Most domestic air source heat pump installations in Edinburgh and the Lothians land between £10,000 and £16,000 before any grant or loan funding. The final price depends on the property size, heat loss, how much radiator or pipework upgrade is needed, and the system design. Because installs are completed under our partner JME Green Energy's MCS certification, eligible Scottish homeowners can access Home Energy Scotland funding — a grant toward the install plus an interest-free loan on top. We'll confirm eligibility and current amounts at the survey.

Yes — when the system is properly sized and designed for the property. A modern air source heat pump works fine at outside temperatures well below freezing, which is more than Edinburgh usually throws at one. The part that matters isn't the heat pump brand, it's whether the system has been designed for your home's actual heat loss, and whether the radiators or underfloor heating can deliver that heat at the lower flow temperatures heat pumps run at. That's why the survey matters.

Sometimes, but not always. Heat pumps run at lower flow temperatures than gas boilers, so existing radiators need to be large enough to deliver the same heat at a lower temperature. During the survey we measure each room's heat loss and check the existing radiators — often a handful of rooms need larger radiators, while the rest of the system can stay. We'll never quote radiator changes you don't need.

Modern air source heat pumps are quieter than most people expect — usually around 40-45 decibels at close range, which is roughly the level of a quiet conversation. Siting matters: we position the outdoor unit so it doesn't sit directly under a bedroom window or bounce sound off a neighbouring wall, and the MCS installation standards include noise assessment as part of sign-off.

Often no, but not always. Air source heat pumps commonly fall under permitted development in Scotland, which means a separate planning application is not always needed. There are exceptions though — for example listed buildings, some constrained sites, and certain siting or height issues. We check the property properly at survey rather than giving a blanket yes or no.

Scottish homeowners access heat pump funding through Home Energy Scotland, not the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (which is England and Wales only). HES offers a grant toward an MCS-certified heat pump install, plus an interest-free loan on top for remaining costs. Rural and island properties may qualify for an uplift. Because our heat pump installs are completed under the MCS certification of our partner JME Green Energy, eligible homes can use the HES grant and loan through them — we support the paperwork alongside JME as part of the install.

Both are valid, and we install both, so we've no reason to push you toward one over the other. A new gas boiler is usually cheaper upfront and a better fit for homes that aren't ready for radiator upgrades or fabric improvements. A heat pump usually has lower running costs long-term, can qualify for Home Energy Scotland grant and interest-free loan funding, and is the right call for anyone planning to stay in the home for years and move away from fossil fuels. The honest answer depends on your home, your timeline, and your budget — which is what the survey is for.

Most domestic air source heat pump installations take between three and five working days on site, depending on whether radiators need upgrading, whether the hot water cylinder is being replaced, and the complexity of the pipework. The full project — from first survey through commissioning and Home Energy Scotland paperwork — usually runs four to eight weeks once you decide to go ahead.

Heat pump installs are delivered jointly by Macara Heating and our MCS-certified partner JME Green Energy. Macara Heating is the local, Gas Safe registered heating team you deal with on the ground. JME Green Energy holds the MCS certification required for Home Energy Scotland grant and loan funding and for the formal system design sign-off. That partnership is how Scottish homeowners get Home Energy Scotland eligibility through us — it's completely transparent and it's how the funding paperwork is meant to work.

Air source heat pumps suit most reasonably insulated homes with space for an outdoor unit and space for a hot water cylinder indoors. They work well in 1960s-onwards semis, detached houses, modern builds, and increasingly in well-insulated older properties. They can be harder to justify in very small flats with no outdoor space, heritage properties with planning restrictions, or very draughty uninsulated homes where the running costs won't work out. Every property is different — the survey is the honest way to find out.

Often yes, but the answer depends on the condition of the house rather than the age on paper. Older stone-built homes can run a heat pump well if the heat loss is understood properly and the system is designed around it. The survey matters more here than on a newer house, because insulation levels, draughts, radiator sizes, and cylinder space vary a lot from one property to the next.