A hybrid heat pump is an air-to-water heat pump installed alongside an existing gas, LPG or oil boiler, with a controller that decides which one supplies heat at any moment. Typically the heat pump covers mild and moderate weather, and the boiler takes over or helps on the coldest days, or whenever it is cheaper to run on the prices entered into the controller.
Combi homes in Gloucestershire with no space for a cylinder can look at a hybrid that keeps the combi for hot water. In Gloucestershire, the outdoor unit of a hybrid needs the same airflow and siting care as any heat pump. Installers covering Gloucestershire set up the hybrid controller so you can see and adjust when each heat source runs.
Who it suits
- Homes with a fairly new boiler the owner wants to keep using
- Combi homes with no room for a cylinder
- Owners who want a stepping stone towards a full heat pump later
- Large or hard-to-insulate homes where a full heat pump is difficult for now
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.
Hybrid heat pumps prices in Gloucestershire
These are guide prices for Gloucestershire, 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.
| System | Installed guide price |
|---|---|
| Hybrid heat pump alongside an existing boiler | £7,050–£11,100 |
Installed, inc VAT. Hybrid systems are not eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
Towns we cover in Gloucestershire
We cover 12 towns in Gloucestershire for hybrid heat pumps. Each links to local guide prices and the grant position for England.
| Town | Postcode district | Nearest town | Midwinter daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gloucester | GL1 | Cheltenham | 7 h 46 min |
| Cheltenham | GL50 | Tewkesbury | 7 h 45 min |
| Stroud | GL6 | Dursley | 7 h 47 min |
| Kingswood | BS15 | Mangotsfield | 7 h 50 min |
| Mangotsfield | BS16 | Kingswood | 7 h 50 min |
| Yate | BS37 | Mangotsfield | 7 h 49 min |
| Tewkesbury | GL20 | Cheltenham | 7 h 44 min |
| Cirencester | GL7 | Stroud | 7 h 47 min |
| Dursley | GL11 | Lydney | 7 h 48 min |
| Lydney | GL15 | Dursley | 7 h 47 min |
| Stow-on-the-Wold | GL56 | Chipping Norton | 7 h 45 min |
| Thornbury | BS35 | Yate | 7 h 48 min |
Hybrid heat pumps questions
Can I get the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant for a hybrid heat pump?
No. In England and Wales hybrid systems are not eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, because the scheme requires the heat pump to meet the home's full heating and hot water needs on its own. If a grant matters to your budget, a full air-to-water heat pump is the option that can qualify. In Scotland and Northern Ireland we check at survey what, if any, funding applies.
Can a hybrid work with my combi boiler?
Yes, some hybrids are designed to work with a combi, with the heat pump heating the radiators and the combi continuing to provide hot water on demand. That avoids finding space for a cylinder, which is one of the main reasons people choose a hybrid. Other hybrid designs use a cylinder heated by the heat pump, with the boiler as backup.
Is a hybrid a good step towards a full heat pump?
It can be, if the outdoor unit and pipework are sized with a future full system in mind. Later, once insulation has improved or radiators have been upgraded, the boiler can be removed and the system converted, provided the heat pump is large enough for the full load. Raise this at survey so the design leaves room to change.
Does a hybrid switch between heat sources automatically?
Yes. The hybrid controller follows rules set at commissioning: it might switch to the boiler below a chosen outdoor temperature, compare running costs using the prices you enter, or prioritise lower carbon. Some systems run both together in very cold weather. The installer sets these for your home and shows you how to adjust them when tariffs change.