- Area
- Scottish Borders
- Postcode district
- TD5
- Nation
- Scotland
- Guide price
- From £9,700 inc VAT
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
What to know about replacing an oil or LPG boiler with a heat pump in Kelso
Most homes can run on a heat pump if the system is designed properly, and Kelso is no different. The key is matching the heat pump and radiators to the home's heat loss.
Owners across the Scottish Borders can have oil tank removal arranged alongside a heat pump installation in Kelso. Cottages and farmhouses in and around Kelso often have solid walls, so the survey looks closely at construction and draughts.
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
- Rural and village homes off the mains gas grid
What's included
- Oil tank draining and removal or making safe, as set out in your quote
- Removal of the oil or LPG boiler and flue
- Free survey with a detailed heat loss calculation for older construction
- Network operator notification and electrical connection
- Help arranging LPG tank collection with your supplier
For homes outside Kelso reached by a long drive or narrow lane, delivery of the unit and cylinder is planned in advance.
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 Kelso 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 costs around Kelso
Guide prices for Kelso and the rest of the Scottish Borders 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 Kelso and what they mean
Kelso has about 7 hours 02 minutes of daylight at midwinter against 17 hours 31 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 Kelso
- Send your postcode and a few details, or use the guide price tool.
- A surveyor visits your Kelso 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 Kelso: questions
Where would the outdoor unit go on a Kelso 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 Kelso home.
How long does a heat pump survey take in Kelso?
A home survey in Kelso 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.
How long does installation take in Kelso?
Most installations take 2–4 days on site. Jobs with several radiator changes or new pipework take longer, and your quote for a Kelso home states the expected time.
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.
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.