Hybrid heating in Edinburgh

Edinburgh's housing stock ranges from Georgian and Victorian tenements in Marchmont and Bruntsfield to stone-built terraces in Portobello and modern estates in Currie and Balerno. Most are heated by gas boilers with radiators sized for high flow temperatures. A hybrid heating system adds an air source heat pump alongside the existing boiler, cutting gas use for most of the year while keeping the boiler as backup for the coldest days and peak demand.

Last updated: 28 October 2026

Is a hybrid heating system suitable in Edinburgh?

A hybrid heating system in Edinburgh pairs an air source heat pump with your existing gas boiler. The heat pump runs for most of the year and the boiler fires on cold days. It suits stone tenements and terraced homes with existing radiators, subject to a survey.

Edinburgh has a high proportion of listed buildings and conservation areas, particularly in the New Town, Old Town, Marchmont, and the Grange. Stone-built tenements and terraces have solid walls with no cavity insulation, and many have original sash windows. These factors raise heat loss, but a hybrid system accommodates them because the boiler can run at higher temperatures when needed. The outdoor unit needs careful siting in conservation areas — a rear courtyard or garden location is often more acceptable than a street-facing wall. Edinburgh's winter temperatures typically reach -5 to -8 degrees, with the bivalent point set around 0 to -3 degrees. In suburban areas like Currie, Balerno, and South Queensferry, detached homes with gardens offer more flexibility for outdoor unit placement. The heat loss survey measures each room and checks whether existing radiators can deliver enough heat at lower flow temperatures, or whether selective upgrades are needed.