Heat pump replacement means removing an existing outdoor unit, and sometimes the cylinder and controls, and fitting a new heat pump sized and set up for the home as it is now. Air source heat pumps typically last 15–20 years, so systems fitted when the technology was newer to UK homes are reaching the point where repairs become harder to justify.
Some of the earlier heat pumps in Essex are now reaching the age where replacement is worth considering. Homes in Essex with a heat pump that never kept them warm can have the whole design checked before a new unit is chosen. New outdoor units in Essex may differ in size from the old one, so the base and position are checked at survey.
Who it suits
- Older units where parts are becoming hard to source
- Systems that were undersized and struggle in cold weather
- Oversized systems that short cycle and cost more to run than expected
- Units that have failed with a major fault, such as a compressor failure
Grants and rules for heat pumps in England
Homes in Essex 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.
Heat pump replacement prices in Essex
These are guide prices including VAT. The rate for your visit in Essex is confirmed before we book it, and any repair is priced in writing before parts are ordered.
| Work | Installed guide price |
|---|---|
| Replacing an old outdoor unit like-for-like | £6,200–£9,800 |
| Full system replacement, 2–3 bedroom terrace or semi | £10,800–£13,900 |
| Full system replacement, 3 bedroom semi or small detached | £12,350–£15,950 |
| Full system replacement, 4 bedroom detached | £14,400–£18,550 |
Installed, inc VAT. Grant funding rarely applies to replacing a heat pump, so these prices are shown without any deduction; we check eligibility at survey.
Towns we cover in Essex
We cover 22 towns in Essex for heat pump replacement. Each links to local guide prices and the grant position for England.
| Town | Postcode district | Nearest town | Midwinter daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southend-on-Sea | SS1 | Rayleigh | 7 h 49 min |
| Basildon | SS16 | Stanford-le-Hope | 7 h 49 min |
| Colchester | CO1 | Coggeshall | 7 h 46 min |
| Chelmsford | CM1 | Billericay | 7 h 47 min |
| Harlow | CM20 | Hoddesdon | 7 h 47 min |
| Braintree | CM7 | Coggeshall | 7 h 46 min |
| Clacton-on-Sea | CO15 | Harwich | 7 h 47 min |
| South Benfleet | SS7 | Canvey Island | 7 h 49 min |
| Canvey Island | SS8 | South Benfleet | 7 h 49 min |
| Billericay | CM12 | Basildon | 7 h 48 min |
| Rayleigh | SS6 | South Benfleet | 7 h 49 min |
| Stanford-le-Hope | SS17 | Basildon | 7 h 49 min |
| Wickford | SS12 | Rayleigh | 7 h 48 min |
| Witham | CM8 | Maldon | 7 h 46 min |
| Maldon | CM9 | Witham | 7 h 47 min |
| Harwich | CO12 | Felixstowe | 7 h 45 min |
| Saffron Walden | CB10 | Great Dunmow | 7 h 44 min |
| Burnham-on-Crouch | CM0 | Southend-on-Sea | 7 h 48 min |
| Coggeshall | CM8 | Witham | 7 h 46 min |
| Great Dunmow | CM6 | Braintree | 7 h 46 min |
| Halstead | CO9 | Coggeshall | 7 h 45 min |
| Loughton | IG10 | Chingford | 7 h 48 min |
Heat pump replacement questions
Can I get a grant to replace my heat pump?
Usually not. In England and Wales, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme cannot normally fund a home that has already been funded for a heat pump, and it is aimed at replacing fossil-fuel or electric heating. Your circumstances may differ, so we check eligibility before quoting. In Scotland, check Home Energy Scotland's criteria. Northern Ireland has no dedicated grant at present.
Can I replace just the outdoor unit?
Often, yes, if the rest of the system is sound and correctly designed. The cylinder, controls and radiators can stay where they are compatible with the new unit. Some older cylinders and controllers do not work with a new heat pump, and the survey checks this. If the original design was the problem, replacing only the unit will not fix it.
How long does an air source heat pump last?
Air source heat pumps typically last 15–20 years, depending on the quality of the original design, how hard the unit has worked, where it is sited and how well it has been serviced. Units that short cycle or run at high flow temperatures for years may wear sooner. Annual servicing helps components last and spots problems early.
How much does it cost to replace a heat pump?
Replacing an old outdoor unit like-for-like has a guide price of £6,000–£9,500, installed and including VAT. Re-sizing, a new cylinder, radiator upgrades or new controls add to that, and each is itemised in your written quote. The final price is fixed after a survey, once we know what the existing system needs.