This suits homes where changing radiators is hard: period and listed properties with cast-iron radiators or fragile finishes, homes with microbore pipework that is difficult to replace, and rooms with no space for a larger radiator. Many of these units use R290 (propane), a natural refrigerant that makes higher water temperatures more achievable than some earlier refrigerants did.
Older homes around Merseyside often need a discreet unit position, such as a rear courtyard, which the survey looks for first. For older Merseyside homes with microbore pipework, a higher flow temperature can avoid lifting floors to replace pipes. Installers in Merseyside set the weather compensation curve so the unit runs cooler on mild days.
Who it suits
- Rooms with no wall space for a larger radiator
- Period and listed homes where the radiators are part of the character
- Homes with microbore pipework that would be disruptive to replace
- Owners who want fewer changes inside the house
Grants and rules for heat pumps in England
Homes in Merseyside 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 Merseyside
These are guide prices for Merseyside, 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 | £9,200–£12,150 | £1,700–£4,650 |
| 2–3 bedroom terrace or semi | 5–7 kW | £10,200–£13,100 | £2,700–£5,600 |
| 3 bedroom semi or small detached | 6–9 kW | £11,650–£15,050 | £4,150–£7,550 |
| 4 bedroom detached | 8–12 kW | £13,600–£17,450 | £6,100–£9,950 |
| 5+ bedroom or larger older house | 11–16 kW | £16,000–£21,850 | £8,500–£14,350 |
Installed, inc VAT: unit, cylinder, controls, minor pipework and commissioning. A high-temperature unit typically adds £1,500–£3,000.
Towns we cover in Merseyside
We cover 14 towns in Merseyside for high-temperature heat pumps. Each links to local guide prices and the grant position for England.
| Town | Postcode district | Nearest town | Midwinter daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liverpool | L3 | Birkenhead | 7 h 29 min |
| Birkenhead | CH41 | Liverpool | 7 h 29 min |
| St Helens | WA10 | Prescot | 7 h 29 min |
| Southport | PR8 | Formby | 7 h 26 min |
| Wallasey | CH45 | Birkenhead | 7 h 29 min |
| Bootle | L21 | Wallasey | 7 h 28 min |
| Bebington | CH63 | Birkenhead | 7 h 30 min |
| Huyton | L36 | Prescot | 7 h 29 min |
| Kirkby | L32 | Maghull | 7 h 28 min |
| Prescot | L34 | Huyton | 7 h 29 min |
| Heswall | CH60 | Bebington | 7 h 30 min |
| Maghull | L31 | Kirkby | 7 h 28 min |
| Formby | L37 | Maghull | 7 h 27 min |
| Halewood | L26 | Huyton | 7 h 30 min |
High-temperature heat pumps questions
Do I still need a hot water cylinder?
Yes. Like other air-to-water heat pumps, a high-temperature unit heats a stored cylinder rather than supplying hot water on demand. Its higher output temperature can help the cylinder reach the temperature needed for its periodic legionella cycle with less reliance on the immersion heater. The cylinder is sized for your household at survey.
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.
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.