators and pipework.
| Work | Guide price |
|---|---|
| Replacement radiator, sized for a heat pump (each, fitted) | £280–£500 |
| Upgrade of about 10 radiators | £2,250–£5,600 |
| Pipework upgrade (e.g. microbore to larger bore) | £1,700–£3,900 |
Installed, inc VAT. The survey lists which radiators need changing.
Designing for Balham's winters
Balham sees roughly 7 hours 50 minutes of daylight in late December against 16 hours 38 minutes in June. Milder southern winters suit heat pumps well, though the system is still sized for a cold snap rather than an average day.
From survey to switch-on in Balham
- Tell us about your home: postcode, property type and current heating.
- We book a survey in Balham; the surveyor measures rooms, windows and radiators and looks at cylinder space.
- The design and quote arrive in writing, including radiator changes and the outdoor unit position.
- On installation days the old system is removed and the new one fitted and filled.
- We commission the heat pump, show you the controls and register the installation.
Heat pump radiator upgrades in Balham: questions
Do you cover Tooting as well as Balham?
Yes. We arrange surveys and installation in Tooting, which is about a mile south-west of Balham, and across Greater London.
How long does a heat pump survey take in Balham?
A home survey in Balham usually takes one to two hours. The surveyor measures every heated room, checks windows, walls and radiators, and looks at where the outdoor unit and cylinder can go.
What size heat pump does a Balham home need?
It depends on the heat loss, not the postcode. As a rough guide, a 3 bedroom semi often needs 6–9 kW, but the room-by-room survey sets the actual size for your Balham home.
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.
Will new radiators be much bigger than my old ones?
Sometimes, but not always. Swapping a single-panel radiator for a double or triple-panel model of the same height and width can raise output substantially, adding only depth from the wall. Where that is not enough, a longer or taller radiator, or a second radiator in the room, may be needed. We agree sizes and positions with you before anything is ordered.