- Area
- Northamptonshire
- Postcode district
- NN16
- Nation
- England
- Guide price
- From £9,500 inc VAT
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
What to know about replacing an oil or LPG boiler with a heat pump in Kettering
In Kettering, 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.
Bungalows and detached houses near Kettering running on LPG can move to a heat pump, with the tank collected by the supplier. Owners across Northamptonshire can have oil tank removal arranged alongside a heat pump installation in Kettering.
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
- Eligible homes in England and Wales within the higher grant window
What's included
- Oil tank draining and removal or making safe, as set out in your quote
- Network operator notification and electrical connection
- Free survey with a detailed heat loss calculation for older construction
- Help arranging LPG tank collection with your supplier
- Outdoor unit, heat pump cylinder, controls and radiator changes
If your home near Kettering is off the mains gas grid, a heat pump removes the need for oil or LPG deliveries.
Grants and rules for heat pumps in England
Homes in Kettering 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.
Installing heat pumps is zero-rated for VAT across the UK until 31 March 2027. Since 29 May 2025, permitted development in England allows up to two air source heat pumps on a house, each up to 1.5 m³, with no blanket 1 m boundary rule — the installation must still meet the MCS planning standards, including the noise check. Listed buildings, flats and some conservation-area positions need extra consent, which we check at survey.
Oil and LPG boiler replacement prices in Kettering
Guide prices for Kettering and the rest of Northamptonshire 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 | After £9,000 grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 bedroom flat or small terrace | 4–5 kW | £9,500–£12,500 | £500–£3,500 |
| 2–3 bedroom terrace or semi | 5–7 kW | £10,500–£13,500 | £1,500–£4,500 |
| 3 bedroom semi or small detached | 6–9 kW | £12,000–£15,500 | £3,000–£6,500 |
| 4 bedroom detached | 8–12 kW | £14,000–£18,000 | £5,000–£9,000 |
| 5+ bedroom or larger older house | 11–16 kW | £16,500–£22,500 | £7,500–£13,500 |
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.
How long is the heating season in Kettering?
On the shortest day Kettering gets about 7 hours 40 minutes of daylight, with the noon sun around 14° up. The heating season runs from autumn into spring, so a heat pump that is sized correctly and set up with weather compensation does most of its work in steady, cool conditions.
The steps for replacing an oil or LPG boiler with a heat pump in Kettering
- Send your postcode and a few details, or use the guide price tool.
- A surveyor visits your Kettering 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 Kettering: questions
Can you service a heat pump in Kettering that someone else installed?
Yes. We arrange servicing and repairs for most air source heat pumps in Kettering, whoever fitted them. Tell us the make and model when you book.
Do I need new radiators for a heat pump in Kettering?
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 Kettering home gives a room-by-room list.
What size heat pump does a Kettering 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 Kettering home.
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.
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.