- Area
- Aberdeenshire and Moray
- Postcode district
- AB12
- Nation
- Scotland
- Guide price
- From £9,800 inc VAT
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
Before you book: replacing an oil or LPG boiler with a heat pump in Portlethen
In Portlethen, as anywhere in the UK, the heat pumps that perform well are the ones designed around low flow temperatures and sized from a proper heat loss calculation.
If your home near Portlethen is off the mains gas grid, a heat pump removes the need for oil or LPG deliveries. Cottages and farmhouses in and around Portlethen often have solid walls, so the survey looks closely at construction and draughts.
Off-gas homes have a lot to plan when switching to a heat pump: the fuel tank, older walls, rural power supplies and higher heat loss.
- Owners tired of fuel deliveries and tank maintenance
- Rural and village homes off the mains gas grid
- Older oil boilers nearing the end of their life
What's included
- Help arranging LPG tank collection with your supplier
- Network operator notification and electrical connection
- Free survey with a detailed heat loss calculation for older construction
- Removal of the oil or LPG boiler and flue
- Outdoor unit, heat pump cylinder, controls and radiator changes
For homes outside Portlethen reached by a long drive or narrow lane, delivery of the unit and cylinder is planned in advance.
Grants and rules for heat pumps in Scotland
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme does not apply in Scotland. Instead, homeowners in Portlethen can apply to Home Energy Scotland for a grant of up to £7,500 towards a heat pump, with up to £1,500 more for eligible rural and island homes, plus an optional interest-free loan of up to £7,500. You need a written funding offer before any work starts.
Installing heat pumps is zero-rated for VAT across the UK until 31 March 2027. Scotland has its own permitted development rules for air source heat pumps and its own building standards, so we confirm what applies to your Portlethen property at survey.
Oil and LPG boiler replacement costs around Portlethen
Guide prices for Portlethen and the rest of Aberdeenshire and Moray are shown below, installed and inc VAT. We publish ranges rather than a single figure because design details move the price, and the written quote after survey fixes it.
| Home | Typical size | Installed guide price |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 bedroom flat or small terrace | 4–5 kW | £9,800–£12,900 |
| 2–3 bedroom terrace or semi | 5–7 kW | £10,800–£13,900 |
| 3 bedroom semi or small detached | 6–9 kW | £12,350–£15,950 |
| 4 bedroom detached | 8–12 kW | £14,400–£18,550 |
| 5+ bedroom or larger older house | 11–16 kW | £17,000–£23,200 |
Installed, inc VAT: unit, cylinder, controls, minor pipework and commissioning. In Scotland, Home Energy Scotland grants of up to £7,500 and interest-free loans may reduce the cost.
How long is the heating season in Portlethen?
On the shortest day Portlethen gets only about 6 hours 42 minutes of daylight, with the sun around 10° up at noon. Long Scottish winters mean the heat pump runs for much of the year, so careful sizing, good controls and correctly sized radiators make a real difference.
How installation works in Portlethen
- Tell us about your home: postcode, property type and current heating.
- We book a survey in Portlethen; the surveyor measures rooms, windows and radiators and looks at cylinder space.
- The design and quote arrive in writing, including radiator changes and the outdoor unit position.
- On installation days the old system is removed and the new one fitted and filled.
- We commission the heat pump, show you the controls and register the installation.
Replacing an oil or LPG boiler with a heat pump in Portlethen: questions
Do you cover Aberdeen as well as Portlethen?
Yes. We arrange surveys and installation in Aberdeen, which is about 6 miles north of Portlethen, and across Aberdeenshire and Moray.
How long does a heat pump survey take in Portlethen?
A home survey in Portlethen usually takes one to two hours. The surveyor measures every heated room, checks windows, walls and radiators, and looks at where the outdoor unit and cylinder can go.
Can you service a heat pump in Portlethen that someone else installed?
Yes. We arrange servicing and repairs for most air source heat pumps in Portlethen, whoever fitted them. Tell us the make and model when you book.
Can a heat pump cope with an exposed rural spot?
Yes. Air source heat pumps are designed to keep working well below freezing, and they periodically defrost, giving off a little vapour, which is normal. In exposed locations the installer chooses a sheltered position where possible, raises the unit to clear snow and let defrost water drain, and sizes the system for the local winter design temperature used in the heat loss calculation.
Is a heat pump cheaper to run than oil?
It depends on oil prices, your home's insulation, the flow temperature and your electricity tariff, so there is no single answer. At the October to December 2026 price cap, a heat pump with a seasonal efficiency of 3.0 delivers heat for about 8.8p per kWh, and at 3.5 about 7.5p. Compare that with your oil cost per kWh of heat, allowing for your boiler's efficiency; the survey estimate gives a figure for your home.