THE PORTSMOUTH FIELD GUIDE / AIR SOURCE HEAT PUMPS
Can the chosen unit actually reach the rear yard? Measure gates, turns and steps before accepting a Portsmouth heat-pump position.
START WITH THE PROPERTY
A Portsmouth terrace can have a suitable rear position but limited passage from the street. Show gates, turns, steps and boundary distances so the installer can plan delivery and later maintenance.
BEFORE YOU ACCEPT A QUOTE
Ask whether lifting, foundations, drainage or longer pipework are needed for the chosen position. If access is left unresolved, an apparently competitive heat-pump price may not reflect the finished job.
LOCAL COST EVIDENCE / OCTOBER 2026
A quoted installation price depends on the work inside the home. Electricity use depends on the finished design and tariff.
We could not verify a representative local average for a fully installed, family-sized system. Published installer figures mix starting prices, example homes and different scopes. Averaging them would suggest more certainty than the evidence allows.
For a useful comparison, ask each installer to itemise the heat pump, cylinder, radiator changes, electrical work and commissioning, then show the price before and after any eligible grant.
about £690approximate annual cost if the October–December 2026 unit rate lasted a full year
This is a model, not a measured bill or an average for families with heat pumps. It starts with 9,443 kWh, the 2024 mean annual domestic gas use per meter in Portsmouth. We apply 85% boiler efficiency and a heat pump seasonal performance factor of 3.1, then price the electricity at 26.47p per kWh in Southern England.
Calculation: 2024 mean gas kWh per domestic meter × 0.85 ÷ 3.1 × Ofgem electricity unit rate. The result is rounded to the nearest £10. It assumes the gas meter's entire use was for heating and hot water, so cooking and other gas use can make it too high. It does not include existing electricity standing charges, servicing, or changes to your other electricity use.
Gas consumption is by local authority, except London, which uses the London region. Oxfordshire combines its five districts by gas-meter count. The electricity rate follows the distribution region for the place; Oxfordshire spans two regions. Actual cost depends on your heat-loss survey, hot-water use, chosen tariff, controls and the installed system's measured performance. Ask the installer for a property-specific annual estimate.
ILLUSTRATIVE QUOTE COMPARISON
One quote assumes clear access from the street.
Another includes a measured passage, turns, lifting plan and later service route.
Confirm delivery before ordering equipment. The lower quote can become expensive if the chosen unit cannot pass through the available route.
ANOTHER PROJECT AT THE SAME ADDRESS?
NEXT STEP IN PORTSMOUTH
After access is resolved, request a heat-loss assessment and radiator schedule. The outdoor unit should be selected to serve the rooms, not merely to fit the yard.