Air source heat pump FAQs

It depends on the size of your home, how much heat it loses, and whether radiators or the hot water cylinder need changing. We price every job from a survey and a room-by-room heat loss calculation, then take the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant off the quote if you're eligible. Call 0114 463 0351 or send the quote form for a written price.

Homeowners in England and Wales replacing a fossil fuel heating system, such as a gas, oil or LPG boiler, can usually claim £7,500 towards an air source heat pump. The grant has to go through an MCS certified installer. NorthStar is MCS certified, so we apply for it and take it straight off your quote. You don't fill in any forms yourself.

Yes. Eligible homes that are off the gas grid can get £9,000 instead of £7,500 for a heat pump installed between 21 July 2026 and 31 March 2027. That covers a lot of homes on the Peak District side of Sheffield. We check whether your property qualifies at the survey.

Hybrid systems that keep a boiler alongside a heat pump aren't covered by the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, so to get the grant the heat pump needs to replace the boiler completely. A correctly sized heat pump doesn't need a backup boiler.

A well-designed heat pump turns each unit of electricity into several units of heat, so running costs depend mainly on how well the system is designed and which electricity tariff you use. We set the controls up for efficient running and can talk you through heat pump tariffs at handover.

Most homes can be heated by a heat pump, including older stone and brick houses, as long as the system is sized from a proper heat loss calculation. Sometimes a few radiators need to be bigger, or the loft insulation needs topping up. We tell you honestly at the survey, and if a heat pump isn't right for your home we'll say so.

Not always. Heat pumps run at lower water temperatures than a boiler, so some rooms may need a larger radiator to stay warm. The heat loss calculation shows exactly which rooms, if any, need a change, and it's all in your quote before we start.

Yes. The heat pump heats a hot water cylinder as well as your radiators or underfloor heating. If you have a combi boiler now, you'll need space for a cylinder, usually in an airing cupboard, loft or utility room. We'll find the best spot at the survey.

Yes. Air source heat pumps keep producing heat well below zero. We size the system to keep your home warm on the coldest days typical for Sheffield, not just an average winter day.

Most installs on houses in England are permitted development, so planning permission isn't needed. Listed buildings, flats and some conservation areas can be different. We check this as part of the survey.

We measure each room, look at your insulation, windows, radiators, pipework and hot water setup, and find the best place for the outdoor unit. It usually takes one to two hours, and you'll get a written quote afterwards.

Most installs take two to five days on site, depending on whether a new cylinder, radiators or pipework are needed. You'll have hot water for most of the job and we keep you updated each day.

Modern units such as the Vaillant aroTHERM plus are quiet, usually closer to a fridge than a boiler fan. We position the outdoor unit with your neighbours in mind and check it against the MCS noise requirements before fitting.

Yes. An annual service keeps the system running efficiently, and most manufacturers need it done every year to keep the warranty valid. We service most major brands, including heat pumps we didn't fit.

Typically 15 to 20 years with an annual service, which is longer than most gas boilers.

All of Sheffield, plus Rotherham, Barnsley, Chesterfield, Dronfield, Stocksbridge, Penistone and the Hope Valley.