THE WORK
What the job involves
We install and service air source heat pumps, including the Vaillant aroTHERM plus range. A heat pump is a different animal to a boiler, it runs at lower flow temperatures and only works properly if the radiators and cylinder are sized to match, which is where most installs go wrong.
What's included
A proper heat loss calculation, not a rule of thumb
Correct emitter and cylinder sizing for low flow temperatures
Full commissioning and controls set up with you
Servicing and fault finding on existing heat pumps
Honest advice if your property is not right for one yet
What the grant actually pays, and who can claim it
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme covers England and Wales and pays £7,500 towards an air source heat pump. From 21 July 2026 until 31 March 2027 a higher £9,000 is available for eligible properties off the gas grid that are currently heated by oil or LPG.
Three things people get wrong about it:
It is paid to the installer, not to you. The installer claims it and deducts it from the invoice, so you see a reduced price rather than a cheque.
The installer must be MCS certified. No certification, no grant, whatever the quote says.
You must own the property, be in England or Wales, and be replacing a fossil fuel system.
Whether your house will actually suit one
A heat pump is not a boiler and does not behave like one. It moves heat rather than burning gas, and it does that most efficiently at low flow temperatures.
Flow temperature is the whole argument. A gas boiler will happily run at 70 degrees. A heat pump wants to run at something closer to 35 to 45. The lower the flow temperature, the better the efficiency, and the more radiator surface you need to deliver the same heat into the room.
Which means the radiators usually matter more than the heat pump. Existing radiators sized for a 75 degree flow will not put out the same heat at 45. Some rooms will be fine, some will need larger radiators, and a proper design says which is which before anything is ordered. An installer who does not survey room by room is guessing.
Insulation changes the sums. Heat loss decides the size of the unit. A poorly insulated solid wall property needs a bigger unit running harder, which costs more to buy and more to run.
It needs somewhere to go. The outdoor unit needs space around it for airflow and a route for condensate. Noise limits apply, and under permitted development there are rules about how close it sits to a neighbouring property.
Efficiency is measured as SCOP, the seasonal coefficient of performance, which is the heat delivered against the electricity used across a year. It is the number worth comparing, not the headline figure quoted at one temperature.
Questions that separate a good heat pump quote from a bad one
Has a room by room heat loss calculation been done? Not a rule of thumb from the size of the old boiler.
Which radiators need changing, and is that in the price? This is where quotes diverge most.
What flow temperature has the system been designed around? A design at 55 degrees will not deliver the running costs quoted at 35.
What SCOP is the design predicting, and on what assumptions?
Is the installer MCS certified, and is the grant deducted from the invoice?
What happens to the hot water? Heat pumps pair with a cylinder, so if you are on a combi at the moment there needs to be somewhere to put one.
REVIEWS
Rated 9.86 from 483 Checkatrade reviews
Every review below is from a real Nelson Plumbing and Heating customer across Greater Manchester.
CheckatradeCommunication with the company was fantastic. Turrell came round to complete the job for us and was very professional and friendly. Would use again.
CheckatradeI had a great experience from start to finish. Communication was excellent, they always arrived on time, and I am very happy with the quality of the work. A special mention to Ryan, who was professional, friendly, and amazing with my German Shepherd.
CheckatradeGreat service from start to finish. I had inadvertently purchased the wrong replacement part, but the plumber sorted it with the minimum of fuss. He cleared everything away once the job was complete and shared some useful information for future maintenance.
CheckatradeJob completed to a high standard, operatives were prompt, polite and professional.
CheckatradePrompt answer, arranged for a plumber to visit the next morning, plumber arrived on time and carried out the work efficiently and to a great standard.
CheckatradeSuper friendly, quick response, sorting my leaking shower quickly. Thanks.
GoogleI arranged for a plumber from Nelson Plumbing and Heating to replace an isolation valve at a property in Salford. The plumber turned up on time, did a fast and professional job. Price was cheaper than the estimate. Great service and will be my go to plumber for any further work required in the Manchester area.
GoogleThey arrived promptly as arranged and both introduced themselves and interacted very well with our dog. They installed our new boiler very efficiently and professionally, giving honest advice on which services we may require in the future.
GoogleI cannot recommend Turrell highly enough. He was an absolute pleasure to deal with and professional from start to finish. He took his time to explain everything clearly, which immediately put me at ease, something that is a massive deal for me when dealing with the building trade.
GoogleReally happy with the annual boiler service provided by Tom. Turned up on time, got everything done quickly. Friendly, professional and would definitely use again.
GoogleVery happy with Nelson Plumbing. I am always a bit wary when it comes to jobs around the house, but these guys were very professional, prompt on arrival, got the job done nice and tidy and very pleasant. Would recommend, and the price was very reasonable.
GoogleFriendly and helpful service. I was really impressed with Tom who undertook diagnostic testing and then the replacement of parts on my water system in the house. Thank you for the quick turnaround and efficient service.
FAQS
Questions we get asked
Straight answers before you book. If yours is not here, pick up the phone and ask.
Call 0161 515 9977
GUIDES
Worth reading first
Questions we get asked all the time, answered properly.
SERVICE AREA
Where we work
Manchester, Salford, Trafford, Stockport, Sale and the towns around them.
MORE
Other things we do
Plumbing, heating and gas across Greater Manchester, all handled by the same team.
