Sue and her husband bought a three-bedroom terraced house in Pittville, Cheltenham, and planned a complete refurbishment, with moving away from fossil fuels a high priority. We replaced her gas boiler with a Stiebel Eltron air source heat pump, underfloor heating throughout, a Solarwatt battery and an EV charger, all designed as one system: a good example of a terraced house heat pump done well.
At a glance
| Location | Pittville, Cheltenham |
| Property | Three-bedroom terraced house, full refurbishment |
| Heating before | Gas boiler and radiators |
| Heat pump | Stiebel Eltron WPL-A 07 air source, with a 225-litre hot water cylinder |
| Heat emitters | Underfloor heating throughout |
| Battery | Solarwatt battery |
| Also installed | Home EV charger |
| Grant | Boiler Upgrade Scheme, £7,500, plus 0% VAT |
| Installed | 2026 |
The brief
We first spoke to Sue and her husband in December 2025. The house was heated by a gas boiler and radiators, and with energy costs rising and a full refurbishment planned, Sue felt it was the right time to make the change.
She had a lot of questions: how a heat pump works, whether it would heat the house comfortably, and whether everything would fit inside and outside a terraced house. Cost was a consideration too, and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant and 0% VAT on the installation both helped.
We had spoken to another installer, but a chance conversation at a hairdresser appointment led to a recommendation for PBT Installations. The original installer seemed uninterested in the project and was hard to get hold of. PBT Installations were responsive from the beginning.
I welcomed having an installer who was closer to home and could install multiple technologies together, rather than having different installers for different parts of the same system.
Sue, Pittville, Cheltenham
What we designed and why
After talking to Sue about how the house would be used, we designed a system around a Stiebel Eltron WPL-A 07 air source heat pump and a 225-litre hot water cylinder, providing all the home’s heating and plenty of hot water.
Sue chose underfloor heating throughout. With no radiators, the rooms feel more spacious and the walls are free for furniture, and underfloor heating’s low water temperature suits a heat pump well.
We combined the heat pump with a Solarwatt battery and she will have an EV charger in time. Sue can buy electricity at cheaper off-peak rates, store it in the battery and use it at peak times, cutting the cost of running the heat pump and eventually charging her car.
The installation needed a trench dug for the cabling and we adjusted the garden layout to create a dedicated space for the heat pump.
We kept Sue updated throughout, so she didn’t need to be on site for most of the work.
The outcome
We only recently moved in, so we’re still getting used to being back in the house, but so far it’s a lovely ambient temperature. The heat pump is in the garden and doesn’t make much noise at all. Although there is a gentle hum from the plant room, it’s constant, so it’s less intrusive than a boiler stopping and starting.
The team were professional and friendly throughout. We’re looking forward to a winter in the new house and testing the system’s capacity.
Sue, Pittville, Cheltenham
Terraced house heat pump: what to consider
Terraced houses often have less outside space and closer neighbours, so a terraced house heat pump needs more thought, but it can work well. The outdoor unit usually goes in the rear garden or yard, where it needs clear airflow and a position that keeps noise away from neighbouring windows. Inside, the hot water cylinder and controls need a plant space, which is easiest to plan during a refurbishment, as Sue did.
Frequently asked questions
Can you fit a heat pump on a terraced house?
Usually, yes. The outdoor unit typically goes in the back garden or yard, and the cylinder in a cupboard or plant room. We check the space, airflow and noise at the survey, so you know what will fit before anything is agreed.
Will a heat pump be noisy for my neighbours?
Modern heat pumps are quiet, and where the unit goes makes a big difference. For permitted development, an MCS noise assessment checks the expected noise at the nearest neighbouring window, and we plan the position with that in mind.
Do I need radiators with a heat pump?
Not necessarily. Sue’s home uses underfloor heating throughout, with no radiators at all. Many homes use radiators, sized to work at heat pump temperatures, or a mix of both.
Can a battery help run a heat pump and an electric car?
Yes. A battery can charge on a cheap off-peak tariff and power the heat pump and car charger at peak times. Read about home battery storage with a Warm Homes Loan.
Related
Read more about air source heat pumps, our whole-home systems and heat pump installations in Cheltenham, or browse more projects.