Replace an Oil Boiler with a Heat Pump
You can replace an oil boiler with an air source heat pump in many rural homes, but it works well only when the house, radiators and hot water are designed around it. We start with a room-by-room heat loss survey, check whether your radiators can heat each room at lower water temperatures, plan a hot water cylinder and arrange the old oil tank to be dealt with as part of the job. We are MCS Certified and an RECC member.
Is your home suitable?
Oil heated homes are often older, detached and exposed, which is exactly where heat loss needs measuring rather than assuming. A heat pump runs at lower water temperatures than an oil boiler, so the house needs to hold its heat reasonably well and each room needs enough radiator surface to make up for the cooler water.
Older stone houses can work well with a heat pump when the design accounts for thick walls, draughts and room sizes. Our guide to heat pumps in older stone houses covers what to look for. Simple improvements, such as loft insulation and draught-proofing, often make a bigger difference than people expect.
Radiators and hot water
Many existing radiators were sized for hot water from an oil boiler. With a heat pump some rooms will need larger radiators, and a few may need replacing. We calculate this room by room, so you only change the ones that need it. Our heat pump radiator sizing guide explains the reasoning.
A heat pump needs a hot water cylinder designed for it, with a larger coil to transfer heat at lower temperatures. If you have an older cylinder, it will usually be replaced. We plan where it goes, along with the pipework and controls, on the survey.
What happens to the oil tank
Once the heat pump is running, the oil boiler and tank are no longer needed. Removing or decommissioning the tank can be arranged as part of the job, so you are not left with a redundant tank in the garden. It is worth running the tank low before the switch-over to reduce the amount of oil left to deal with.
Funding in Scotland
Home Energy Scotland offers support for homeowners switching to a heat pump, and the rules change from time to time. Our guides to heat pump grants in Scotland and Home Energy Scotland heat pump funding explain how the schemes work and how to apply. As an MCS Certified installer, our installations meet the standard funding schemes require.
How the switch works
After the survey you receive a design and written quote covering the heat pump, cylinder, radiators and controls. On installation we fit the outdoor unit, cylinder and any new radiators, connect the system, then remove the oil boiler and commission the heat pump. We show you how to run it efficiently, because heat pumps work best left running steadily rather than switched on and off like an oil boiler.
If a heat pump is not right for your home yet, we will say so and talk you through a new condensing oil boiler instead. See our air source heat pumps page for more on how we design systems.
We cover Kelso, the Scottish Borders and East Lothian.
Oil to Heat Pump questions
Can I replace my oil boiler with a heat pump?
In many homes, yes. It depends on heat loss, radiator sizes and space for a cylinder, which we assess with a room-by-room survey before recommending it.
Will my radiators work with a heat pump?
Some will and some may need upsizing, because a heat pump runs at lower water temperatures. We calculate each room so you only change the radiators that need it.
Is there funding in Scotland to switch from oil?
Home Energy Scotland offers support for heat pump installations. Our heat pump grants and Home Energy Scotland guides explain the current schemes and how to apply.
What happens to my oil tank?
Removing or decommissioning the tank can be arranged as part of the job once the heat pump is running.
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