- Area
- Edinburgh and the Lothians
- Postcode district
- EH42
- Nation
- Scotland
- Guide price
- From £9,700 inc VAT
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
Oil and LPG boiler replacement in Dunbar: what to expect
The question for a Dunbar 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.
Bungalows and detached houses near Dunbar running on LPG can move to a heat pump, with the tank collected by the supplier. For homes outside Dunbar reached by a long drive or narrow lane, delivery of the unit and cylinder is planned in advance.
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
- Detached houses and bungalows with garden space for the unit
What's included
- Oil tank draining and removal or making safe, as set out in your quote
- Network operator notification and electrical connection
- Help arranging LPG tank collection with your supplier
- Free survey with a detailed heat loss calculation for older construction
- Outdoor unit, heat pump cylinder, controls and radiator changes
Cottages and farmhouses in and around Dunbar often have solid walls, so the survey looks closely at construction and draughts.
Grants and rules for heat pumps in Scotland
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme does not apply in Scotland. Instead, homeowners in Dunbar 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.
There is no VAT on installing a heat pump anywhere in the UK, Scotland included, until 31 March 2027. Scottish permitted development rules and building standards apply, and the surveyor checks the unit position and any listed or conservation-area constraints.
What to budget for replacing an oil or LPG boiler with a heat pump in Dunbar
Guide prices for Dunbar and the rest of Edinburgh and the Lothians 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 | £9,700–£12,750 |
| 2–3 bedroom terrace or semi | 5–7 kW | £10,700–£13,750 |
| 3 bedroom semi or small detached | 6–9 kW | £12,250–£15,800 |
| 4 bedroom detached | 8–12 kW | £14,300–£18,350 |
| 5+ bedroom or larger older house | 11–16 kW | £16,850–£22,950 |
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.
Short winter days in Dunbar and what they mean
On the shortest day Dunbar gets only about 6 hours 57 minutes of daylight, with the sun around 11° 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.
What happens after you enquire in Dunbar?
- Send your postcode and a few details, or use the guide price tool.
- A surveyor visits your Dunbar 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 Dunbar: questions
Can you service a heat pump in Dunbar that someone else installed?
Yes. We arrange servicing and repairs for most air source heat pumps in Dunbar, whoever fitted them. Tell us the make and model when you book.
How soon can you survey a home in Dunbar?
Survey dates depend on how busy installers are in Edinburgh and the Lothians. We offer the next available dates when you enquire and confirm them in writing.
What size heat pump does a Dunbar 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 Dunbar home.
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.
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.