Switching from LPG to a Heat Pump

If your home runs on LPG, you are in one of the best positions to switch to a heat pump. LPG properties already tick most of the boxes: you are off the gas grid, you probably already have a hot water cylinder, and you qualify for the full £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant. Here is a straight look at what is involved.

Why LPG Homes Are Ideal Candidates

LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) is one of the most expensive ways to heat a home. The price per kWh is higher than mains gas, higher than oil, and significantly higher than running a heat pump on electricity. But beyond the cost, LPG homes have several practical advantages when it comes to making the switch:

• You already have a hot water cylinder. Most LPG systems use a system boiler with a separate hot water cylinder. A heat pump also uses a cylinder, so there is less disruption during installation. In many cases we can reuse the existing cylinder or simply swap it for a larger one.
• You are off the gas grid. This means you qualify for the £7,500 BUS grant. Properties on mains gas also qualify, but off-gas homes tend to see bigger savings because LPG is so expensive to run.
• You are used to managing fuel. LPG homeowners are already familiar with fuel deliveries, price fluctuations, and tank maintenance. Switching to a heat pump removes all of that. Your heating runs on electricity, which comes through the mains. No deliveries, no tank, no price spikes.
• Rural properties often have good space. Most LPG homes are in rural areas with decent garden space for the outdoor heat pump unit. No tight side returns or noise concerns with close neighbours.

Running Cost Comparison: LPG vs Heat Pump

This is where it gets interesting. LPG is expensive. Here is a direct comparison for a typical three-bedroom rural home:

System	Annual Heating Cost
LPG boiler	£1,600-£2,200
Air source heat pump	£800-£1,100
Annual saving	£600-£1,100

LPG prices have no price cap. They fluctuate with wholesale gas markets and delivery costs. Some winters you might pay 7p/kWh, other winters 10p/kWh or more. Electricity has a price cap and is more stable. A heat pump running at a COP of 3.0 effectively costs around 8p per kWh of heat at current electricity prices. LPG typically costs 9-12p per kWh of heat, and that is before you factor in standing charges and tank rental.

Over the 20+ year lifespan of a heat pump, that is £12,000-£22,000 in savings. With the £7,500 grant, most LPG-to-heat-pump conversions pay for themselves within 4-7 years.

No More Deliveries or Price Spikes

This is the part that surprises people. Once you switch, all the hassle of LPG disappears:

• No more watching LPG prices and trying to time your order.
• No more tanker deliveries.
• No more tank rental fees or tank maintenance.
• No more running low in January and paying a premium for an emergency top-up.
• No more annual boiler service with hard-to-find LPG engineers.

Your heating just runs on electricity. If you add solar panels, you can generate a chunk of that electricity yourself and cut costs further.

The £7,500 Grant

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) provides a £7,500 grant towards the cost of installing an air source heat pump. LPG homes are fully eligible. We apply for the grant on your behalf through Ofgem, and you get a confirmation email. The grant is deducted from your invoice, so you never have to pay it and claim it back.

To qualify, you need a valid EPC (we can arrange this if you do not have one), and the property must not be a new build. Owner-occupiers, private landlords, and self-builders all qualify.

What the Installation Involves

An LPG-to-heat-pump conversion is one of the more straightforward switches because the existing system already uses a hot water cylinder. Here is the typical process:

1. Free home survey. We visit, carry out heat loss calculations, assess your radiators and cylinder, and check grant eligibility.
2. System design. We specify the right heat pump size, check whether your existing cylinder can be reused (or recommend a new one), and identify any radiators that need upsizing.
3. Grant application. We submit the BUS application to Ofgem.
4. Installation. We remove the old LPG boiler, install the heat pump and any new components, modify pipework, and upgrade radiators where needed. This typically takes 2-4 days.
5. LPG tank. Once the system is running, you can arrange for your LPG supplier to collect the tank. If you own the tank, we can advise on disposal.
6. Handover. We commission the system, walk you through the controls, and register your MCS certificate.

Typical Costs

A full LPG-to-heat-pump conversion typically costs £10,000-£14,000 before the grant. After the £7,500 BUS grant and with 0% VAT, most homeowners pay between £2,500 and £6,500 out of pocket. The exact cost depends on:

• The size of the heat pump (which depends on your property size and heat loss).
• Whether the existing cylinder can be reused or needs replacing.
• How many radiators need upgrading.
• The complexity of the pipework modifications.

LPG conversions tend to sit at the lower end of the cost range because the existing cylinder and wet radiator system reduce the amount of new work needed.

Where We See This Most

Rural Hampshire, Dorset, and Wiltshire have a lot of LPG properties. Villages across the New Forest, the Test Valley, and the Wiltshire downs are often off the gas grid. Some use oil, some use LPG. Both are strong candidates for heat pumps, but LPG homes often have the edge because the existing system setup is so compatible.

When It Might Not Make Sense

There are a few situations where you might want to wait:

• Brand new LPG boiler. If your boiler is less than 2-3 years old and working well, the payback period on a heat pump is longer. It still makes financial sense over 15+ years, but you might prefer to wait until the boiler needs replacing.
• Very poorly insulated property with no plans to improve. A heat pump will still save you money compared to LPG, but less than it would in a reasonably insulated home. We will be honest about this during the survey.

For the vast majority of LPG homes, the switch is straightforward and saves money from year one.