Oil and LPG boiler replacement means swapping a boiler that burns delivered fuel for an air-to-water heat pump running on electricity, then decommissioning the fuel tank. Homes off the gas grid are often rural, detached or older, so they tend to lose more heat than a typical suburban house. That makes careful heat loss design especially important, but it also means there is usually space outside for the unit.
Cottages and farmhouses in and around Wiltshire often have solid walls, so the survey looks closely at construction and draughts. Rural properties near Wiltshire usually have garden space for the outdoor unit, sited away from windows and sheltered where possible. For homes outside Wiltshire reached by a long drive or narrow lane, delivery of the unit and cylinder is planned in advance.
Who it suits
- Owners tired of fuel deliveries and tank maintenance
- Detached houses and bungalows with garden space for the unit
- Rural and village homes off the mains gas grid
- Eligible homes in England and Wales within the higher grant window
Grants and rules for heat pumps in England
In England the Boiler Upgrade Scheme gives £7,500 towards an air source heat pump (£9,000 if it replaces oil or LPG, from 21 July 2026 to 31 March 2027), and since 28 April 2026 a valid EPC is no longer needed. The grant is applied for by the MCS-certified installer and shown as a deduction on your quote.
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 Wiltshire
The ranges below are typical installed prices for homes in Wiltshire, including VAT. A survey sets the exact figure, because two similar-looking houses in Wiltshire can need quite different radiators and pipework.
| Home | Typical size | Installed guide price | After £9,000 grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 bedroom flat or small terrace | 4–5 kW | £9,600–£12,650 | £600–£3,650 |
| 2–3 bedroom terrace or semi | 5–7 kW | £10,600–£13,650 | £1,600–£4,650 |
| 3 bedroom semi or small detached | 6–9 kW | £12,100–£15,650 | £3,100–£6,650 |
| 4 bedroom detached | 8–12 kW | £14,150–£18,200 | £5,150–£9,200 |
| 5+ bedroom or larger older house | 11–16 kW | £16,650–£22,750 | £7,650–£13,750 |
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 Wiltshire
We cover 12 towns in Wiltshire 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swindon | SN1 | Marlborough | 7 h 49 min |
| Salisbury | SP1 | Amesbury | 7 h 54 min |
| Trowbridge | BA14 | Bradford-on-Avon | 7 h 51 min |
| Chippenham | SN15 | Corsham | 7 h 50 min |
| Melksham | SN12 | Corsham | 7 h 51 min |
| Warminster | BA12 | Trowbridge | 7 h 53 min |
| Calne | SN11 | Chippenham | 7 h 50 min |
| Devizes | SN10 | Calne | 7 h 51 min |
| Amesbury | SP4 | Salisbury | 7 h 53 min |
| Bradford-on-Avon | BA15 | Trowbridge | 7 h 51 min |
| Corsham | SN13 | Chippenham | 7 h 50 min |
| Marlborough | SN8 | Swindon | 7 h 50 min |
Replacing an oil or LPG boiler with a heat pump questions
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.
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.
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.
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.