If you're getting heat pump quotes in Manchester, here's exactly what installers will charge and what's included.
No confusing jargon. Just real numbers from real Manchester quotes.
Ready to get your Manchester quotes?
Check your grant eligibility and compare prices from vetted installers.
The Short Answer
That's what most Manchester homeowners pay for a complete air source heat pump system in 2026.
What's Included in Every Quote
When you get a quote from a Manchester installer, here's what should be on the breakdown:
The Main Equipment
- Heat pump outdoor unit (the box that goes outside)
- All mounting brackets and stands
- Control panel (the thermostat bit)
- Valves and filters
- Warranty paperwork
Hot Water Tank
- 200-300 litre cylinder (most homes need this)
- Safety valves
- Insulation jacket
- All connections
Installation Work
- Full design and heat calculations
- Checking your radiators are big enough
- Installing the outdoor unit
- Connecting everything up
- Electrical work (basic supply)
- Testing and setting up the system
- Showing you how to use it
Finishing Touches
- System flush (cleaning the pipes)
- Chemicals to protect the system
- MCS certificate (you need this for the grant)
- Building control notification
- Warranty registration
That's what the £8,000-£14,000 covers.
What Costs Extra (And When)
These aren't always included in the base price. Good installers will tell you upfront if you need them:
Bigger Radiators
£600-£1,500When you need it: If your radiators are old or small
Example: Your living room has a tiny radiator. Heat pumps run cooler than gas boilers, so you might need a bigger one to keep the room warm.
Chorlton terraced house: Added 3 bigger radiators = £900 extra
Electrical Upgrades
£300-£800When you need it: If your fuse box is really old
Example: 1960s house in Didsbury needed new consumer unit = £450 extra
Underfloor Heating
£4,000-£8,000When you want it: Works brilliantly with heat pumps but expensive
Example: Salford Quays flat added underfloor heating to kitchen and bathroom = £5,200 extra
Major Pipework
£500-£2,000When you need it: If the heat pump goes far from the house
Example: Withington semi with heat pump at bottom of garden needed longer pipes = £800 extra
Ground Source vs Air Source (Manchester Prices)
Air Source (The Common One)
- • £8,000-£14,000 before grant
- • £2,500-£6,500 after grant
- • Goes on your wall or in the garden
- • Works great in Manchester
Ground Source (The Fancy One)
- • £15,000-£25,000 before grant
- • £7,500-£17,500 after grant
- • Needs digging in your garden
- • Better efficiency but way more expensive
- • Only worth it if you have a big garden
95% of Manchester homes get air source. It's cheaper and works fine.
How Manchester Installers Present Quotes
Here's what happens when you request quotes:
Quick Chat (Phone or Online)
You tell them:
- • Where you live (Didsbury, Chorlton, etc)
- • House type (terraced, semi, detached)
- • How many bedrooms
- • What heating you have now
They give you a rough price over the phone. Usually: "For your 3-bed semi in Sale, probably £10,500-£12,000 before grant."
Home Visit
An installer comes round (takes 45-60 minutes). They check:
- • Size of your house
- • How well it's insulated
- • Your radiators
- • Where the heat pump can go
- • Your fuse box
They measure everything and take photos.
Written Quote (Usually by Email)
A few days later, you get a proper quote. Good quotes show:
- • Exact equipment (Mitsubishi Ecodan 8kW, for example)
- • Everything that's included
- • Anything extra you might need
- • Total cost
- • Cost after £7,500 grant deducted
- • How long the warranty lasts
- • When they can install it
The grant bit:
Most installers show it like this:
You never see the £7,500. The installer handles all that paperwork.
Real Manchester Quote Examples
Example 1: Chorlton Victorian Terrace
Property: 3-bed, 1920s terrace, cavity walls, okay insulation
Quote breakdown:
Installation time: 3 days
Example 2: Sale Semi-Detached
Property: 3-bed, 1980s semi, well insulated, double glazing
Quote breakdown:
Installation time: 2 days
Example 3: Didsbury Detached (Bigger House)
Property: 4-bed, 2000s detached, great insulation
Quote breakdown:
Installation time: 3 days
Manchester-Specific Things to Know
Conservation Areas
Parts of Didsbury, Chorlton, and the city centre are conservation areas.
What this means:
- • You need planning permission (adds 2-4 weeks)
- • Might need noise assessment
- • Have to tell your neighbours
Doesn't cost extra, just takes longer.
Terraced Houses
Loads of terraced houses in Manchester (Rusholme, Fallowfield, Chorlton, Levenshulme).
The challenge: Less outdoor space for the heat pump unit.
The solution: Most units only need 1 metre squared. Fits down the side of most terraces.
Example: Levenshulme terrace put the unit on the back wall. Worked fine. No extra cost.
Noise Rules
Manchester has rules about heat pump noise.
The limit:
42 decibels at your neighbour's window
What that means:
Quieter than a conversation
Modern heat pumps: Usually 38-40 decibels (quieter than the limit)
Tip: Ask your installer to check with neighbours first. Saves hassle later.
How to Get Good Quotes in Manchester
Get 3 Quotes Minimum
Prices vary by £2,000-£4,000 between installers.
Don't just pick the cheapest. Sometimes cheap means corners cut.
Check They're MCS Certified
MCS = Microgeneration Certification Scheme
Why it matters:
- • You can't get the £7,500 grant without it
- • It's a quality standard
- • They know what they're doing
How to check: Ask for their MCS certificate number. Look it up on the MCS website.
Ask for References
Good installers have done loads of Manchester installations.
Ask for 2-3 references you can call.
Better yet: Ask for addresses of nearby installations. Go have a look.
Get It in Writing
Never accept a verbal quote.
Everything should be in writing:
- • Exact equipment and model numbers
- • What's included
- • What costs extra
- • Total price after grant
- • Warranty length
- • Installation date
If they won't put it in writing, walk away.
Questions Most Manchester People Ask
"Will it work in a Manchester winter?"
Yes. Heat pumps work down to -20°C.
Manchester rarely gets below -5°C.
Coldest day in Manchester (January 2026): -3°C. Heat pumps worked fine.
Our Didsbury customer's heat pump: Kept the house at 21°C all through January. No issues.
"What about my radiators?"
Most radiators are fine.
You might need bigger radiators if:
- • Your house is poorly insulated
- • Your radiators are really old and small
- • You have a huge room with a tiny radiator
The installer checks this in the home visit.
Most homes need 0-3 radiator upgrades.
"How long does installation take?"
Typical Manchester installation: 2-3 days
Day 1:
- • Remove old boiler
- • Install outdoor unit
- • Run pipes through wall
- • Install hot water cylinder
Day 2:
- • Connect radiators
- • Electrical work
- • First test
Day 3:
- • Final setup
- • Show you how to use it
- • Paperwork
You'll be without heating for those 2-3 days. Most installers work fast to minimize this.
"Can I pay in installments?"
Many Manchester installers offer payment plans.
Typical options:
- • 10% deposit when you book
- • 40% when work starts
- • 50% when finished
Or finance:
- • 0% interest over 12 months (some installers)
- • 4-8% interest over 24-60 months (finance companies)
Ask when you get the quote.
"What about the £7,500 grant?"
Every installer should:
- • Handle all the paperwork
- • Submit the application to the government
- • Get approval before starting work
- • Deduct the £7,500 from your final bill
You don't apply yourself. The installer does it.
It takes 2-4 weeks for approval.
What to Do Next
Get 3 quotes from MCS-certified Manchester installers
Compare them side by side
Check references
Choose the one you trust (not always the cheapest)
Book installation
Enjoy lower heating bills
Final Thoughts
A typical Manchester heat pump costs £8,000-£14,000 before the grant.
After the £7,500 government grant, you'll pay £2,500-£6,500.
That includes everything: equipment, installation, hot water tank, warranties.
Extras like bigger radiators or electrical upgrades add £500-£2,000 for some homes.
Most Manchester installations take 2-3 days.
Get 3 quotes. Pick an MCS-certified installer you trust. Job done.
Any questions? Use our free comparison tool to get quotes from vetted Manchester installers in 90 seconds.
Get Your Manchester Quotes Now
Free, no-obligation quotes from MCS-certified installers. £7,500 grant support included.
Last updated: January 22, 2026
Data based on 50+ Manchester heat pump installations in Q4 2025 and Q1 2026.