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Hybrid Heat Pumps

A heat pump working alongside a gas or oil boiler. Hybrids with a gas or oil boiler do not qualify for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant

Burns Less Fuel Than a Boiler Alone Heat Pump + Boiler Backup Smart Controls Pick the Heat Source
Step 1 of 2What you need

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Tell us about the job and we’ll find up to 3 local heat pump installers who cover your area and ask them to contact you with a quote. Free, no obligation.

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What is a Hybrid Heat Pump?

A hybrid heat pump combines an air source heat pump with a gas or oil boiler, either your existing boiler or a new one. A controller switches between the two depending on conditions and settings, so the heat pump can do some or most of the heating, with the boiler as backup.

On milder days the heat pump can do the heating. When it's very cold or you need heat quickly, the boiler takes over. Whether your bills fall depends on your tariffs and how the controls are set, because electricity costs much more per unit than gas. It still burns fossil fuel, and it does not qualify for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.

What a Hybrid Heat Pump Offers

Running Costs

Uses less gas or oil; whether bills fall depends on your tariffs and settings

A Smaller First Step

Start using a heat pump without removing the boiler

Boiler Backup

The boiler covers the coldest days and high demand

Fewer Changes

May need fewer radiator upgrades than a heat pump on its own

Lower Carbon

Burns less fossil fuel than a boiler alone, but not zero

Smart Control

Automatically picks most efficient heating source

How Hybrid Heat Pumps Work

1

Heat Pump First

The heat pump does the heating when conditions suit it

2

Smart Switching

Controller monitors efficiency and switches to most cost-effective option

3

Boiler Backup

Boiler provides backup during very cold weather or peak demand

Hybrid Heat Pump Costs

Around £16,000
Supplied and fitted with a new boiler (Checkatrade cost guide, updated August 2026: a trade estimate, not official data)
£0
Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant: hybrids with a gas or oil boiler are not eligible
Costs vary widely
Expect to pay more than for a boiler alone
26.32p/kWh
Electricity, Ofgem price cap, 1 October–31 December 2026 (VAT removed from electricity until 31 March 2027)
Gas, same period, including VAT
7.97p/kWh
Running costs depend on how much the heat pump runs, your tariffs and your control settings

No Boiler Upgrade Scheme Grant for Hybrids

Ofgem's installer guidance says heat pumps installed alongside a gas or oil boiler, including retrofit hybrids, are not eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. Home Energy Scotland does not fund hybrids either. The £7,500 grant is for an air source or ground source heat pump that replaces fossil fuel heating.

Typical costs, last reviewed September 2026. UK Energy Partnership is run by Harber Glaves Trading Ltd. We are not a government body and cannot decide who gets funding — check eligibility with the official scheme on GOV.UK.

Quick Grant Finder

Answer up to three quick questions to see which schemes may be worth checking

Is a Hybrid Heat Pump Right for You?

✓ May Suit

  • Homes with a gas or oil boiler and radiators
  • Want to burn less fuel without a full heat pump conversion
  • Concerned about heat pump performance in cold weather
  • Want to keep a boiler as backup
  • Homes that would need major work for a heat pump alone

⚠ Consider Carefully

  • Still burns gas or oil
  • More complex than single system
  • Requires outdoor space for heat pump unit
  • No Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant

Thinking About a Hybrid Heat Pump?

Send a free enquiry and Better Home Hub will try to introduce installers near you, who can compare a hybrid with a full heat pump. Check any installer on the MCS register.

Send a Free Enquiry