The hydrobox is a wall-mounted cabinet roughly the size of a boiler, or it can be built into a combined cylinder unit. It holds the heat exchanger, circulating pump, valves and controls. Outdoor units for split systems can be more compact than monobloc units of similar output, which helps where outdoor space is limited.
Properties on exposed sites around West Yorkshire can avoid outdoor water pipes altogether with a split system. Installers covering West Yorkshire keep refrigerant routes neat and protected along the outside wall. In West Yorkshire homes where the clearest unit position is away from the plant cupboard, a split system allows a longer route indoors.
Who it suits
- Exposed or frost-prone sites where outdoor water pipes would be a risk
- Houses with indoor wall space for a boiler-sized hydrobox
- Small yards, roofs or balconies that suit a more compact outdoor unit
- Homes where the outdoor unit must sit some distance from the plant space
Grants and rules for heat pumps in England
Homes in West Yorkshire 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.
Split system heat pumps prices in West Yorkshire
Here are typical prices for split system heat pumps in West Yorkshire, installed and including VAT. Use the guide price tool for a figure based on your home, then a survey confirms it in writing.
| Home | Typical size | Installed guide price | After £7,500 grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 bedroom flat or small terrace | 4–5 kW | £9,300–£12,250 | £1,800–£4,750 |
| 2–3 bedroom terrace or semi | 5–7 kW | £10,300–£13,250 | £2,800–£5,750 |
| 3 bedroom semi or small detached | 6–9 kW | £11,750–£15,200 | £4,250–£7,700 |
| 4 bedroom detached | 8–12 kW | £13,700–£17,650 | £6,200–£10,150 |
| 5+ bedroom or larger older house | 11–16 kW | £16,150–£22,050 | £8,650–£14,550 |
Installed, inc VAT: unit, cylinder, controls, minor pipework and commissioning.
Towns we cover in West Yorkshire
We cover 20 towns in West Yorkshire for split system heat pumps. Each links to local guide prices and the grant position for England.
| Town | Postcode district | Nearest town | Midwinter daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leeds | LS1 | Morley | 7 h 25 min |
| Bradford | BD1 | Cleckheaton | 7 h 25 min |
| Huddersfield | HD1 | Brighouse | 7 h 26 min |
| Wakefield | WF1 | Ossett | 7 h 26 min |
| Halifax | HX3 | Brighouse | 7 h 25 min |
| Dewsbury | WF12 | Ossett | 7 h 26 min |
| Morley | LS27 | Dewsbury | 7 h 25 min |
| Keighley | BD21 | Bingley | 7 h 24 min |
| Castleford | WF10 | Pontefract | 7 h 25 min |
| Pontefract | WF8 | Castleford | 7 h 26 min |
| Yeadon | LS19 | Guiseley | 7 h 24 min |
| Brighouse | HD6 | Halifax | 7 h 26 min |
| Cleckheaton | BD19 | Liversedge | 7 h 25 min |
| Ossett | WF5 | Dewsbury | 7 h 26 min |
| Guiseley | LS20 | Yeadon | 7 h 24 min |
| Liversedge | WF15 | Cleckheaton | 7 h 26 min |
| Horsforth | LS18 | Yeadon | 7 h 24 min |
| South Elmsall | WF9 | Pontefract | 7 h 27 min |
| Mirfield | WF14 | Liversedge | 7 h 26 min |
| Bingley | BD16 | Keighley | 7 h 24 min |
Split system heat pumps questions
How far apart can the outdoor unit and hydrobox be?
It depends on the model: each manufacturer sets a maximum refrigerant pipe length and height difference, and longer runs may need extra refrigerant. In practice a split system allows more flexibility than a monobloc's water pipes, so the outdoor unit can often sit on the far side of a house, on a flat roof or round a corner. The survey measures the actual route.
Do I need an F-gas engineer for a split heat pump?
Yes. Split systems usually use a fluorinated refrigerant such as R32, so installing, servicing or repairing the refrigerant circuit must by law be done by an F-gas certified engineer. That covers joining the refrigerant pipes, testing them for leaks and charging the system. Your quote sets out who carries out each part of the installation, including the refrigerant work.
Is a split system more efficient than a monobloc?
Not inherently. Efficiency depends far more on design, meaning correct sizing, low flow temperatures and good controls, than on whether the unit is split or monobloc. A split system can avoid the heat loss and glycol of a long outdoor water run, which helps in certain layouts. The survey estimates seasonal efficiency for the specific units proposed, so you can compare like for like.
Can a split system replace my combi boiler?
Yes, but like any air-to-water heat pump it needs a hot water cylinder, because it does not heat water instantly. The hydrobox can sometimes go where the combi was, with the cylinder in a cupboard, utility room or garage. Integrated units combining both are useful where one larger space is available. The survey checks what fits before the design is finalised.