Boiler or heat pump?
We'll tell you straight.
Honest advice for your home, then a fixed price from a Gas Safe or MCS-certified local installer.
Prices shown upfront. No call centre.
- Gas Safe registered engineers
- MCS-certified heat pump installers
- £7,500 grant guidance
- Fixed price in writing
- Local installers, not a call centre
Sound familiar?
Replacing your heating is a big bill, and most homeowners get mixed messages before they get a straight answer.
Three quotes, three different answers
One installer says heat pump, the next says combi, the third will not commit. Nobody explains why.
Pushed towards the expensive option
A heat pump sold to a house that is not ready for one, or a premium boiler when a standard combi would do.
No price until someone sits in your kitchen
An hour-long visit before you hear a number, then a "today only" discount.
No idea who is actually certified
Gas Safe and MCS matter, for safety and for the grant. Checking should not be your job.
We give you a verdict before anyone quotes. The price comes in writing, and every installer is Gas Safe registered or MCS certified.
Example verdict:
a new combi boiler is the smarter buy for your home.
Answer the four questions to get yours.
Get my fixed priceWant the detail? Read boiler or heat pump: how to decide.
What it really costs
Combi boiler replacement
from
£2,200
System boiler replacement
from
£2,800
Air source heat pump
from
£3,500
after grant
Boiler repair
from
£120
Typical starting prices including VAT and standard installation, checked October 2026. Your fixed price depends on your home.
Boiler vs heat pump, side by side
| Boiler | Heat pump | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Lower | Higher |
| Running cost | Medium | Lower |
| Best for | Homes on the gas grid | Well-insulated homes |
| Lifespan | 10 to 15 years | 15 to 20 years |
| Grant available | None | Up to £7,500 |
What to expect
A recommendation first
Boiler, heat pump or repair, based on your home. Sometimes the answer is the cheaper job.
One fixed price in writing
The installer names the model, the warranty and the total before any work starts.
Certified installers only
Gas Safe for gas boilers, MCS for heat pumps. You can check both registers yourself.
How it works
Tell us about your home
Get your straight verdict and fixed price
A certified local installer fits it
Questions homeowners ask
Is a heat pump right for an older house?
Often, yes, but not always. Heat pumps run at lower temperatures, so draughty houses with small radiators can struggle. Many older homes work well after loft and cavity insulation and a few larger radiators. If yours needs major work first, we will tell you, and a new boiler may be the better buy for now.
How much is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant?
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme gives £7,500 off an air source or ground source heat pump in England and Wales (figure checked October 2026). Your MCS-certified installer applies for it and takes it off your bill, so you never pay the full price upfront. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own schemes.
How long does a boiler swap take?
A like-for-like combi swap is usually one day. Converting a system or conventional boiler to a combi, or moving the boiler, takes one to two days. A heat pump install typically takes two to five days, depending on radiator changes.
Are your installers certified?
Every boiler installer we work with is Gas Safe registered, and every heat pump installer is MCS certified, which is required for the grant. City Boiler is not an installer itself. We check certification before an installer quotes, and you can check any engineer yourself on the Gas Safe Register and MCS websites.
