A high-temperature heat pump is an air-to-water heat pump able to produce flow temperatures of around 65–75°C, close to what a gas or oil boiler delivers, instead of the 35–50°C at which standard heat pumps run most efficiently. That means existing radiators can often heat rooms much as they do now, without being replaced with larger ones.
For older Cambridgeshire homes with microbore pipework, a higher flow temperature can avoid lifting floors to replace pipes. Period houses in Cambridgeshire with original cast-iron radiators may suit a high-temperature unit that works with them. A survey in Cambridgeshire can compare a high-temperature unit with upsizing a few radiators, for homes anywhere in Cambridgeshire.
Who it suits
- Older homes where insulation improvements are limited
- Homes with microbore pipework that would be disruptive to replace
- Period and listed homes where the radiators are part of the character
- Owners who want fewer changes inside the house
Grants and rules for heat pumps in England
Homes in Cambridgeshire 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.
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.
High-temperature heat pumps prices in Cambridgeshire
These are guide prices for Cambridgeshire, 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.
| Home | Typical size | Installed guide price | After £7,500 grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 bedroom flat or small terrace | 4–5 kW | £9,700–£12,750 | £2,200–£5,250 |
| 2–3 bedroom terrace or semi | 5–7 kW | £10,700–£13,750 | £3,200–£6,250 |
| 3 bedroom semi or small detached | 6–9 kW | £12,250–£15,800 | £4,750–£8,300 |
| 4 bedroom detached | 8–12 kW | £14,300–£18,350 | £6,800–£10,850 |
| 5+ bedroom or larger older house | 11–16 kW | £16,850–£22,950 | £9,350–£15,450 |
Installed, inc VAT: unit, cylinder, controls, minor pipework and commissioning. A high-temperature unit typically adds £1,500–£3,000.
Towns we cover in Cambridgeshire
We cover 9 towns in Cambridgeshire for high-temperature heat pumps. Each links to local guide prices and the grant position for England.
| Town | Postcode district | Nearest town | Midwinter daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peterborough | PE1 | Whittlesey | 7 h 38 min |
| Cambridge | CB2 | Royston | 7 h 42 min |
| Wisbech | PE13 | March | 7 h 37 min |
| St Neots | PE19 | Huntingdon | 7 h 42 min |
| Huntingdon | PE29 | St Neots | 7 h 41 min |
| March | PE15 | Wisbech | 7 h 39 min |
| Ely | CB6 | March | 7 h 40 min |
| Ramsey | PE26 | Whittlesey | 7 h 40 min |
| Whittlesey | PE7 | Peterborough | 7 h 38 min |
High-temperature heat pumps questions
Are high-temperature heat pumps less efficient?
Yes, when they run hot. Every heat pump uses more electricity per unit of heat as the flow temperature rises, so a unit running at 70°C is less efficient than one running at 45°C. With weather compensation it runs cooler for much of the year, which narrows the gap. The design aims to keep the maximum temperature as low as your radiators allow.
Can a heat pump work with my existing radiators?
Often, yes, especially with a high-temperature unit. Standard heat pumps run most efficiently at 35–50°C, so some radiators may be too small at those temperatures. A high-temperature unit can run at around 65–75°C, so existing radiators can usually heat rooms much as they do with a boiler, at a cost in efficiency. The survey checks every radiator against its room's heat loss.
Are high-temperature heat pumps eligible for the grant?
In England and Wales, yes. A high-temperature unit is an air-to-water heat pump, so eligible owners of existing homes can receive £7,500 through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, or £9,000 when replacing oil or LPG within the published dates. Scotland's Home Energy Scotland funding has its own conditions, and Northern Ireland has no dedicated homeowner grant at present.
Why do many high-temperature units use R290?
R290 is propane, a natural refrigerant with a very low global warming impact. Its properties make higher water temperatures more achievable than with some earlier refrigerants. Because it is flammable, manufacturers set clearance zones around the outdoor unit from windows, doors, drains and other openings, which the survey uses when choosing a position.