Hybrid heat pump systems
A heat pump for most days, a boiler for the coldest ones
A hybrid system pairs an air source heat pump with a boiler. The heat pump does most of the work through the year, and the boiler steps in on the coldest days or when you need a lot of hot water fast. It can be a sensible middle step for homes that aren't ready for a heat pump on its own. There's one big catch, though, and we'd rather you heard it from us first.
The catch: no Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant
Gov.uk states plainly that you can't get a Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant for a hybrid system, such as a gas boiler working alongside an air source heat pump. The £7,500 grant is for replacing fossil fuel heating, not adding to it.
So a hybrid usually costs you more upfront than a full heat pump with the grant taken off. That changes the maths for a lot of people, and it's why we always price both options side by side. Our Boiler Upgrade Scheme page explains what does qualify.
When a hybrid still makes sense
There are homes where it's the right call. A big, solid-walled house that can't easily be insulated may need a very large heat pump and new radiators everywhere to go fully electric. A hybrid lets a smaller heat pump carry the everyday load while the boiler covers the peaks.
It can also suit you if your boiler is fairly new and working well, if there's no room for a large hot water cylinder, or if you want to cut oil or LPG use now and plan a full heat pump later.
- Larger older homes with high heat loss
- A boiler with plenty of life left in it
- Limited space for a big cylinder
- Off-grid homes wanting to burn less oil or LPG straight away
How the two work together
The clever part is the controls. A hybrid controller decides which heat source to run based on the outside temperature, the heat the house needs, and, on some systems, the cost of each fuel. Set up well, the heat pump covers most of the year. Set up badly, the boiler ends up doing everything and you've paid for a very expensive ornament.
We set the switchover points to suit your house and talk you through them at handover.
Gas, LPG or oil
Hybrids work with mains gas, LPG and oil boilers. Gas and LPG work is done by our Gas Safe registered engineers, oil work by OFTEC registered engineers, and the heat pump by MCS certified installers. If you're off grid and weighing up options, our oil and LPG boiler pages are a good place to compare.
What is included
- Survey and heat loss calculation to size the heat pump
- Advice on keeping your existing boiler or fitting a new one
- Heat pump, hybrid controller and pipework
- Setting the switchover points for your home
- Side-by-side price against a full heat pump with the grant
Hybrid heat pump systems FAQs
Is a hybrid cheaper than a full heat pump?
Often not, once the grant is counted. A full air source system gets £7,500 off; a hybrid gets nothing from the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. That's why we quote both. In some large homes the hybrid still comes out ahead because the full system needs so much extra work.
Can I keep my current boiler?
Sometimes. If it's reasonably new, in good condition and compatible with a hybrid controller, we can add a heat pump alongside it. If it's near the end of its life, replacing it at the same time usually makes more sense.
Will I still need a boiler service every year?
Yes. The boiler still needs its annual service, and the heat pump should be checked too. We can do both on the same visit. See our heat pump servicing page.
Can I upgrade to a full heat pump later?
Yes, and the pipework and radiator changes from the hybrid often help. Just bear in mind the grant rules may change by then, so we can't promise what will be available in future.
Get a fixed price for your home
Tell us about the job and we will arrange a free survey.