- Area
- Devon
- Postcode district
- TQ6
- Nation
- England
- Guide price
- From £9,600 inc VAT
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
What to know about replacing an oil or LPG boiler with a heat pump in Dartmouth
The question for a Dartmouth 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.
If your home near Dartmouth is off the mains gas grid, a heat pump removes the need for oil or LPG deliveries. Cottages and farmhouses in and around Dartmouth 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
- Older oil boilers nearing the end of their life
- Rural and village homes off the mains gas grid
What's included
- Network operator notification and electrical connection
- Oil tank draining and removal or making safe, as set out in your quote
- Help arranging LPG tank collection with your supplier
- Removal of the oil or LPG boiler and flue
- Free survey with a detailed heat loss calculation for older construction
Bungalows and detached houses near Dartmouth 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 Dartmouth 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.
Guide prices for replacing an oil or LPG boiler with a heat pump in Dartmouth
The ranges below are typical installed prices for homes in Devon, including VAT. A survey sets the exact figure, because two similar-looking houses in Dartmouth can need quite different radiators and pipework.
| Home | Typical size | Installed guide price | After £9,000 grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 bedroom flat or small terrace | 4–5 kW | £9,600–£12,650 | £600–£3,650 |
| 2–3 bedroom terrace or semi | 5–7 kW | £10,600–£13,650 | £1,600–£4,650 |
| 3 bedroom semi or small detached | 6–9 kW | £12,100–£15,650 | £3,100–£6,650 |
| 4 bedroom detached | 8–12 kW | £14,150–£18,200 | £5,150–£9,200 |
| 5+ bedroom or larger older house | 11–16 kW | £16,650–£22,750 | £7,650–£13,750 |
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.
Short winter days in Dartmouth and what they mean
Dartmouth sees roughly 8 hours 01 minutes of daylight in late December against 16 hours 26 minutes in June. Milder southern winters suit heat pumps well, though the system is still sized for a cold snap rather than an average day.
The steps for replacing an oil or LPG boiler with a heat pump in Dartmouth
- Send your postcode and a few details, or use the guide price tool.
- A surveyor visits your Dartmouth home, measures every room and checks where the outdoor unit can go.
- You receive a heat loss design and a fixed written quote, with any grant shown where it applies.
- Installers fit the unit, cylinder and any radiator changes, typically over 2–4 days on site.
- The system is commissioned, set up with weather compensation and handed over with the paperwork.
Replacing an oil or LPG boiler with a heat pump in Dartmouth: questions
Where would the outdoor unit go on a Dartmouth house?
Usually at the side or rear, on a level base with space around it for airflow and servicing, away from bedroom windows where possible. The surveyor checks positions at your Dartmouth home.
Do I need new radiators for a heat pump in Dartmouth?
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 Dartmouth home gives a room-by-room list.
How long does installation take in Dartmouth?
Most installations take 2–4 days on site. Jobs with several radiator changes or new pipework take longer, and your quote for a Dartmouth home states the expected time.
Will I need bigger radiators in an older cottage or farmhouse?
Often in some rooms, because thick solid walls and older windows lose more heat, and heat pumps work at lower water temperatures than oil boilers. The survey checks each room. Rooms with high ceilings or large windows are common candidates for a larger radiator. Where swapping radiators is impractical, a high-temperature unit can be considered, with lower efficiency as the trade-off.
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.