A heat pump quotation without a heat loss calculation is a guess with a price on it

Quick answer

A proper heat pump quotation in Scotland needs six things: a room-by-room heat loss calculation, a stated design flow temperature, an emitter schedule, the hot water arrangement, the MCS number of the actual installer, and a clear list of exclusions. If any are missing, you cannot compare quotes like for like.

Six things have to be in a heat pump quotation before it means anything. Most of the ones people send us are missing four of them.

Air source heat pump installed beside a harled Scottish cottage with a slate roof

Compare like for like

Every quote we arrange is built on a room-by-room heat loss calculation.

Key facts

Last updated: 28 October 2026
  • A complete heat pump quotation needs a room-by-room heat loss calculation, a design flow temperature, an emitter schedule, the hot water arrangement, the installer MCS number, and a list of exclusions.
  • Installations are carried out through MCS-certified partners — the MCS number appears on your quotation.
  • Heat pumps work in Scottish winters when sized correctly for your local cold-day temperature.
  • Zero percent VAT applies to qualifying domestic heat pump installations until 31 March 2027 under HMRC rules.
  • Interest-free credit up to £30,000, subject to status.
  • A typical installation takes two to four working days depending on radiator and cylinder work.
  • We cover all of Scotland, from Glasgow tenements to Highland farmhouses.
  • Installed through MCS-certified partners
  • Quotations for homes across Scotland
  • Heat loss calculation with every quote

If your property has no mains gas, homes without a mains gas supply are covered in depth by a site in our network. For help with payments, paying monthly with interest-free credit is explained on a dedicated finance site. Remote properties have their own setup considerations, and heating rural and remote properties covers those in detail. Part of the Scottish Energy Efficiency network.

Ready to get your heat pump quotation?

Fill in the form and we will send you a complete quotation — one that passes the six-line test. No obligation, no sales calls, no pressure.

Request your quotation

All fields are required.

Enquiry type

By submitting this form you agree to be contacted by Heat Pump Quotes Scotland, a trading name of Scot Energy Efficiency Ltd (company number 17408629), about your enquiry.

Privacy Policy · Cookie Policy

A proper heat pump quotation in Scotland needs a room-by-room heat loss calculation, a stated design flow temperature, an emitter schedule, the hot water arrangement, the MCS certification number of the actual installer, and a clear list of what is excluded. If any of those six are missing, the quotation is not complete and you cannot compare it like for like.

What should be in a heat pump quotation?

Six things, each testable. Apply this to any quotation you receive — ours included. If one is missing, ask why before you commit.

Surveyor measuring a room for a heat loss calculation in a Scottish home
  1. 1

    A room-by-room heat loss calculation

    Not a floor area, not a rule of thumb, not the size of the old boiler. Without this nothing else on the quotation can be trusted.

  2. 2

    The design flow temperature, stated as a number

    Not described in words, not a range. The number determines your running cost and which emitters need changing.

  3. 3

    An emitter schedule — which radiators stay, which change, and why

    Every radiator in every room accounted for. If the quotation does not list them, the price is not finished.

  4. 4

    The hot water arrangement — cylinder size and where it goes

    A heat pump needs a hot water cylinder. Its size, location and pipework must be specified, not left to chance.

  5. 5

    The MCS certification number of the company doing the work

    And whether that is the same company whose name is on the quotation. If it is not, you need to know before you sign.

  6. 6

    What is excluded — the line most quotations do not have at all

    Scaffolding, electrical upgrades, upgrades to pipework, making good after the work. If it is not listed, it is not included.

If a quotation cannot show you the heat loss, it cannot show you the running cost either.

Heating engineer connecting pipework to an air source heat pump outside a stone-built Scottish house

How do I get a heat pump quotation in Scotland?

Three steps, no obligation. You send your details, we assess your property honestly, and you receive a quotation that passes the six-line test.

  1. 01

    Send us your details

    Fill in the form with your postcode, property type and current monthly bill. It takes under two minutes and there is no obligation.

  2. 02

    We assess your property

    We look at your property, your current heating system and your insulation. If a heat pump is not the right answer for you, we will say so before we quote.

  3. 03

    You receive a complete quotation

    A quotation that passes the six-line test: heat loss calculation, flow temperature, emitter schedule, hot water arrangement, MCS certification and exclusions — all in writing.

What comes in your quotation?

Everything on the six-line test, itemised and in writing. No vague language, no missing sections, no surprises after you sign.

Unvented hot water cylinder with insulated copper pipework fitted in an airing cupboard
  • A room-by-room heat loss calculation carried out by an MCS-certified installer
  • A stated design flow temperature for the coldest day
  • A full emitter schedule — which radiators stay, which change, and why
  • The hot water cylinder specification, including size and location
  • The MCS certification number of the company carrying out the installation
  • A clear list of what is excluded — scaffolding, electrical upgrades, making good
  • An itemised price breakdown, not a single lump-sum figure
  • An honest assessment of whether a heat pump is the right choice for your property

Should you not bother?

If your house is not insulated to a reasonable standard, no heat pump quotation will give you a happy answer and the honest first job is the fabric. If you are on mains gas with a boiler in good health, the arithmetic is much harder and we will say so.

We would rather tell you this now than after you have spent money on a survey. A quotation that is not honest about your property is not worth the paper it is printed on.

Row of harled stone cottages with slate roofs on a frosty winter morning in Scotland, one with a heat pump outside

What should I ask before I sign?

Five questions that separate a real quotation from a sales pitch. Ask them of any installer, including us. If you do not get straight answers, walk away.

Couple reading through a printed heat pump quotation at the kitchen table of a Scottish farmhouse
  1. 01

    What is your MCS certification number?

    We install through MCS-certified partners. The partner who fits your system is the company named on your MCS certificate, and their certification number appears on your quotation.

  2. 02

    Are you a TrustMark registered business?

    We install through MCS-certified partners who are TrustMark registered. The registration is theirs, and we attribute it accordingly on your quotation.

  3. 03

    Is your guarantee insurance-backed, and does it survive if you cease trading?

    Yes. The guarantee is insurance-backed through our MCS-certified installation partner, and it survives the partner ceasing to trade. Ask us to confirm the specific terms in writing on your quotation.

  4. 04

    Is scaffolding included, or charged as an extra?

    It depends on your property. What matters is that it is stated explicitly in the quotation — included or excluded — so the price you see is the price you pay.

  5. 05

    Who actually carries out the installation, and are they the same company whose name is on the certificate?

    We install through MCS-certified partners. The partner who fits your system is the company whose name appears on the MCS certificate.

Heat pumps for farms and businesses

We arrange heat pump, solar and battery quotations for Scottish farms, holiday lets, hotels, offices and community buildings. Interest-free credit up to £30,000, subject to status.

For farms and rural estates

Replace oil or LPG with a heat pump sized from a proper heat loss survey. Large roof areas can host solar to cut running costs further.

For holiday lets and hospitality

Reliable heat and hot water for guests, with lower running costs than oil or LPG. A cascade system handles high demand efficiently.

For offices and community buildings

Zoned heating around occupied hours, with weather compensation and smart controls to keep running costs down.

What else do people ask about heat pump quotations?

Straight answers to the questions we hear most often from homeowners across Scotland.

Cast iron radiator under a stone-framed window in a Scottish cottage living room on a snowy day

What does a complete heat pump quote include?

A complete quote names the heat pump model and output, shows a room-by-room heat loss calculation, states the design flow temperature, lists every radiator that stays or changes, specifies the hot water cylinder, gives the installer's MCS number and sets out exclusions. It should also itemise the price, so you can compare quotes line by line.

Why do heat pump quotes vary so much between installers?

Quotes vary because installers size systems differently, include different amounts of radiator and pipework change, choose different cylinders, and treat items like scaffolding, electrical upgrades and making good in different ways. Some quotes leave these out entirely. When each quote is built on a proper heat loss calculation and lists its exclusions, the differences become much easier to explain.

What happens during a heat loss survey?

A surveyor visits your home and measures each room, its windows, walls, floors and ceilings, and notes insulation levels and how the property is built. Those details go into a room-by-room calculation of how much heat each space loses on a cold day. The result sets the heat pump size, flow temperature and any radiator changes.

Will a heat pump cost more or less to run than gas or oil?

It depends on your home, your current fuel and your energy tariff. Heat pumps are much more efficient than boilers, but electricity usually costs more per unit than gas. Compared with oil or LPG, running costs are often lower. A proper quote should estimate running costs from your own heat loss figures, not general averages.

Is a heat pump suitable for my Scottish home?

Most Scottish homes can take a heat pump, but suitability depends on your heat loss, insulation, radiator sizes, space for a cylinder and where the outdoor unit can go. A surveyor checks all of this at your home. If a heat pump is not the right choice, we will tell you honestly rather than try to sell you one.

How long does a heat pump installation take?

Time on site depends on how many radiators change, whether the cylinder needs a new location, pipe runs and electrical work. A typical installation takes two to four working days. Your quotation should state the expected number of days and whether you will have heating and hot water each evening.

What should be in a heat pump quotation?

A heat loss calculation, a stated design flow temperature, an emitter schedule, the hot water arrangement, the installer's MCS number, and a list of what is excluded. Six things, minimum.

More detail

These six items are the minimum standard for a quotation that you can compare like for like. If any one is missing, you cannot judge whether the price is fair, whether the system will heat your home, or whether the installer is competent. The six-line test on this page explains each one in detail.

Why does a heat pump quotation need a heat loss calculation?

Without a room-by-room heat loss calculation, the heat pump size is a guess. Every running cost claim and every comfort promise depends on that figure being correct.

More detail

A heat loss calculation measures how much heat each room loses on the coldest day of the year. It tells the installer what size heat pump you need and what flow temperature it must run at. Without it, the system may be oversized, undersized, or set to run at a temperature that costs you more than it should. No calculation, no trustworthy price.

What is a design flow temperature and why does it matter?

The design flow temperature is the water temperature sent to your radiators on the coldest day. Lower is more efficient. It must be stated as a number, not words.

More detail

Heat pumps run more efficiently at lower flow temperatures. A quotation that says "low flow temperature" without a number is not telling you what you need to know. The number should be specific — for example, 45°C or 50°C — and it should be paired with the heat loss calculation so you can see it is sufficient for your home.

Is MCS certification important for heat pump installation in Scotland?

Yes. MCS is the minimum standard for a competent heat pump installation in Scotland. The MCS number on your quotation must match the company doing the work.

More detail

MCS certification means the installer has been assessed against a recognised standard for heat pump design and installation. The MCS number must belong to the company doing the work, not a parent company or a partner. On your quotation, check that the name on the MCS certificate matches the name of the company you are contracting with.

What VAT rate applies to heat pump installation in Scotland?

Zero percent VAT on qualifying domestic heat pump installations until 31 March 2027, under HMRC rules. This is a tax change that applies UK-wide.

More detail

The zero-rate VAT on domestic heat pump installations was introduced by HMRC and runs until 31 March 2027. It applies to the installation of heat pumps and any ancillary work needed to make the system function. The price on your quotation should already reflect it.

Can I get a heat pump if I am on mains gas?

You can, but running cost differences are harder when replacing a working gas boiler. An honest installer will tell you the arithmetic is tighter and may not justify it.

More detail

Gas is currently a cheaper fuel per kWh than electricity, and heat pumps use electricity. A heat pump can still cost less to run because it is more efficient, but the margin is narrower than for homes on oil, LPG, or direct electric heating. The honest answer depends on your property, your boiler, and your bills — and a quotation that does not address this is not being straight with you.

What is the Smart Export Guarantee and does it apply to heat pumps?

The Smart Export Guarantee pays roughly 4p to 25p per kWh for exported electricity, depending on supplier. It applies to solar panels, not heat pumps directly.

More detail

The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) is a government scheme that requires electricity suppliers to pay small generators for exported renewable electricity. It applies to solar panels and other microgenerators, not to heat pumps, which consume electricity rather than generate it. However, if you are considering solar alongside a heat pump, the SEG is relevant to the overall financial picture.

Reviewed by the Scottish Energy Efficiency team.

Last updated: 28 October 2026