We install both — no bias, just the honest call
Both are good answers in the right situation. Macara Heating installs heat pumps and gas boilers — so we've no commercial reason to push one over the other, and this page lays out the honest trade-off the way we'd explain it at your kitchen table. Cost, running cost, comfort, grants, disruption, and when each is the right call.
Short honest answer
The honest answer usually lives in the heat loss calculation.
£8k-£15k
Heat pump
£2.2k-£4.2k
Boiler
Straight
Survey answer
Cost
Upfront vs long-term
Comfort
Steady vs fast heat
Decision
Property-specific
Quick Answer
If you tick boxes on both sides, the honest answer usually lives in the heat loss calculation — which is exactly what the free survey is for.
Side By Side
Real numbers for a typical 3-bed Edinburgh or Lothians semi. Individual properties will vary — your survey will give you the specific figures.
| Criterion | Heat pump | New gas boiler |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost (installed) | £8,000 – £15,000 (before HES funding) | £2,200 – £4,200 |
| Funding available | Home Energy Scotland grant + interest-free loan for eligible Scottish homes | No Scottish Government grant funding for standard gas/oil boilers |
| Typical annual running cost (3-bed semi) | £1,100 – £1,700 | £1,400 – £1,900 (A-rated gas) |
| Efficiency | 300–400% (SCOP 3.0–4.0) | 90–94% (A-rated condensing) |
| Flow temperature | 35–50°C | 65–75°C |
| Radiator changes often needed | Yes — some rooms usually need upsizing | No — existing radiators reused |
| Install time on site | 3–5 working days | 1–2 days |
| Outdoor unit needed | Yes — wall-mounted or ground-based | No |
| Works below zero | Yes — rated well below freezing | Yes |
| Carbon footprint | Much lower, especially with UK grid decarbonising | Fossil fuel — higher carbon |
| Typical lifespan | 15–20 years | 10–15 years |
| Noise | ~40–45 dB at close range (quiet conversation) | Quiet (mostly indoor) |
A new A-rated gas boiler installation in Edinburgh typically costs £2,200–£4,200 fully installed. An air source heat pump typically costs £8,000–£15,000 before funding. For eligible Scottish homeowners, Home Energy Scotland offers a grant toward the heat pump plus an interest-free loan on top for remaining costs — applied for through Home Energy Scotland before the work starts. Standard gas and oil boilers do not qualify for Home Energy Scotland grant funding.
A well-designed heat pump runs at a seasonal COP of around 3.2–3.8 in a Scottish climate, which means roughly 3.5 kWh of heat for every 1 kWh of electricity. That's why a properly designed system can run cheaper than gas at current unit rates — typically £200–£400/year less than a new A-rated gas boiler for a 3-bed semi. The savings are much larger if you're replacing oil or LPG.
A gas boiler heats water quickly and blasts it through radiators at 65–75°C — you get a fast, responsive heat that people are familiar with. A heat pump runs radiators at a lower flow temperature (35–50°C) for longer, keeping the home at a steady temperature rather than bouncing up and down. Different feel, not worse — but the difference catches people who weren't expecting it. Modern weather compensation controls handle this automatically once tuned at commissioning.
A straightforward combi-for-combi boiler swap is usually a one-day job, sometimes two for a full system change. A heat pump install is a bigger project — typically 3–5 working days on site, with radiator swaps where needed, a new cylinder, and commissioning. We protect floors, clean up each day, and you'll have a clear schedule before we start so you know exactly what's happening and when.
Scottish Winters
Both work, but design matters.
Modern air source heat pumps are rated to work well below freezing, and Edinburgh rarely sees temperatures that trouble a properly sized unit. The difference between a heat pump that keeps the home warm through a January cold snap and one that doesn't isn't the brand on the box — it's whether the system was designed for the specific heat loss of the property and whether the radiators can deliver enough heat at the lower flow temperature. Gas boilers are more forgiving of lazy sizing, which is one honest reason they remain the safe default for retrofit situations.
Every heat pump install we deliver includes a room-by-room heat loss calculation as standard, signed off under JME Green Energy's MCS certification.
See heat pump cost in Edinburgh for the full breakdown, or the boilers page for new gas boiler options.
What We Actually Recommend
We install both systems every week and we're straight about what each is good for. If your home is reasonably insulated, you're staying long-term, and there's a sensible spot for an outdoor unit — we'll usually recommend a heat pump. If your boiler has failed in January, your home is draughty, or you're moving in 18 months — we'll usually recommend a new A-rated gas boiler.
Full survey, heat loss calculation, MCS system design via JME Green Energy, and installation for homes that are ready now.
Gas Safe registered combi, system, and LPG boiler installation with a fixed written quote after a free home survey.
Typical installed ranges, running-cost comparisons, and when the numbers honestly do or do not stack up.
Heat Pump vs Boiler FAQs
Straight answers on cost, comfort, noise, hybrid systems, and which option is the more honest fit for your home.
What Comes Up Most
Which homes suit heat pumps and which suit boilers
Upfront cost and long-term running-cost trade-offs
Comfort, noise, and install disruption differences
When the honest answer is still a new gas boiler
Need the honest call for your property?
If you're weighing up a heat pump against a new boiler, call us and we'll talk through the practical trade-off for your home.
Neither is universally better — it depends on the property. A heat pump is usually the right call for a reasonably insulated home where the owner is staying long-term and wants lower running costs and can access Home Energy Scotland grant and loan funding. A new gas boiler is usually the right call for a draughty home, a short-term owner, or a property where radiator upgrades and outdoor unit siting would be impractical. We install both, so we've no reason to push one over the other.
Still Not Sure?
Book a free home survey. We'll look at your home, your existing system, your radiators, and your usage — and give you a straight answer on whether a heat pump or a new gas boiler is the more honest call for you today.