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 Lancashire homes with microbore pipework, a higher flow temperature can avoid lifting floors to replace pipes. A survey in Lancashire can compare a high-temperature unit with upsizing a few radiators, for homes anywhere in Lancashire. Older homes around Lancashire often need a discreet unit position, such as a rear courtyard, which the survey looks for first.
Who it suits
- Owners who want fewer changes inside the house
- Rooms with no wall space for a larger radiator
- Older homes where insulation improvements are limited
- Period and listed homes where the radiators are part of the character
Grants and rules for heat pumps in England
Homes in Lancashire 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.
There is no VAT on installing a heat pump anywhere in the UK until 31 March 2027. In England most houses can have an air source heat pump under permitted development, provided the unit meets the MCS noise and siting standards; the old 1 m boundary limit was removed on 29 May 2025. We flag listed buildings, flats and sensitive conservation-area positions at survey.
High-temperature heat pumps prices in Lancashire
The ranges below are typical installed prices for homes in Lancashire, including VAT. A survey sets the exact figure, because two similar-looking houses in Lancashire can need quite different radiators and pipework.
| Home | Typical size | Installed guide price | After £7,500 grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 bedroom flat or small terrace | 4–5 kW | £9,300–£12,250 | £1,800–£4,750 |
| 2–3 bedroom terrace or semi | 5–7 kW | £10,300–£13,250 | £2,800–£5,750 |
| 3 bedroom semi or small detached | 6–9 kW | £11,750–£15,200 | £4,250–£7,700 |
| 4 bedroom detached | 8–12 kW | £13,700–£17,650 | £6,200–£10,150 |
| 5+ bedroom or larger older house | 11–16 kW | £16,150–£22,050 | £8,650–£14,550 |
Installed, inc VAT: unit, cylinder, controls, minor pipework and commissioning. A high-temperature unit typically adds £1,500–£3,000.
Towns we cover in Lancashire
We cover 21 towns in Lancashire for high-temperature heat pumps. Each links to local guide prices and the grant position for England.
| Town | Postcode district | Nearest town | Midwinter daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preston | PR1 | Leyland | 7 h 25 min |
| Burnley | BB10 | Colne | 7 h 24 min |
| Blackburn | BB2 | Darwen | 7 h 25 min |
| Blackpool | FY1 | Poulton-le-Fylde | 7 h 24 min |
| Morecambe | LA4 | Lancaster | 7 h 21 min |
| Lancaster | LA1 | Morecambe | 7 h 22 min |
| Lytham St Annes | FY8 | Blackpool | 7 h 25 min |
| Skelmersdale | WN8 | Ormskirk | 7 h 27 min |
| Leyland | PR25 | Chorley | 7 h 26 min |
| Accrington | BB5 | Rawtenstall | 7 h 25 min |
| Chorley | PR6 | Leyland | 7 h 26 min |
| Darwen | BB3 | Blackburn | 7 h 26 min |
| Thornton-Cleveleys | FY5 | Poulton-le-Fylde | 7 h 24 min |
| Fleetwood | FY7 | Thornton-Cleveleys | 7 h 23 min |
| Ormskirk | L39 | Skelmersdale | 7 h 27 min |
| Rawtenstall | BB4 | Accrington | 7 h 26 min |
| Colne | BB8 | Burnley | 7 h 24 min |
| Poulton-le-Fylde | FY3 | Blackpool | 7 h 24 min |
| Carnforth | LA5 | Lancaster | 7 h 21 min |
| Clitheroe | BB7 | Accrington | 7 h 24 min |
| Garstang | PR3 | Poulton-le-Fylde | 7 h 23 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.
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.
Is a high-temperature heat pump right for a listed building?
It can be, because it reduces the need to replace period radiators or lift historic floors for new pipework. The outdoor unit position still matters: in England, listed buildings need listed building consent for external works, and the other nations have their own rules. We check what applies at survey and look for discreet positions, such as a rear courtyard or behind an outbuilding.
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.