What is the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant?

It's a government grant that pays £7,500 off the cost of a new air source heat pump. It's paid directly to your MCS-certified installer, so it comes off your quote — you don't claim it back. There's no income means test, and it covers most of the cost of a typical heat pump installation. See the Energy Security and Net Zero Boiler Upgrade Scheme guidance for current eligibility.

Will a heat pump work with my old radiators?

Often yes, but heat pumps run at a lower flow temperature than a gas boiler, so for peak efficiency you may need bigger radiators or some insulation upgrades. Installers quote this as part of the job. High-temperature heat pumps like the Daikin Altherma 3H HT (70°C flow) suit older, draughtier homes better. The Energy Saving Trust recommends checking your home's insulation before switching.

What does SCOP actually mean?

SCOP (Seasonal Coefficient Of Performance) is the heat pump's efficiency over a whole heating season — how many units of heat it produces per unit of electricity. A SCOP of 5 means you get 5kW of heat for every 1kW of electricity used. Higher is better and cheaper to run. MCS publishes the SCOP figures certified against product datasheets.

Are heat pumps noisy?

Outdoor units typically run at 37-52 dB — about as loud as a modern fridge or quiet conversation. Models like the Vaillant aroTHERM plus (down to 37 dB) and Octopus Cosy 6 are among the quietest. Proper siting away from bedrooms keeps the noise well within planning-permitted levels recommended by MCS 020 installation guidance.

Can a heat pump cool my home too?

Yes — and this is the huge UK advantage. Air source heat pumps are reversible, so the same unit that heats in winter can run your radiators or underfloor cooling in summer. That makes one investment do the work of both a boiler and an air conditioner.

What is the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant?

It's a government grant that pays £7,500 off the cost of a new air source heat pump. It's paid directly to your MCS-certified installer, so it comes off your quote — you don't claim it back. There's no income means test, and it covers most of the cost of a typical heat pump installation. See the Energy Security and Net Zero Boiler Upgrade Scheme guidance for current eligibility.

Will a heat pump work with my old radiators?

Often yes, but heat pumps run at a lower flow temperature than a gas boiler, so for peak efficiency you may need bigger radiators or some insulation upgrades. Installers quote this as part of the job. High-temperature heat pumps like the Daikin Altherma 3H HT (70°C flow) suit older, draughtier homes better. The Energy Saving Trust recommends checking your home's insulation before switching.

What does SCOP actually mean?

SCOP (Seasonal Coefficient Of Performance) is the heat pump's efficiency over a whole heating season — how many units of heat it produces per unit of electricity. A SCOP of 5 means you get 5kW of heat for every 1kW of electricity used. Higher is better and cheaper to run. MCS publishes the SCOP figures certified against product datasheets.

Are heat pumps noisy?

Outdoor units typically run at 37-52 dB — about as loud as a modern fridge or quiet conversation. Models like the Vaillant aroTHERM plus (down to 37 dB) and Octopus Cosy 6 are among the quietest. Proper siting away from bedrooms keeps the noise well within planning-permitted levels recommended by MCS 020 installation guidance.

Can a heat pump cool my home too?

Yes — and this is the huge UK advantage. Air source heat pumps are reversible, so the same unit that heats in winter can run your radiators or underfloor cooling in summer. That makes one investment do the work of both a boiler and an air conditioner.

Air source heat pumps · 2026 UK guide

The 10 best heat pumps in the UK, compared

We’ve ranked the top air source heat pumps by efficiency (SCOP), noise, refrigerant and real price after the £7,500 government grant. Find the model that fits your home — and get free quotes from approved installers who cover your postcode.

£7.5k

Boiler Upgrade Scheme

Every eligible homeowner gets £7,500 off a new heat pump — no income means test, paid direct to your installer. Most prices on this page are quoted after this grant.

How the grant works →

The Big 5: 1 of 5

Cost & Price — What a Heat Pump Costs After the Grant

Most prices below are shown after the £7,500 BUS grant — the figure a homeowner actually pays. Typical pre-grant cost for an air source heat pump is £11,000–£16,000; the grant brings the typical installed price down to £4,000–£9,000 depending on model and home. For a full line-by-line breakdown, see our heat pump cost guide 2026.

Heat pump comparison table

Figures are manufacturer spec-sheet data, with prices as typical installed ranges after the £7,500 BUS grant.

Unit	SCOP	Noise	Refrigerant	Flow temp	Price after grant	Warranty	Best for
Vaillant aroTHERM plus Best overall	5.03	37–43 dB	R290	75°C	£4,500 – £9,000	7 years	Best overall — class-leading efficiency and SCOP above 5
Mitsubishi Ecodan HyperCore Best in the cold	4.5	38–46 dB	R32	60°C	£4,000 – £9,500	5 years	Best cold-weather performance — keeps working down to -28°C
Daikin Altherma 3H HT Best for old homes	4.6	40–48 dB	R32	70°C	£4,200 – £9,000	5 years	Best for older homes — high flow temp suits uninsulated/historic properties
Samsung EHS Mono HT Quiet Best value	4.3	39–48 dB	R32	65°C	£3,500 – £7,500	5 years	Best value — the rebate then short warranty cover the most for less
Panasonic Aquarea L-Series Best compact	4.4	40–49 dB	R32	75°C	£4,500 – £9,000	5 years	Best compact footprint — a small monobloc that fits tight side access
Grant Aerona³ 290 Best UK support	4.7	42–50 dB	R290	65°C	£3,800 – £8,000	5 years	Best UK support — an Irish/British brand with a dense service network
Octopus Cosy 6 Best tariff bundle	4.5	38–45 dB	R290	65°C	£2,500 – £4,500	8 years	Best tariff bundle — cheapest to run on Octopus's Cosy smart tariff
Worcester Bosch 4000/Greenstore Best brand recognition	4.2	43–52 dB	R32	60°C	£4,500 – £10,000	5 years	Best brand recognition — a name installers and homeowners already trust
Nibe S-Series Best premium custom	4.8	40–48 dB	R290	75°C	£4,800 – £10,000	5 years	Best for custom heating systems — Swedish reliability and a flexible range
Baxi HP60 Prime Best budget option	4.1	42–52 dB	R32	65°C	£3,500 – £7,000	5 years	Best value entry point — a well-known local brand at a gentle starting price

Vaillant aroTHERM plus

Best overall

SCOP

5.03

Noise: 37–43 dB
Refrigerant: R290
Flow temp: 75°C
Warranty: 7 years

Price after grant

£4,500 – £9,000

Best overall — class-leading efficiency and SCOP above 5

Mitsubishi Ecodan HyperCore

Best in the cold

SCOP

4.5

Noise: 38–46 dB
Refrigerant: R32
Flow temp: 60°C
Warranty: 5 years

Price after grant

£4,000 – £9,500

Best cold-weather performance — keeps working down to -28°C

Daikin Altherma 3H HT

Best for old homes

SCOP

4.6

Noise: 40–48 dB
Refrigerant: R32
Flow temp: 70°C
Warranty: 5 years

Price after grant

£4,200 – £9,000

Best for older homes — high flow temp suits uninsulated/historic properties

Samsung EHS Mono HT Quiet

Best value

SCOP

4.3

Noise: 39–48 dB
Refrigerant: R32
Flow temp: 65°C
Warranty: 5 years

Price after grant

£3,500 – £7,500

Best value — the rebate then short warranty cover the most for less

Panasonic Aquarea L-Series

Best compact

SCOP

4.4

Noise: 40–49 dB
Refrigerant: R32
Flow temp: 75°C
Warranty: 5 years

Price after grant

£4,500 – £9,000

Best compact footprint — a small monobloc that fits tight side access

Grant Aerona³ 290

Best UK support

SCOP

4.7

Noise: 42–50 dB
Refrigerant: R290
Flow temp: 65°C
Warranty: 5 years

Price after grant

£3,800 – £8,000

Best UK support — an Irish/British brand with a dense service network

Octopus Cosy 6

Best tariff bundle

SCOP

4.5

Noise: 38–45 dB
Refrigerant: R290
Flow temp: 65°C
Warranty: 8 years

Price after grant

£2,500 – £4,500

Best tariff bundle — cheapest to run on Octopus's Cosy smart tariff

Worcester Bosch 4000/Greenstore

Best brand recognition

SCOP

4.2

Noise: 43–52 dB
Refrigerant: R32
Flow temp: 60°C
Warranty: 5 years

Price after grant

£4,500 – £10,000

Best brand recognition — a name installers and homeowners already trust

Nibe S-Series

Best premium custom

SCOP

4.8

Noise: 40–48 dB
Refrigerant: R290
Flow temp: 75°C
Warranty: 5 years

Price after grant

£4,800 – £10,000

Best for custom heating systems — Swedish reliability and a flexible range

Baxi HP60 Prime

Best budget option

SCOP

4.1

Noise: 42–52 dB
Refrigerant: R32
Flow temp: 65°C
Warranty: 5 years

Price after grant

£3,500 – £7,000

Best value entry point — a well-known local brand at a gentle starting price

Prices are guide figures typical for a 3–4 bedroom home and include the £7,500 BUS grant where the model qualifies. Always get a site-specific quote — your installer confirms the grant and exact cost.

The Big 5: 2 of 5

Problems & Drawbacks — What to Watch For

Upfront cost vs a gas boiler

A heat pump still costs several thousand pounds more than a new gas boiler after the £7,500 grant in many cases. If you're not eligible, the full £11,000–£16,000 cost is on you.

Low flow temperature needs bigger radiators

Heat pumps run most efficiently at 35–45°C flow temperature, not the 60–70°C a boiler uses. Older homes often need bigger radiators, a hot water cylinder, or insulation upgrades quoted into the job.

Running costs depend on your tariff

Electricity costs around 24p/kWh under the Ofgem cap — roughly 3x gas per kWh. A heat pump only beats a gas boiler on cost if its SCOP is high enough (4+). Our running costs guide does the full maths.

Get 3 free heat pump quotes

Confirmed MCS-certified installers who cover your postcode — with your £7,500 grant applied to every quote.

Before you pay a penny

You could be £7,500 better off

The government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme gives every eligible homeowner £7,500 toward a new heat pump — paid straight to your installer, so it comes off your quote. No income means test and it covers most of the cost of a typical air source heat pump.

Check your grant eligibility →

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How to choose the right heat pump

Efficiency first — SCOP

A SCOP above 4.5 will save you the most on running costs. The Vaillant aroTHERM plus (5.03) and Grant Aerona³ (4.7) lead the pack. Don't over-pay for a modest SCOP gain if your home is well insulated.

Match it to your property

Old draughty homes need a high flow temperature. The Daikin Altherma 3H HT (70°C) is built for them. Newer, well-insulated homes can use a cheaper, low-flow model like the Samsung EHS Mono (60-65°C) and run it very efficiently.

Design the package

A heat pump is a system, not just a unit — radiators, hot water tank and the outdoor siting all matter. That's why a site visit beats reading spec sheets. Get 3 quotes and let approved installers price the full job.

The Big 5: 3 of 5

Versus & Comparisons — Air Source vs Ground Source

The two main UK heat pump types differ in cost, efficiency and digging. Air source is cheaper to install (£11,000–£16,000 pre-grant) and needs just an outdoor unit; ground source is more efficient (SCOP 3.5–4.5 vs 3–4) but costs £19,000–£35,000 and needs ground loops or a borehole. Our air source vs ground source comparison covers the full head-to-head.

Take the 60-second energy check →

The Big 5: 4 of 5

Who Each Heat Pump Is For

Well-insulated modern homes

Any SCOP 4.5+ model at lower flow temp keeps running costs down. The Vaillant aroTHERM plus or Grant Aerona³ are ideal — you get max efficiency without needing high-temperature upgrades.

Older, draughtier properties

Choose a high-flow model like the Daikin Altherma 3H HT (70°C). It works with existing radiators more readily — but budget for insulation and possibly bigger radiators in the install cost.

Price-sensitive switchers

The Octopus Cosy 6 (£2,500–£4,500 after grant) bundles a cheap heat-pump tariff, while the Samsung EHS Mono and Baxi HP60 Prime are the best budget entries after the grant.

Heat pump questions

FAQ

Heat pump FAQs

What is the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant?: It's a government grant that pays £7,500 off the cost of a new air source heat pump. It's paid directly to your MCS-certified installer, so it comes off your quote — you don't claim it back. There's no income means test, and it covers most of the cost of a typical heat pump installation. See the Energy Security and Net Zero Boiler Upgrade Scheme guidance for current eligibility.
Will a heat pump work with my old radiators?: Often yes, but heat pumps run at a lower flow temperature than a gas boiler, so for peak efficiency you may need bigger radiators or some insulation upgrades. Installers quote this as part of the job. High-temperature heat pumps like the Daikin Altherma 3H HT (70°C flow) suit older, draughtier homes better. The Energy Saving Trust recommends checking your home's insulation before switching.
What does SCOP actually mean?: SCOP (Seasonal Coefficient Of Performance) is the heat pump's efficiency over a whole heating season — how many units of heat it produces per unit of electricity. A SCOP of 5 means you get 5kW of heat for every 1kW of electricity used. Higher is better and cheaper to run. MCS publishes the SCOP figures certified against product datasheets.
Are heat pumps noisy?: Outdoor units typically run at 37-52 dB — about as loud as a modern fridge or quiet conversation. Models like the Vaillant aroTHERM plus (down to 37 dB) and Octopus Cosy 6 are among the quietest. Proper siting away from bedrooms keeps the noise well within planning-permitted levels recommended by MCS 020 installation guidance.
Can a heat pump cool my home too?: Yes — and this is the huge UK advantage. Air source heat pumps are reversible, so the same unit that heats in winter can run your radiators or underfloor cooling in summer. That makes one investment do the work of both a boiler and an air conditioner.

Sources & cited data

Boiler Upgrade Scheme — GOV.UK / Energy Security & Net Zero — https://www.gov.uk/apply-boiler-upgrade-scheme
MCS Heat Pump Installation Standards & Certification — https://mcscertified.com/products-and-schemes/heat-pumps/
Heat Pumps — Energy Saving Trust — https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/advice/heat-pumps/
Ofgem Electricity Price Cap Unit Rates — https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/energy-price-cap

SCOP figures are from MCS-certified product datasheets. Prices are typical installed ranges and should be confirmed with a site-specific quote.

The Big 5: 5 of 5

Heat Pump Verdict

Most UK homes are better served by an air source heat pump than a ground source one — the £7,500 grant covers a far larger share of the lower install cost, and the efficiency gap is modest for a well-insulated home.

If you want the best running costs: the Vaillant aroTHERM plus (SCOP 5.03) leads on efficiency, and our running costs guide shows exactly how it stacks up against a gas boiler.

If you’re replacing a gas boiler on a budget: the Octopus Cosy 6 or Samsung EHS Mono get you the lowest price after the grant. Check your £7,500 grant eligibility first, then budget for the full install.

Heat pump costs 2026

Full price breakdown + grant calculator

Air vs ground source

Head-to-head comparison

Running costs

Heat pump vs gas boiler

BUS grant

£7,500 eligibility & apply

Find installers

MCS-certified, by postcode

Running-cost calculator

Electricity vs gas, live rates

Heat pump accessories

Thermostats, cylinders, valves

Top brand pages

Vaillant aroTHERM plus Mitsubishi Ecodan Daikin Altherma Samsung EHS Mono LG Therma V

Cool in summer, heat in winter — one unit

Heat pumps are reversible, so the same system heats your home in winter and cools it through a UK heatwave. Prefer portable cooling? See what’s in stock right now.