Air Source Heat Pumps Cheltenham

Cheltenham has a heating problem that not every town has. Plenty of the housing stock is listed or sits inside a conservation area, plenty more is solid wall Regency or Victorian, and the gas grid covers most of it but not all. So when homeowners ask us about an air source heat pump (ASHP) in Cheltenham, the conversation is usually less about whether the technology works and more about how to fit it sensibly into a property that wasn’t designed for it. Additionally, 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.

Priority One Plumbing has been working across Cheltenham for over twenty years. We’re Gas Safe registered, Oftec certified, City & Guilds qualified as well as Vaillant & Worcester Bosch accredited installers. This page covers the practical questions Cheltenham homeowners ask us most often.

How an Air Source Heat Pump Works

An ASHP uses the same refrigerant principle as a fridge, but in reverse. It draws latent heat out of the outside air, compresses it to raise the temperature, then transfers it into your central heating water. Even at zero degrees there’s still enough energy in the air to heat a properly designed home.

A modern unit gives you a SCOP (the seasonal efficiency rating) of around 3.5 to 4.5. So one kWh of electricity going in produces three and a half to four and a half kWh of useful heat coming out. That’s why the running costs can stack up well even though electricity costs more per unit than gas.

A typical 8 to 12 kW unit will sit on a small concrete pad outside your home, runs at around 40 to 50 decibels (the same as or quieter than a normal combi-boiler) and is roughly the size of a small chest of drawers.

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 Cheltenham Properties

Cheltenham’s housing splits roughly three ways and each one needs a different conversation.

The Regency and Victorian properties through Montpellier, Lansdown, Pittville and parts of Tivoli are often the most rewarding to retrofit but the most complex. Solid walls leak heat, sash windows aren’t doing you any favours, and the existing radiator and pipework setup may need work to run at lower flow temperatures. A heat pump can absolutely work here, the design just needs to be right and a bit of insulation usually goes alongside it.

The interwar and post war stock through Charlton Kings, Hatherley, Up Hatherley, Warden Hill, Benhall, Battledown and Prestbury tends to be the most straightforward. Cavity walls, modest radiator upgrades, decent insulation, often a quick win.

Then there’s the newer estates around Leckhampton, Springbank and the edges of town. Many of these were built with heat pumps in mind, or with underfloor heating already in place, which gives you a head start because heat pumps run brilliantly with underfloor systems.

If your property is listed (and a fair few in central Cheltenham are), you’ll need listed building consent for the outdoor unit. Conservation areas sometimes need planning permission too. We’ll flag this early and we work with planning consultants when it’s needed.

Funding, Costs and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) is a £7,500 grant towards an air source heat pump for eligible homeowner 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. It’s paid directly to the installer and deducted from your invoice, so there’s no claim form sitting on your kitchen table for six months. There’s no VAT on the install either (until at least March 2027 under the energy saving materials relief).

Indicative pricing for properties in Cheltenham:

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.

The grant requires an MCS certified installer (which we are), and is paid straight to us, the installer; so it comes off your invoice rather than being claimed back later.

Why Cheltenham Homeowners Choose Priority One Plumbing

We’re a local firm, not a national installer. Our engineers are based in Churchdown which means we’re twenty minutes from Cheltenham town centre. When something needs looking at, we’re round quickly.

We’ve spent the last twenty years working on a wide range of Cheltenham housing, from Regency town centres through to new builds out at Up Hatherley and Springbank. We’re Gas Safe, OFTEC, Vaillant & Worcester Bosch accredited. We’re familiar with all major manufacturers including Samsung and Panasonic. Our engineers hold City & Guilds qualifications. We carry out a full heat loss survey before quoting anything because the survey is the most important part. A heat pump that’s been sized on a hunch is the main reason people end up unhappy with the technology, and we won’t do it.

We’ll also tell you straight if a heat pump isn’t the right call for your property. For some Cheltenham houses, particularly older listed properties without practical insulation options, a hybrid system or a high efficiency gas boiler will serve you better. We’d rather get this right than sell you the wrong system.

If you’re thinking about an air source heat pump for your Cheltenham home and want a clear, honest quote, get in touch for a free no obligation survey, or call us on 07727 015 843. You can also see the full range of heating, plumbing and renewable services we offer.

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: