- Area
- County Down
- Postcode district
- BT18
- Nation
- Northern Ireland
- Guide price
- From £9,200 inc VAT
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
What to know about replacing an oil or LPG boiler with a heat pump in Holywood
In Holywood, 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.
For homes outside Holywood reached by a long drive or narrow lane, delivery of the unit and cylinder is planned in advance. Rural properties near Holywood usually have garden space for the outdoor unit, sited away from windows and sheltered where possible.
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
- Detached houses and bungalows with garden space for the unit
- Older oil boilers nearing the end of their life
What's included
- Free survey with a detailed heat loss calculation for older construction
- Oil tank draining and removal or making safe, as set out in your quote
- Outdoor unit, heat pump cylinder, controls and radiator changes
- Network operator notification and electrical connection
- Help arranging LPG tank collection with your supplier
Bungalows and detached houses near Holywood running on LPG can move to a heat pump, with the tank collected by the supplier.
Grants and rules for heat pumps in Northern Ireland
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme covers England and Wales only, and there is currently no dedicated heat pump grant for homeowners in Northern Ireland. Our quote for a Holywood home is therefore shown without a grant deduction; if support becomes available we will tell you how it applies.
Installing heat pumps has been zero-rated for VAT in Northern Ireland since 1 May 2023, in line with the rest of the UK, until 31 March 2027. Northern Ireland has its own permitted development rules and building regulations, and we confirm what applies to your Holywood property at survey.
What to budget for replacing an oil or LPG boiler with a heat pump in Holywood
The ranges below are typical installed prices for homes in County Down, including VAT. A survey sets the exact figure, because two similar-looking houses in Holywood can need quite different radiators and pipework.
| Home | Typical size | Installed guide price |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 bedroom flat or small terrace | 4–5 kW | £9,200–£12,150 |
| 2–3 bedroom terrace or semi | 5–7 kW | £10,200–£13,100 |
| 3 bedroom semi or small detached | 6–9 kW | £11,650–£15,050 |
| 4 bedroom detached | 8–12 kW | £13,600–£17,450 |
| 5+ bedroom or larger older house | 11–16 kW | £16,000–£21,850 |
Installed, inc VAT: unit, cylinder, controls, minor pipework and commissioning. No dedicated heat pump grant currently applies in Northern Ireland.
How long is the heating season in Holywood?
On the shortest day Holywood gets only about 7 hours 14 minutes of daylight and the noon sun sits around 12° above the horizon. Northern winters tend to be longer, so a well-designed, efficient system matters more here because it runs for more of the year.
What happens after you enquire in Holywood?
- Tell us about your home: postcode, property type and current heating.
- We book a survey in Holywood; 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 Holywood: questions
What size heat pump does a Holywood home need?
It depends on the heat loss, not the postcode. As a rough guide, a 3 bedroom semi often needs 6–9 kW, but the room-by-room survey sets the actual size for your Holywood home.
How soon can you survey a home in Holywood?
Survey dates depend on how busy installers are in County Down. We offer the next available dates when you enquire and confirm them in writing.
Do I need new radiators for a heat pump in Holywood?
Often some, not all. Heat pumps run best at lower water temperatures, so rooms with small radiators may need larger ones. The survey of your Holywood home gives a room-by-room list.
How much is the grant for replacing an oil boiler with a heat pump?
In England and Wales, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant is £9,000 when an air-to-water heat pump replaces oil or LPG heating, for installations from 21 July 2026 to 31 March 2027. Otherwise the standard £7,500 applies. The installer claims it and deducts it from your quote. Scotland's Home Energy Scotland funding works differently and includes extra for eligible rural homes; Northern Ireland has no dedicated homeowner scheme at present.
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.