Reading a Heat Pump Quote in Cambridge — Line by Line
Last reviewed: 2 October 2026
A heat pump quote should be a complete design, not just a price. This guide walks through a Cambridge quote section by section, showing what should be there and the gaps that turn into extra costs once work starts.
A good quote is a design
The quote you receive after a survey should tell you exactly what will be installed and why. If it’s a single price with a model number, you can’t tell what’s included, and anything left out will come back as an extra. Here’s what each section of a complete Cambridge quote should contain.
Section 1: the design basis
Should include:
- whole-house heat loss in kW, and the outdoor design temperature used for your postcode
- the design flow temperature (ideally 45–50°C)
- expected seasonal efficiency (SCOP)
Why it matters in Cambridge: the city’s frostier winters, with around 52 air-frost days a year at NIAB, make the design temperature important. A quote built on a generic figure may undersize the system.
Section 2: the heat pump
Should include: make, model and output, where it will sit, how it’s mounted (slab, plinth or wall bracket), and the noise calculation at your neighbour’s nearest window.
Watch for: no noise figure. In Cambridge’s tight terraced yards, the 37 dB limit often decides the position. If it can’t be met, you’ll need planning permission, which costs time and money.
Section 3: radiators
Should include: a room-by-room table showing each room’s heat loss, its current radiator output at the design flow temperature, and whether it’s being replaced.
Watch for: a vague “radiators as required”. Solid gault-brick terraces in Romsey, Petersfield and Newnham Croft often need two to four upgrades; large villas need more. Each costs roughly £350–£600 fitted.
Section 4: hot water
Should include: cylinder size, model and position, plus any cupboard or building work.
Watch for: no mention of hard-water protection. Cambridge Water’s chalk supply runs at around 286–295 mg/l of calcium carbonate, which scales up cylinder coils. A heat pump-rated coil, and a scale reducer if you already see heavy limescale, should be specified or offered.
Section 5: pipework and system preparation
Should include: confirmation that existing pipe sizes have been checked, any pipework being replaced, a system flush, a magnetic filter and inhibitor.
Watch for: microbore pipework not mentioned in a home that has it. Replacing it can cost £500–£2,000.
Section 6: electrics
Should include: a dedicated circuit for the heat pump, any consumer unit upgrade (typically £400–£800) and notification to UK Power Networks, the network operator for the East of England.
Watch for: “electrics by others” — meaning you’ll be arranging and paying for it separately.
Section 7: consents and heritage
Should include: a clear statement of whether planning permission or listed building consent is needed, and who prepares and submits it.
Why it matters in Cambridge: with 18 conservation areas in the city, more in the surrounding villages, and a high density of listed buildings, this comes up often. Applications go to Greater Cambridge Shared Planning. Listed building work can also need specialist making good, such as lime plaster around new pipe holes.
Section 8: things often left out
Check whether these are included or excluded:
| Item | Typical cost if extra |
|---|---|
| Asbestos survey (pre-2000 homes) | £200–£500 |
| Asbestos removal, if found | £500–£2,000+ |
| Making good plaster and redecorating | Varies |
| Oil tank removal (off-gas homes) | £400–£900 |
| Lifting and relaying floor coverings | Varies |
| Parking suspension in central streets | £0–£150 |
Section 9: the grant and the total
Should include: the gross price, the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme deduction (or £9,000 for oil and LPG homes on applications from 21 July 2026 to 31 March 2027), and what you pay.
Watch for: a deposit calculated as if the grant is guaranteed before Ofgem has issued the voucher.
Things that should never be extra
The survey and design, MCS registration, commissioning, removal of the old boiler, and the grant application are part of the job.
Landlords: one more line
If you let the property, ask for a short tenant handover note on the controls. It costs the installer little and saves call-outs from tenants used to gas boilers.
Back to Cambridge heat pump prices.
See what a heat pump would look like in your Cambridge home
The mechanism is the same in every UK home; the design is specific to yours. Our team carries out a free in-home survey including a full room-by-room heat-loss calculation, identifies the system size and configuration that fits your property, and provides a written quote with the £7,500 BUS grant already deducted.
You'll see the actual figure you'd pay — not an estimate — and the projected efficiency for your specific install.