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.
Many older houses in Hampshire still have their original single-panel radiators, so the survey checks each one against the room it heats. In Hampshire, bay-windowed front rooms are often the rooms that need a larger radiator when moving to a heat pump. Extensions and kitchen-diners around Hampshire with large glazed areas get their own radiator calculation.
Who it suits
- Rooms with little wall space, where a fan-assisted radiator fits better
- Rooms that already feel slow to heat, such as bay-windowed living rooms
- Extensions and loft conversions with large areas of glazing
- 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 Hampshire
These are guide prices for Hampshire, installed and including VAT. Your final price is fixed in a written quote after the survey and depends on the heat loss of the house, the radiators that need changing and where the unit goes.
| 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 Hampshire
We cover 23 towns in Hampshire for heat pump radiator upgrades. Each links to local guide prices and the grant position for England.
| Town | Postcode district | Nearest town | Midwinter daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southampton | SO14 | Totton | 7 h 56 min |
| Portsmouth | PO1 | Gosport | 7 h 57 min |
| Basingstoke | RG21 | Alton | 7 h 52 min |
| Gosport | PO12 | Portsmouth | 7 h 57 min |
| Waterlooville | PO7 | Havant | 7 h 56 min |
| Farnborough | GU14 | Aldershot | 7 h 52 min |
| Eastleigh | SO50 | Southampton | 7 h 55 min |
| Winchester | SO23 | Eastleigh | 7 h 54 min |
| Havant | PO9 | Waterlooville | 7 h 56 min |
| Andover | SP10 | Winchester | 7 h 52 min |
| Fareham | PO16 | Gosport | 7 h 56 min |
| Aldershot | GU11 | Farnborough | 7 h 52 min |
| Fleet | GU51 | Farnborough | 7 h 52 min |
| Totton | SO40 | Southampton | 7 h 55 min |
| New Milton | BH25 | Lymington | 7 h 57 min |
| Bordon | GU35 | Alton | 7 h 53 min |
| Yateley | GU46 | Fleet | 7 h 51 min |
| Alton | GU34 | Bordon | 7 h 53 min |
| Romsey | SO51 | Totton | 7 h 55 min |
| Fordingbridge | SP6 | Ringwood | 7 h 55 min |
| Lymington | SO41 | New Milton | 7 h 57 min |
| Petersfield | GU31 | Bordon | 7 h 55 min |
| Ringwood | BH24 | Fordingbridge | 7 h 56 min |
Heat pump radiator upgrades questions
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.
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.
Can I keep my radiators and just run the heat pump hotter?
You can, but it usually costs more to run. Every extra degree of flow temperature reduces a heat pump's efficiency, so a system designed at 55°C uses noticeably more electricity than one at 45°C for the same heat. A few well-chosen radiator upgrades often let the whole house run cooler, which is the better long-term trade.