Is my home suitable?
A heat pump isn't a universal replacement for a gas or oil boiler. It works best in properties with reasonable insulation, a modern heat distribution system, and some space for the outdoor unit. The question of suitability is worth taking seriously before spending money, not after.
We survey the property before recommending anything. Key things we look at: insulation in the loft and walls, the existing radiator sizes (they often need upsizing to run at lower flow temperatures), hot water demand, and whether the electrical supply can support the unit. Period stone cottages across Dorset, Devon and Somerset can often be made suitable with the right preparation, but poorly-insulated properties sometimes need insulation work first. We'll be straight with you about what's required.
If a heat pump isn't the right fit, a new high-efficiency boiler may well be the better investment for your property. We give you the honest answer, not the one that leads to the bigger job.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) currently offers £7,500 towards an air source heat pump installation in England. The grant goes directly towards reducing your installation cost, not as a rebate. To qualify, the property must have an EPC with no outstanding recommendations for loft or cavity wall insulation, and the installation must be certified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS).
MCS certification isn't something we sign off ourselves. For heat pump work we team up with a specialist renewables company who surveys the property, specs the system, handles the accreditation and commissioning, while we carry out the installation and advise throughout. You get experienced local installers plus the certification the grant needs, all through one job. Eligibility is property-specific, so it's checked as part of the survey. The grant significantly changes the economics: a heat pump that might cost £12,000–£14,000 installed comes down to £5,000–£7,000 with BUS applied.
Underfloor heating pairs well with a heat pump install in properties being fully refurbished, as UFH runs most efficiently at the lower flow temperatures a heat pump produces.
Installation and commissioning
A typical air source heat pump installation runs 3–5 days: outdoor unit positioned and fixed, refrigerant lines run, the indoor unit and cylinder installed and connected to the heating system, controls fitted and programmed. The system is then commissioned and certified through a full set of checks at operating conditions by the accredited renewables partner.
We size the unit to the building's heat loss calculation, not to the next available model up. An oversized heat pump short-cycles constantly and runs less efficiently; an undersized one can't meet demand on the coldest days. Getting this right is the single most important part of the design.
Radiator sizing is assessed room by room. Some may need upsizing to run well at 45–50 degrees flow temperature rather than the 70+ degrees a gas boiler runs at. We build this into the quote so there are no surprises mid-installation.
What our customers say
"Oakley upgraded our heating to a pressurised system, fitted a new oil tank, and took care of several other jobs. Really knowledgeable and easy to work with, all done to a high standard at a competitive price."
Dorchester · Checkatrade