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Air Source Heat Pump Installation, Servicing & Repairs in Edinburgh & the Lothians
Heat Tech Scotland designs, installs, services and repairs air source heat pumps for homes across Edinburgh, the Lothians and the Borders. We start with a proper heat loss survey of your property, tell you honestly whether a heat pump will work well for you, and give you a clear, fixed price.
Low-carbon heating, designed for your home
An air source heat pump takes heat from the outside air and uses it to warm your radiators, underfloor heating and hot water. Because it moves heat instead of generating it, it delivers around three to four units of heat for every unit of electricity it uses. That makes it the most efficient way to heat a home with electricity, and one of the lowest-carbon heating systems you can fit. A heat pump only performs well when it is designed around the building. The same unit that runs beautifully in one house will struggle in another if it is the wrong size or connected to radiators that are too small. As heating engineers who install gas, electric and heat pump systems, we size and design every installation properly, and we will tell you if a different system would suit your home better.
How an Air Source Heat Pump Works
An air source heat pump takes heat from the outside air and uses it to provide heating and hot water for your home. It can work efficiently even in cold Scottish weather and provides steady, comfortable warmth throughout your home.
How an Air Source Heat Pump Works
The outdoor unit looks like a large air conditioning unit and sits outside your home. A fan draws air across a coil containing refrigerant, which absorbs heat from the air even on a cold day. A compressor raises the temperature of that heat, and it is transferred into the water that feeds your heating system and hot water cylinder.
Heat pumps run at lower water temperatures than a gas boiler and work best running gently for long periods, keeping your home at a steady, comfortable temperature. Modern heat pumps keep working efficiently in temperatures well below freezing, which is why they are widely used across Scandinavia.
The Benefits of an Air Source Heat Pump
- Highly efficient. Three to four times more efficient than any boiler, gas or electric.
- Lower carbon emissions. No gas, oil or LPG burned at your home, and cleaner every year as more of Scotland's electricity comes from renewables.
- Lower bills for many homes. A well-designed system is typically much cheaper to run than oil, LPG or direct electric heating, and can compete with mains gas, especially on a heat pump tariff.
- Funding available. Grants and interest-free loans from Home Energy Scotland can cover a large share of the cost for eligible homeowners.
- Steady, even warmth. Your home is kept at a constant comfortable temperature instead of heating up and cooling down.
- Built to last. A serviced heat pump can last 15 to 20 years.
- Future-ready. New homes in Scotland are now built without gas boilers. A heat pump brings an existing home up to the same standard.
Is Your Home Suitable for a Heat Pump?
Most homes can have a heat pump, but some need a little work first. At the survey we look at:
- Insulation and heat loss. Heat pumps work best in homes that hold their heat. Loft and wall insulation and decent glazing make a big difference.
- Outdoor space. The outdoor unit needs a spot outside with good airflow, usually on the ground against an external wall.
- Space for a hot water cylinder. A heat pump heats a cylinder of hot water, so homes with a combi boiler need room for one, typically in a cupboard.
- Radiators and pipework. Some radiators may need to be replaced with larger ones to give out enough heat at lower water temperatures. Underfloor heating is ideal.
- Electricity supply. We check your supply and consumer unit can support the heat pump.
- Planning. Many houses can have a heat pump fitted without planning permission. Flats, listed buildings and homes in conservation areas, of which Edinburgh has many, may need consent, and we will advise you.
If your home is not ready for a heat pump yet, we will tell you what would need to change, and what the best alternative is in the meantime.
Air Source Heat Pump Installation
How Installation Works
- Home survey and heat loss calculation. We measure every room and calculate exactly how much heat your home needs. This decides the size of the heat pump, the cylinder and any radiator upgrades.
- System design and fixed quote. You receive a written design and price covering the heat pump, cylinder, radiators, controls, electrical work and commissioning, with expected running costs.
- Installation. We remove your old boiler, fit the outdoor unit and cylinder, upgrade radiators and pipework where needed, and complete the electrical connection.
- Commissioning. We set the system up for your home, balancing the radiators and tuning the controls so the heat pump runs at its most efficient.
- Handover. We show you how to use the system and get the best from it, register the guarantee and leave you with all the paperwork.
A typical installation takes between two and five days, depending on how much of the existing system is being upgraded. We keep your time without heating and hot water to a minimum.
Replacing a Gas, Oil or LPG Boiler
We handle the whole changeover. Our Gas Safe registered engineers disconnect and remove your old boiler and safely cap off the gas supply.
Oil and LPG systems are decommissioned and removed, and the heat pump is connected to your existing heating pipework wherever it is suitable.
Hybrid Systems
In some homes, a hybrid system that pairs a heat pump with a boiler is the practical answer. The heat pump does most of the work through the year and the boiler helps on the coldest days.
If it suits your property, we will include it as an option.
Grants and Funding for Heat Pumps in Scotland
The Scottish Government offers funding for heat pumps through Home Energy Scotland. At the time of writing, eligible homeowners can apply for a grant of up to £7,500 towards an air source heat pump, rising to £9,000 for qualifying rural and island homes, with an optional interest-free loan on top.
Funding has conditions. You must apply to Home Energy Scotland and receive your offer before any work starts, and the heat pump must be installed to MCS standards. The amounts and rules change from time to time, so check the Home Energy Scotland website for the current scheme. We will talk you through the process at your survey.
Heat pump installations in homes are also currently zero-rated for VAT.
Considering an Air Source Heat Pump?
We can assess your home, calculate its heat requirements and explain whether a heat pump is suitable for your property. If any improvements are needed first, we will explain what they are and provide a clear route forward.
Funding Information
Heat pump funding schemes, grant amounts and eligibility requirements can change. Always check the current Home Energy Scotland scheme before starting work.
Funding applications should be approved before installation work begins, and eligible installations must meet the relevant standards and scheme requirements.
Heat Pump Servicing
A heat pump should be serviced once a year. Regular servicing keeps it running efficiently, protects the manufacturer's guarantee and picks up small issues before they affect your heating.
What Our Heat Pump Service Includes
- Cleaning the outdoor unit, coil and fan, and checking airflow is clear
- Checking system pressure, pump, filters and strainers
- Checking the condition and strength of the antifreeze and inhibitor
- Checking electrical connections, sensors and controls
- Checking the hot water cylinder and its safety valves
- Reviewing the system settings and performance, and adjusting for efficiency
- A written record of the service and anything we recommend
Heat Pump Repairs
If your heat pump is not performing, our engineers will find out why. Common problems we deal with include:
Many heat pump complaints are caused by poor setup, not a faulty unit. Wrong flow temperatures, unbalanced radiators and badly set controls can all make a good heat pump expensive to run. We can review and re-commission systems installed by others to get them working as they should.
Heat Pump Servicing & Repairs
Regular servicing can keep your heat pump efficient and reliable, while our engineers can diagnose performance problems and re-commission systems that are not operating as they should.
- Why Choose Us?
Why choose Heat Tech Scotland
We design the whole heating system, not just the box outside. That is what decides whether a heat pump performs
We install gas boilers, electric boilers and heat pumps, so you get the system that suits your home
A room-by-room heat loss calculation for every installation, with no rules of thumb
A track record of reliable, well-communicated work across Edinburgh and the Lothians
You know the full cost before we start
Based in Penicuik, and here for servicing and support long after the installation
Areas We Cover
We install, service and repair air source heat pumps across Edinburgh, Midlothian, East Lothian, West Lothian and the northern Borders, including Penicuik, Dalkeith, Bonnyrigg, Loanhead, Musselburgh and Peebles.
Air Source Heat Pump FAQs
Clear answers to common questions about air source heat pump costs, installation, running costs, grants, suitability and maintenance.
How much does an air source heat pump cost?
It depends on the size of your home and how much of the existing system needs upgrading. The heat pump and cylinder are the main costs, with radiator upgrades and electrical work on top where needed. Grant funding can cover a large part of the total for eligible homeowners. We survey your home first and give you a fixed written quote.
Do heat pumps work in Scottish winters?
Yes. Modern air source heat pumps are designed to work efficiently in temperatures well below freezing, and they are the standard way to heat homes in much colder countries than Scotland. What matters is that the system is sized correctly for your home.
Are heat pumps cheaper to run than a gas boiler?
It depends on your home, your tariff and how well the system is designed. A well-designed heat pump on a suitable electricity tariff can cost a similar amount or less to run than a gas boiler. Compared with oil, LPG or electric heating, the savings are usually substantial.
Will I need new radiators?
Possibly some of them. Heat pumps run at lower water temperatures, so some rooms may need larger radiators to stay warm. Our heat loss survey tells us exactly which, if any, need changing, and it is included in your quote.
Are heat pumps noisy?
A modern heat pump makes a low hum, similar to a fridge or a quiet conversation when you stand next to it. We position the outdoor unit carefully to keep it unobtrusive for you and your neighbours.
Do I need planning permission?
Many houses do not, as heat pumps are often covered by permitted development rights. Flats, listed buildings and properties in conservation areas are more likely to need consent. We will advise you at the survey.
Do I need a hot water cylinder?
Yes. A heat pump heats a stored cylinder of hot water instead of heating water on demand like a combi boiler. We will find the best location for it at the survey.
How long does installation take?
Most installations take between two and five days, depending on the amount of radiator and pipework upgrading involved.
How long does a heat pump last?
With annual servicing, a heat pump can be expected to last 15 to 20 years, which is longer than a typical gas boiler.
Can I get a grant for a heat pump?
Home Energy Scotland offers grants and interest-free loans towards heat pumps for eligible homeowners in Scotland. You need to apply and receive your funding offer before any work begins. We can explain how it works at your survey.
What if my home is not suitable?
We will tell you. Sometimes improving the insulation first makes a heat pump viable. In other cases a hybrid system, an electric boiler or a high-efficiency gas boiler is the better choice, and we install all of them.
Book your heat pump survey
Find out whether an air source heat pump is right for your home. Tell us about your property and we will arrange a survey, with honest advice and a clear, fixed price.