- Area
- Highlands and Islands
- Postcode district
- KW1
- 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 Wick
The question for a Wick 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.
Rural properties near Wick usually have garden space for the outdoor unit, sited away from windows and sheltered where possible. Owners across the Highlands and Islands can have oil tank removal arranged alongside a heat pump installation in Wick.
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.
- Detached houses and bungalows with garden space for the unit
- Owners tired of fuel deliveries and tank maintenance
- Older oil boilers nearing the end of their life
What's included
- Network operator notification and electrical connection
- Removal of the oil or LPG boiler and flue
- Outdoor unit, heat pump cylinder, controls and radiator changes
- Help arranging LPG tank collection with your supplier
- Free survey with a detailed heat loss calculation for older construction
If your home near Wick 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 Wick home, apply and receive the written offer before the installation date is fixed.
Installing heat pumps is zero-rated for VAT across the UK until 31 March 2027. Scotland has its own permitted development rules for air source heat pumps and its own building standards, so we confirm what applies to your Wick property at survey.
What to budget for replacing an oil or LPG boiler with a heat pump in Wick
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 Wick 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.
Winter daylight and heating in Wick
Wick has about 6 hours 20 minutes of daylight at midwinter against 18 hours 19 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.
What happens after you enquire in Wick?
- Send your postcode and a few details, or use the guide price tool.
- A surveyor visits your Wick 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.
Wick 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 Wick: questions
Do I need new radiators for a heat pump in Wick?
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 Wick home gives a room-by-room list.
How soon can you survey a home in Wick?
Survey dates depend on how busy installers are in the Highlands and Islands. We offer the next available dates when you enquire and confirm them in writing.
Where would the outdoor unit go on a Wick 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 Wick home.
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.
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.