Frequently Asked Questions

Towsty is a free online tool that helps you find out whether a heat pump is right for your home. You answer a few questions about your property and we combine your answers with EPC data where available to estimate your heat loss, system size, installation cost, and potential savings. If you like what you see, Towsty connects you with MCS-certified installers in your area who can carry out a full home survey and provide a detailed quote.

A heat pump is a renewable heating technology that extracts heat from the air or ground and transfers it indoors to warm your home and provide hot water. Air source heat pumps are most common in the UK. They work like a fridge in reverse - they extract heat from outside air even in cold weather and compress it to create warmth for your home.

Savings vary significantly depending on your current heating system, property insulation, and energy use. Heat pumps are typically 3.4x more efficient than a gas boiler, which means you need much less energy to produce the same warmth. If you currently heat with oil, LPG, or electric storage heaters the savings are usually larger; for homes already on mains gas the saving depends on how well insulated your property is. Complete your Towsty assessment to get a personalised running cost estimate based on your actual home.

Yes, modern heat pumps work efficiently even in freezing temperatures. Air source heat pumps can extract heat from air as cold as -15 degrees Celsius. The UK climate is actually well-suited to heat pumps. However, they work most efficiently in milder climates. A well-designed system will still provide heating and hot water throughout winter.

Air source heat pumps (ASHP) extract heat from outside air and typically cost £10,000–£17,000 installed before grants. With the £7,500 government grant, net costs are often £2,500–£9,500. Ground source heat pumps (GSHP) extract heat from the ground and require excavation, making them more expensive (£15,000–£25,000) but more efficient. Ground source is better if you have suitable land; air source is more practical for most UK properties.

Heat pumps typically last 15-25 years with proper maintenance, similar to conventional boilers. Modern units are increasingly durable. Annual servicing (like your boiler) helps ensure longevity. Most manufacturers offer 5-10 year warranties on the equipment itself.

No. Modern heat pumps are designed to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures year-round. They work differently than radiators by providing continuous, gentle heating rather than the on-off cycles of traditional boilers. Many users find heat pumps more comfortable because they maintain more consistent temperatures.

The outdoor unit produces a low hum, similar to a fridge or a quiet air conditioning unit (typically around 40-50 decibels at one metre). Indoors, most people notice no sound at all. Your installer will position the outdoor unit to minimise any impact, usually away from bedrooms and neighbouring properties. Modern units are significantly quieter than older models.

Hybrid systems (heat pump plus boiler) do exist, but most homeowners replace their boiler entirely. A properly sized heat pump will handle all your heating and hot water, even in the coldest months. Your installer will design a system that meets your home's full heating demand. Discuss hybrid options with your installer if you're interested; grant eligibility for hybrids depends on your specific setup.

Yes, and they actually work better with heat pumps than with gas boilers. Smart thermostats and zone controls let you schedule heating by room and time, which helps optimise your running costs. Many modern heat pumps come with their own app for remote control. Your installer will set up the controls as part of the installation.

England and Wales use the Government Heat Pump Grant, also known as the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, for eligible air source heat pump installations. Scotland uses the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan scheme. Towsty currently focuses on Great Britain, so we do not include a main Northern Ireland heat pump grant route in the estimate.

In England and Wales, the standard Government Heat Pump Grant is £7,500. Off-gas homes currently heated by oil or LPG can receive up to £9,000 from 21 July 2026, subject to installer confirmation. In Scotland, Home Energy Scotland offers a £7,500 base grant, with rural and island homes potentially receiving up to £9,000; an optional interest-free loan may also be available.

In England and Wales, your MCS-certified installer applies for the Government Heat Pump Grant and shows it as a discount on your quote or invoice. In Scotland, you apply to Home Energy Scotland yourself after you have an itemised quote, so the grant is not deducted from the installer invoice by Towsty or the installer.

Towsty gives an early indication based on your location, current heating, occupancy, and property answers. In general, the grant is for existing private homes replacing an existing heating system, not homes that already have a heat pump or biomass boiler. England and Wales can include eligible owners and landlords; Scotland is stricter and normally requires the applicant to be the owner-occupier using the property as their main home.

In England and Wales, eligible property owners can include landlords, but tenants need the property owner's involvement before an installer can apply. In Scotland, Home Energy Scotland funding is normally for owner-occupiers, so landlords, second-home owners, and tenants are treated more strictly. Final eligibility is confirmed by the installer for England and Wales, or by Home Energy Scotland in Scotland.

You do not need a valid EPC for the same Boiler Upgrade Scheme application rule that used to apply in England and Wales, but EPC data still helps Towsty produce a better estimate. In Scotland, Home Energy Scotland may require a valid EPC or a Home Energy Scotland assessment before you apply. If your EPC is missing or out of date, an accredited assessor can produce one and your installer or Home Energy Scotland can advise.

Other support depends on where you live and your household circumstances. England has Warm Homes: Local Grant, which is council-led support for eligible low-income households. Wales has Nest, which checks household and property eligibility directly. Scotland has Warmer Homes Scotland and advice through Home Energy Scotland. These are separate support routes, not automatic replacements for the main heat pump grant.

Common blockers include already having a heat pump or biomass boiler, being in social housing where separate funding routes apply, recently buying a new-build property directly from a builder, or not meeting the Scotland owner-occupier/main-home rule. Towsty flags the main issues it can see from your answers, but your installer or scheme provider confirms final eligibility before you proceed.

Official guidance and MCS data put many air source heat pump installations in the low-to-mid five figures before grants, but the right figure for your home depends on heat loss, system size, cylinder space, radiators, pipework, electrical work, and access. Towsty gives you a personalised online estimate from your property data; an MCS-certified installer confirms the final specification and quote after survey. Qualifying residential installations are currently charged at 0% VAT until 31 March 2027, after which the rate is expected to revert to 5% unless policy changes.

Gross cost is the full installation price before support. In England and Wales, the Government Heat Pump Grant is normally applied by your installer as a discount, so an eligible air source heat pump quote can show £7,500 off the price. In Scotland, Home Energy Scotland funding is applicant-led, so Towsty shows it separately as potential funding rather than subtracting it from the installer invoice. If a grant is not available or not confirmed, your contribution can be closer to the gross cost.

It depends on what you are replacing and how the system is designed. Homes moving from oil, LPG, direct electric, or storage heaters often have a stronger running-cost case, while a modern efficient gas or oil boiler can be closer to neutral and may sometimes be cheaper at current tariffs. Towsty mirrors this in your results: it can show a strong saving, small saving, about-the-same outcome, or higher estimated yearly cost rather than assuming a heat pump always reduces bills.

Towsty estimates annual running cost from your home's heat demand, assumed heat pump efficiency, hot-water use, and electricity tariff. The model currently uses a space-heating SPF of around 3.4 and a heat-pump electricity assumption of around 22p/kWh. Your actual bill can move with weather, controls, flow temperature, hot-water use, smart tariffs, and Ofgem price-cap changes; Ofgem rates also vary by region, payment method, and meter type.

A heat pump can be more efficient but still cost more to run if electricity is expensive, the current heating system is already efficient, or the home needs design improvements. If you told us you're not sure what heating system you have, Towsty can still estimate the heat pump's yearly running cost, but it will not safely claim a saving against your current heating. Existing heat pump or biomass homes can also look different from a typical fossil-fuel replacement.

Sometimes, but it depends on your home, current heating, grant eligibility, and energy prices. A payback period is most useful when there is a clear estimated yearly saving after funding is taken into account. If running costs look similar, higher, or hard to compare, it is better to see a heat pump as a comfort, carbon, and home-improvement decision rather than rely on a payback number. Heat pumps typically last around 20 years with proper maintenance.

Towsty is an online estimate based on your property data, demand calculation, grant route, and energy-price assumptions. An installer's quote comes after a home survey and confirms the exact heat pump, size, radiator or pipework changes, cylinder and electrical requirements, performance assumptions, final grant handling, and installation cost. Treat Towsty as a grounded starting point, not a guaranteed quote.

On-site installation typically takes 5-7 working days for air source heat pumps, plus additional time for connecting to your heating system. Ground source heat pumps take longer due to excavation. Weather and property size can affect the timeline. Once the install window begins, most air source jobs are completed within 2-3 weeks from start to finish; the earlier survey, quote, and grant paperwork can add several more weeks before that window starts.

Not always. Many homes can use existing radiators with a heat pump, though they may need to be larger or require lower water temperatures. Some homes need additional insulation or underfloor heating for optimal efficiency. An installer will assess your home and advise on any upgrades needed.

Before installation, ensure: safe access for engineers, protection for garden during excavation (if ground source), water supply access, and electrical work preparation. Most installers handle logistics. You will need good ventilation around outdoor units. Discuss specific preparations with your chosen installer.

An installer visits your home for 1-2 hours. They'll check your current heating system, measure rooms, assess insulation, inspect your electrical supply, and find the best spot for the outdoor unit. After the survey, you'll receive a detailed quote and timeline (usually within 1-2 weeks). There's no obligation at this stage. It's also a good chance to ask questions face-to-face.

Every installer on Towsty is MCS-certified (Microgeneration Certification Scheme), which is the official UK quality standard for renewable energy installations. We vet each installer before they join our network. When you request quotes, we match you with up to three installers who cover your area and have experience with properties like yours. You are under no obligation to proceed with any of them.

Most heat pump installations include a hot water cylinder (also called a thermal store). If you currently have a combi boiler and no cylinder, you'll need space for one — typically in an airing cupboard or utility room. If you already have a cylinder it can often be reused, though your installer may recommend upgrading to a larger or better-insulated one for efficiency. Your installer will assess this during the home survey.