- Area
- Highlands and Islands
- Postcode district
- HS1
- Nation
- Scotland
- Guide price
- From £10,650 inc VAT
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
What to know about replacing an oil or LPG boiler with a heat pump in Stornoway
In Stornoway, 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.
Cottages and farmhouses in and around Stornoway often have solid walls, so the survey looks closely at construction and draughts. For homes outside Stornoway 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.
- Older oil boilers nearing the end of their life
- Rural and village homes off the mains gas grid
- 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
- Free survey with a detailed heat loss calculation for older construction
- Network operator notification and electrical connection
- Outdoor unit, heat pump cylinder, controls and radiator changes
- Help arranging LPG tank collection with your supplier
If your home near Stornoway is off the mains gas grid, a heat pump removes the need for oil or LPG deliveries.
Grants and rules for heat pumps in Scotland
In Scotland, heat pump funding comes through Home Energy Scotland rather than the Boiler Upgrade Scheme: a grant of up to £7,500 (up to £1,500 extra for eligible rural and island homes) and an optional interest-free loan of up to £7,500. For a Stornoway home, apply and receive the written offer before the installation date is fixed.
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.
Oil and LPG boiler replacement prices in Stornoway
The ranges below are typical installed prices for homes in the Highlands and Islands, including VAT. A survey sets the exact figure, because two similar-looking houses in Stornoway can need quite different radiators and pipework.
| Home | Typical size | Installed guide price |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 bedroom flat or small terrace | 4–5 kW | £10,650–£14,000 |
| 2–3 bedroom terrace or semi | 5–7 kW | £11,750–£15,100 |
| 3 bedroom semi or small detached | 6–9 kW | £13,450–£17,350 |
| 4 bedroom detached | 8–12 kW | £15,700–£20,150 |
| 5+ bedroom or larger older house | 11–16 kW | £18,500–£25,200 |
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.
How long is the heating season in Stornoway?
Stornoway has about 6 hours 24 minutes of daylight at midwinter against 18 hours 15 minutes in midsummer. Heat pumps are designed to keep working well below freezing, but the design temperature for the survey is set for local conditions, not an average day.
The steps for replacing an oil or LPG boiler with a heat pump in Stornoway
- Send your postcode and a few details, or use the guide price tool.
- A surveyor visits your Stornoway 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.
Stornoway is in an area we cover by arrangement, so survey dates and any travel costs are confirmed individually in your quote.
Replacing an oil or LPG boiler with a heat pump in Stornoway: questions
How long does a heat pump survey take in Stornoway?
A home survey in Stornoway 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 size heat pump does a Stornoway 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 Stornoway home.
Where would the outdoor unit go on a Stornoway 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 Stornoway home.
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.
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.