Air Source Heat Pump Installation in Cambridge
Simple, efficient heat pump systems designed around your home, with a free home survey, room-by-room heat loss calculation and full system design. We claim the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant for you and take it straight off your invoice.
Get a heat pump estimate
Tell us about your home. We’ll review it and reply with an estimate within 48 hours, then confirm a fixed price after a free home survey.
The grant, sorted
£7,500 off
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme gives £7,500 off an air source heat pump. As an MCS installer we apply for you and deduct it from your invoice.
Up to £9,000 off-grid
Homes currently heated by oil or LPG may get up to £9,000 until 31 March 2027.
0% VAT until March 2027
Heat pump installations in homes are zero-rated for VAT until 31 March 2027. After that the rate is due to rise to 5%.
No insulation hoops
You no longer need loft or cavity insulation to claim the grant, although we’ll tell you if it would help.
The heat pumps we install
We fit three heat pumps and recommend the one that suits your home, your outdoor space and your neighbours.
Vaillant aroTHERM plus
Latest 2026 model · R290
Vaillant’s newest aroTHERM plus, using natural R290 refrigerant. Its Flexible Space Function (FSF) shrinks the refrigerant safety zone around the unit, which gives us far more freedom over where it goes.
Pros
- Much smaller safety zone, so nearby doors, windows and air bricks are rarely a problem
- Vaillant’s quietest air-to-water heat pump, with a night mode
- Up to 75°C flow if ever needed
- myVAILLANT app for control and monitoring from your phone
Things to consider
- The FSF zone relies on the unit staying powered
- Usually the most expensive of the three
Best for: tight spaces, terraces and homes where the unit has to sit close to doors or windows.
Grant Aerona 290
R290 · Quiet Mark approved
A highly efficient R290 heat pump from Grant, with excellent published efficiency figures and Quiet Mark approval across the range.
Pros
- Very efficient, with SCOPs of up to 5.08 at 35°C
- Quiet Mark approved on every model
- Up to 75°C flow if ever needed
- Grant Smart Controller touchscreen with Wi-Fi and remote monitoring
Things to consider
- Standard R290 safety zone, so doors, opening windows and other openings close to the unit can limit where it goes
- Must stay powered at all times once commissioned
Best for: homes with a clear wall or garden position away from doors and windows.
Bosch Compress 2000 AWF
R32 · no refrigerant safety zone
A compact, dependable heat pump using R32 refrigerant. Because R32 isn’t covered by the same rules as R290, there’s no refrigerant safety zone to work around.
Pros
- No safety zone, so placement is simple
- Compact, with 4–16 kW single-phase sizes
- Integrated controller with weather compensation and two-zone control
Things to consider
- Louder than the other two, so placement needs more care
- Maximum flow temperature of 65°C
- R32 has a higher global warming potential than R290
Best for: straightforward installs where the position isn’t near neighbours’ windows.
| Vaillant aroTHERM plus | Grant Aerona 290 | Bosch Compress 2000 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refrigerant | R290 (natural) | R290 (natural) | R32 |
| Sizes | 3.5–12 kW | 4–15.5 kW | 4–16 kW |
| Safety zone | Reduced (FSF) | Standard R290 zone | None |
| Max flow temperature | 75°C | 75°C | 65°C |
| Noise | Very quiet | Very quiet (Quiet Mark) | Moderate |
| Smart control | myVAILLANT app | Grant Smart Controller, Wi-Fi | Built-in controller |
| Guarantee | 7 years | 7 years | 7 years |
We carry out an MCS noise assessment for every installation to make sure the heat pump meets permitted development limits at your neighbours’ windows.
How we design your system
Simple systems run better, cost less to install and are easier to live with. This is how we do it.
Open, simple systems
We design open-loop systems where the heat pump’s water flows freely through your radiators, without unnecessary extra parts.
No buffer tanks where possible
We avoid buffer tanks wherever we can. If zoning is a must, we may fit a volumiser instead to protect the heat pump.
Flow meters on every radiator
Each radiator gets a flow meter so we can balance the system accurately, room by room.
Few or no TRVs
We don’t normally fit thermostatic radiator valves, as the system is designed to heat each room evenly. A few rooms can have them if you have particular needs.
No glycol
We protect the system from frost with antifreeze valves rather than filling it with glycol, so it runs more efficiently and needs less looking after.
Free survey and design
Every quote starts with a free home survey, a room-by-room heat loss calculation and a full system design.
Weather compensation
Every system is set up with weather compensation, so the heat pump runs as cool as possible for the outside temperature and only works harder when it’s cold.
Smart controls
Control your heating and hot water from your phone. Vaillant uses the myVAILLANT app, Grant has its Smart Controller with Wi-Fi and remote monitoring, and Bosch has a built-in controller with two-zone control. We set it up and show you how it works at handover.
Two ways to design your system
We’ll talk you through both at your survey.
Low-temperature design
Our standard · around 45°C flow
We design the system to run at about 45°C, which is where heat pumps are most efficient. Some radiators may need upsizing to give out enough heat at that temperature.
- Lowest running costs
- Best long-term efficiency
- May need more radiator upgrades
Minimal disruption design
Lower upfront cost · higher flow temperature
For homes where you want less disruption, we can design for a higher flow temperature so fewer radiators need changing.
- Lower installation cost
- Fewer radiators replaced
- Higher running costs than a low-temperature design
Recent installation: Bosch Compress 2000
A large house in Cambridgeshire with microbore radiators and underfloor heating.
We normally avoid buffer tanks, but this was one of the jobs where one was genuinely needed. With long microbore runs and a mix of radiators and underfloor heating, the buffer vessel gives the heat pump the water volume it needs to run smoothly.
All the pipework in the cupboard is fully insulated to keep heat losses to a minimum.
How much does a heat pump cost?
Every home is different, so we design each system properly rather than guess.
Most of our installs are typically £6,000–£8,500 after the £7,500 grant, depending on brand and property, including the size of the house, the heat pump needed and how many radiators need upsizing. The estimate form above gives you a figure for your home, and the survey fixes the price.
- Free home survey, heat loss calculation and system design
- Heat pump, hot water cylinder and controls
- Radiator upgrades where needed, with flow meters for balancing
- Antifreeze valves for frost protection
- Commissioning, MCS certificate and grant paperwork
- Handover of the controls and app, and your guarantee registered
Boiler and heat pump engineers
We fit gas boilers as well as heat pumps, so we’ll tell you honestly which suits your home. A heat pump works best in a reasonably well-insulated home with radiators sized to run at lower temperatures.
We don’t install ground source heat pumps.
How it works
Estimate
Fill in the form above and we’ll reply with an estimate within 48 hours.
Free survey and design
We carry out a room-by-room heat loss survey, design your system and send a fixed quote with the grant already deducted.
Installation
Most installs take around 5 days, including commissioning, balancing, handover and your MCS certificate.
What our customers say
Rated 4.8 out of 5 from more than 140 Google reviews.
“We have recently had our boiler replaced and eight new radiators installed by Cambs Heating, and we could not be happier with the service we received. From the initial quotation through to completion, everything was handled professionally…”
Helen N. · Google review
“Best value quote we could find for a boiler replacement, process was very smooth and professional and Ben was highly knowledgable. Would recommend!”
Ross C. · Google review
“Excellent service from Matt & Ben at Cambs Heating on a boiler replacement. Quick and efficient process from beginning to end and did a great job. Highly recommended!”
Ollie D. · Google review
Heat pump FAQs
Answers to the questions we’re asked most.
Am I eligible for the £7,500 grant?
Most homeowners in England and Wales replacing a fossil fuel heating system are eligible, including self-builds. The installation must be done by an MCS-certified installer like us.
How much does a heat pump cost after the grant?
Most of our installs are typically £6,000–£8,500 after the £7,500 grant, depending on brand and property. Use the estimate form for a figure for your home.
Which heat pump is best for my home?
It depends mostly on where the unit can go. The Vaillant aroTHERM plus suits tight spaces near doors and windows, the Grant Aerona 290 suits clear positions away from openings, and the Bosch Compress 2000 has no refrigerant safety zone at all. We recommend one at your survey.
What is an R290 safety zone?
R290 is a natural refrigerant with a very low environmental impact, but it is flammable, so there’s a zone around the unit where doors, opening windows, drains and ignition sources shouldn’t be. Vaillant’s Flexible Space Function makes that zone much smaller. R32 units like the Bosch don’t need one.
Do you fit buffer tanks?
Only if they’re genuinely needed. We prefer simple open-loop systems. If zoning is essential, we may fit a volumiser instead.
Will I have thermostatic radiator valves?
Usually not. We balance every radiator with a flow meter so each room heats evenly. A few rooms can have TRVs if you have particular requirements.
Do you use glycol?
No. We protect the system from frost with antifreeze valves, which keeps it more efficient and simpler to maintain.
Is there VAT on a heat pump?
Heat pump installations in homes are zero-rated for VAT until 31 March 2027. From 1 April 2027 the rate is due to be 5%.
How long does installation take?
A typical installation takes around 5 days, including commissioning.
Do heat pumps need servicing?
Yes. Manufacturers require an annual service to keep the guarantee valid. See our heat pump servicing.
Ready to switch to a heat pump?
Get an estimate for your home, or call our Cambridge team to talk it through.
Related: Heat pump servicing · Underfloor heating · Hot water cylinders · Air conditioning · New boilers