We plan the whole change: the heat pump, cylinder and radiators, and what happens to the tank. Oil tanks are drained, cleaned and removed or made safe, and leased LPG tanks are usually collected by the supplier that owns them. Your quote sets out which parts are included and who arranges each one, so nothing is left loose at the end.
If your home near Hertfordshire is off the mains gas grid, a heat pump removes the need for oil or LPG deliveries. Cottages and farmhouses in and around Hertfordshire often have solid walls, so the survey looks closely at construction and draughts. Rural properties near Hertfordshire usually have garden space for the outdoor unit, sited away from windows and sheltered where possible.
Who it suits
- Rural and village homes off the mains gas grid
- Older oil boilers nearing the end of their life
- Owners tired of fuel deliveries and tank maintenance
- Eligible homes in England and Wales within the higher grant window
Grants and rules for heat pumps in England
Homes in Hertfordshire 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.
Oil and LPG boiler replacement prices in Hertfordshire
Here are typical prices for replacing an oil or LPG boiler with a heat pump in Hertfordshire, installed and including VAT. Use the guide price tool for a figure based on your home, then a survey confirms it in writing.
| Home | Typical size | Installed guide price | After £9,000 grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 bedroom flat or small terrace | 4–5 kW | £10,000–£13,150 | £1,000–£4,150 |
| 2–3 bedroom terrace or semi | 5–7 kW | £11,050–£14,200 | £2,050–£5,200 |
| 3 bedroom semi or small detached | 6–9 kW | £12,600–£16,300 | £3,600–£7,300 |
| 4 bedroom detached | 8–12 kW | £14,700–£18,900 | £5,700–£9,900 |
| 5+ bedroom or larger older house | 11–16 kW | £17,350–£23,650 | £8,350–£14,650 |
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.
Towns we cover in Hertfordshire
We cover 17 towns in Hertfordshire for replacing an oil or LPG boiler with a heat pump. Each links to local guide prices and the grant position for England.
| Town | Postcode district | Nearest town | Midwinter daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hemel Hempstead | HP2 | Berkhamsted | 7 h 47 min |
| Stevenage | SG1 | Hitchin | 7 h 45 min |
| St Albans | AL1 | Radlett | 7 h 47 min |
| Welwyn Garden City | AL8 | Hatfield | 7 h 46 min |
| Cheshunt | EN8 | Hoddesdon | 7 h 47 min |
| Hatfield | AL10 | Welwyn Garden City | 7 h 47 min |
| Bishop's Stortford | CM23 | Ware | 7 h 46 min |
| Hitchin | SG6 | Letchworth Garden City | 7 h 45 min |
| Hoddesdon | EN11 | Ware | 7 h 47 min |
| Letchworth Garden City | SG6 | Hitchin | 7 h 45 min |
| Harpenden | AL5 | St Albans | 7 h 46 min |
| Hertford | SG13 | Ware | 7 h 47 min |
| Berkhamsted | HP4 | Tring | 7 h 47 min |
| Ware | SG12 | Hertford | 7 h 46 min |
| Royston | SG7 | Letchworth Garden City | 7 h 44 min |
| Radlett | WD7 | St Albans | 7 h 48 min |
| Tring | HP23 | Berkhamsted | 7 h 47 min |
Replacing an oil or LPG boiler with a heat pump questions
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.
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.