Air Source Heat Pumps Gloucester

Thinking about replacing an old gas or oil boiler with something cleaner? An air source heat pump (ASHP) in Gloucester is one of the most realistic, low carbon, heating options on the table right now, and the government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) will take £7,500-£9,000 off the price for eligible homeowners in England. The grant depends on what system is currently installed.

At Priority One Plumbing, we’re based just down the road in Churchdown, and we’ve been fitting and servicing heating systems across Gloucester for over twenty years. We’re here to explain what to expect, roughly what it costs, and what it’s like to live with one through a Gloucestershire winter.

What an Air Source Heat Pump Does

ASHPs pull warmth out of the outside air, even when the temperature is well below zero, and step it up through a refrigerant cycle until it’s hot enough to run your radiators, your underfloor heating and your hot water cylinder. It’s the same idea your fridge uses, just running the other way round.

The headline number to remember is the SCOP, or seasonal coefficient of performance. A well sized unit installed in a reasonably insulated Gloucester home will sit somewhere between 3.5 and 4.5 across a full year. In plain English, that’s three and a half to four and a half units of heat out for every one unit of electricity in. Even with electricity priced higher than gas, that maths usually lands you roughly cost neutral against a new condensing gas boiler, and quite a bit cheaper than oil or LPG.

The outdoor unit is about the size of a small wheelie bin and runs at around 40 to 50 decibels, the same as or quieter than a normal combi-boiler. You won’t hear it from inside the house.

The design of the ASHP system is crucial to its efficiency, we specialise in that design process, and then install the system as we designed it. Upon job completion we produce the building compliance certificates and the MCS certificates. These are crucial for getting your BUS grant, if you’re home qualifies.

Air Source Heat Pump Installation in Gloucester Homes

Gloucester housing is a real mix and the install changes a fair bit depending on what you’re starting with. The Victorian and Edwardian terraces around Kingsholm, Barton and Tredworth need a different approach to the 1930s semis through Tuffley and Hempsted, or the newer estates at Quedgeley, Hunts Grove and Kingsway.

When we survey a property we’re checking:

Heat loss, room by room, using a proper MCS heat loss calculation rather than a guess. This decides the kW size of the unit.
Whether your existing radiators can handle a lower flow temperature (around 45 to 55°C), or if a few need to go up a size.
Hot water. If you’re on a combi at the moment, you’ll need a hot water cylinder fitted, usually in the airing cupboard or loft.
A spot for the outdoor unit with reasonable airflow, normally on a side or rear wall.
Whether your property sits in a conservation area (large parts of central Gloucester do), as planning rules may apply.

A typical install in a three or four bed Gloucester home runs 3 to 5 days on site. We aim to leave the system commissioned and you with hot water on the same day, not a fortnight later.

Costs, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and 0% VAT

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) gives a £7,500 grant towards an ASHP for owner occupied and small non-domestic properties in England. In the summer of 2026, the grant is increasing up to £9,000 if the ASHP is replacing an oil or LPG system. On top of that, there’s no VAT on the install at all. That’s a separate energy saving materials relief that runs until at least March 2027.

Indicative prices for Gloucester homes:

Small property (approximately 6 radiators): £8,000 to £10,000 + VAT before the grant, £500 to £2,500 after the grant.
Medium property (8-12 radiators): £10,000 to £13,500 + VAT before the grant, £2,500 to £6,000 after the grant.
Large property (10-16 radiators): £12,500 to £18,000 + VAT before the grant, £5,000 to £10,500 after the grant.

A few things worth knowing that the brochures tend to skip past. The grant is paid to the installer who knocks it off your invoice, so you don’t have to claim anything back yourself. You do need an MCS certified installer to access it though, which we are. The other big factor in your running costs is the electricity tariff. There are now several heat pump specific tariffs that charge a lower unit rate during the day, which improves the economics quite noticeably.

Why Gloucester Homeowners Pick Priority One Plumbing

We’re a Gas Safe registered business with City & Guilds qualified engineers, OFTEC accreditation on the oil side, as well as both Vaillant and Worcester Bosch accredited installers. We’re familiar with all major manufacturers including Samsung and Panasonic. For over twenty years we’ve fitted and serviced heating across Gloucester, Churchdown, Brockworth, Longlevens, Hucclecote, Abbeydale, Tuffley, Quedgeley and out into the Severn Vale.

The thing that matters most with a heat pump is the design. A poorly sized unit will short cycle, run cold and cost a fortune. That’s how heat pumps get a bad reputation. We don’t cut corners on the heat loss survey because it’s the one decision that determines whether you’re happy with the system three winters from now. Our engineers are polite, tidy, they tell you what’s going on in plain English, and there are no surprise extras at the end.

If you’re weighing up a hybrid setup or want a straight comparison against a new gas boiler, we’ll talk you through both honestly. Sometimes a heat pump is the right answer and sometimes it isn’t. We’d rather tell you the truth than sell you the wrong system.

Have a look at our Gloucester services or get in touch for a free no obligation survey at your Gloucester property. You can also call the office on 07727 015 843 and ask for a heat pump quote.

Peace of Mind, Built In

Every installation we carry out is backed by an Insurance-Backed Guarantee (IBG), giving you full protection against defects; even in the unlikely event that we cease trading. The policy also includes a 2-year workmanship warranty, so you can be confident your system is covered long after we leave site. As members of the Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC), we adhere to a strict consumer code of practice designed to protect you at every stage of your project.

Included with your installation: