Heat Pumps for Flats & Electric Heating in Plymouth

Heat Pumps for Flats and Electrically Heated Homes

Thousands of Plymouth flats and smaller homes rely on electric heating: night storage heaters that are cold by evening, panel heaters that are expensive to run, or a mix of plug-in heaters. Many have no gas supply and no space for a hot water cylinder or new radiators. For these homes, an air-to-air heat pump is often the most practical upgrade available.

Why Electric Heating Is So Expensive

Every electric heater — whether a modern panel heater, an oil-filled radiator or a storage heater — turns one unit of electricity into one unit of heat. Storage heaters can use cheaper overnight electricity, but they release their heat on their own schedule, so homes are often warm in the morning and cold in the evening, and many people top up with expensive daytime electricity.

An air-to-air heat pump uses electricity to move heat from outside rather than to make it, typically delivering two and a half to four units of heat for each unit used. The same warmth costs much less, it’s available when you want it, and each room can be controlled separately.

The £2,500 Grant for Electrically Heated Homes

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme treats direct electric heating as a system that can be replaced. That means owners of electrically heated flats and houses in Plymouth may be able to claim £2,500 towards an air-to-air heat pump, provided the installation meets the scheme rules and is carried out by an MCS-certified installer. Landlords who own the property can apply too. See the grant page for the full criteria.

Installing a Heat Pump in a Flat

Flats bring a few extra considerations, and we work through each of them with you before any work is booked.

Permission from the freeholder

Most leases require the freeholder’s or managing agent’s consent for anything fixed to the outside of the building. We provide a clear description of the work, the equipment and its position to support your request.

Where the outdoor unit can go

Common options are a balcony, a wall bracket at ground or first-floor level, a flat roof or a shared yard. Planning rules are stricter for blocks of flats, including a smaller maximum size for the outdoor unit, so positioning and model choice matter.

Pipe routes

In upper-floor flats, the pipework may need to run down an external wall to reach the outdoor unit. We use neat, colour-matched trunking and plan the route to suit the building.

Noise

We choose quiet models and position outdoor units with neighbours in mind, which matters even more in a shared building.

A Typical Flat Installation

A common arrangement in a one- or two-bedroom Plymouth flat is one indoor unit in the living room and one in each bedroom, served by a single multi-split outdoor unit. The old storage heaters are disconnected and removed, freeing up wall space. Hot water usually stays as it is — often an immersion-heated cylinder — or can be upgraded separately.

1. Check the lease and building

   We confirm what the freeholder will need and where an outdoor unit could go.

2. Survey each room

   We size units for each room and plan pipe and cable routes.

3. Quote and permissions

   You receive a fixed quote and a short description of the works for the freeholder.

4. Install

   Usually one to two days for a typical flat, with old heaters removed if you wish.

5. Set up controls

   Timers and temperatures are set room by room, and we show you how to get the best from them.

Houses With Electric Heating

Bungalows, terraces and semis heated by electricity can benefit in the same way. Many owners start with the living room and main bedroom, where most of the heating is used, then add rooms later. If you’d rather replace everything with a radiator system and hot water, an air source heat pump is the alternative, with a larger grant of £7,500.

Landlords and Rented Flats

Plymouth has a large private rented sector, and many rented flats are electrically heated. Upgrading to a heat pump can lower tenants’ bills, reduce condensation complaints and improve the property’s energy rating ahead of tighter minimum standards. We can arrange access directly with tenants.

Condensation and Damp

Flats with intermittent electric heating often suffer from condensation and mould, particularly in Plymouth’s mild, damp climate. Steady, controllable heat keeps surfaces warmer, and units with a dry mode can remove moisture from the air. A heat pump isn’t a cure for structural damp, but it often helps with everyday condensation.

Comparing Your Options

Plymouth’s Converted Townhouses

Many flats around the Hoe, West Hoe, Stonehouse and Mutley are in large Victorian and Edwardian houses divided into several homes. These buildings often have deep walls, high ceilings and limited outside space shared between residents, and some sit in conservation areas. We look for outdoor unit positions at the rear or side of the building, at basement or yard level where possible, and plan pipe routes that respect the character of the building. Where several flats in the same building want heat pumps, coordinating the work can make better use of the available space.

Modern Apartment Blocks

Newer blocks in areas such as Millbay and Royal William Yard often have balconies or designated plant areas, but also stricter management rules. Managing agents usually want to see the unit’s size, weight, noise levels and position before approving. We provide this information in a format agents can review quickly.

Upgrading Your Hot Water at the Same Time

An air-to-air heat pump won’t heat water, but if your immersion cylinder is old or poorly insulated, upgrading it at the same time can reduce running costs further. We can discuss options at the survey, including better-insulated cylinders and controls that make the most of cheaper overnight tariffs.