- Area
- County Durham
- Postcode district
- DH1
- Nation
- England
- Guide price
- From £9,200 inc VAT
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
Before you book: replacing an oil or LPG boiler with a heat pump in Durham
The question for a Durham home is rarely whether a heat pump can work, but what needs to change to make it work well: radiator sizes, pipework, controls and where the unit goes.
Owners across County Durham can have oil tank removal arranged alongside a heat pump installation in Durham. If your home near Durham is off the mains gas grid, a heat pump removes the need for oil or LPG deliveries.
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
- Older oil boilers nearing the end of their life
- Eligible homes in England and Wales within the higher grant window
What's included
- MCS certificate and grant application in England and Wales where eligible
- Oil tank draining and removal or making safe, as set out in your quote
- Outdoor unit, heat pump cylinder, controls and radiator changes
- Removal of the oil or LPG boiler and flue
- Help arranging LPG tank collection with your supplier
Bungalows and detached houses near Durham running on LPG can move to a heat pump, with the tank collected by the supplier.
Grants and rules for heat pumps in England
Homes in Durham 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.
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.
Guide prices for replacing an oil or LPG boiler with a heat pump in Durham
These are guide prices for County Durham, 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 £9,000 grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 bedroom flat or small terrace | 4–5 kW | £9,200–£12,150 | £200–£3,150 |
| 2–3 bedroom terrace or semi | 5–7 kW | £10,200–£13,100 | £1,200–£4,100 |
| 3 bedroom semi or small detached | 6–9 kW | £11,650–£15,050 | £2,650–£6,050 |
| 4 bedroom detached | 8–12 kW | £13,600–£17,450 | £4,600–£8,450 |
| 5+ bedroom or larger older house | 11–16 kW | £16,000–£21,850 | £7,000–£12,850 |
Installed, inc VAT: unit, cylinder, controls, minor pipework and commissioning. The £9,000 Boiler Upgrade Scheme figure applies to oil and LPG replacements in England and Wales installed from 21 July 2026 to 31 March 2027.
How long is the heating season in Durham?
Durham sees roughly 7 hours 13 minutes of daylight in December and 17 hours 19 minutes in June. With a longer heating season than the south, the gains from low flow temperatures and good controls add up over the year.
The steps for replacing an oil or LPG boiler with a heat pump in Durham
- Start online with a guide price or call us.
- A home survey in Durham gives us the room-by-room heat loss.
- Your written quote sets out the design, the price and the grant position where you live.
- Installation is booked for dates that suit you; most homes take 2–4 days on site.
- After commissioning you get a handover of the controls and settings, plus the certificates.
Replacing an oil or LPG boiler with a heat pump in Durham: questions
Do you cover Chester-le-Street as well as Durham?
Yes. We arrange surveys and installation in Chester-le-Street, which is about 6 miles north of Durham, and across County Durham.
How long does installation take in Durham?
Most installations take 2–4 days on site. Jobs with several radiator changes or new pipework take longer, and your quote for a Durham home states the expected time.
How long does a heat pump survey take in Durham?
A home survey in Durham 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.
What happens with a leased LPG tank?
Leased LPG tanks belong to the supplier, so the supplier arranges collection. Check your contract for notice periods and any charges before you fix a date. We time the switchover so you are not left without heating, and once the heat pump is commissioned the supplier can empty and remove the tank. Bottled LPG cylinders are simply returned.
Do I have to remove my oil tank?
Not always, but it should be emptied and made safe. A tank in good condition can be drained, cleaned and left in place, though most owners prefer to have it taken away to free up space. Old or damaged tanks are usually removed. Your quote says which option is included, and any remaining oil and sludge is disposed of properly.