What Irish Homeowners Really Paid for a Heat Pump, and Why Quotes Vary So Much

A homeowner with a house built in 2006 asked a simple question on Reddit: has anyone had a heat pump fitted for the €12,500 SEAI grant, or close to it? The replies are one of the most useful snapshots of real Irish prices we have seen. Some people paid a few thousand euro after grants. Others were quoted more than €20,000 for the same kind of job.

These are prices homeowners reported themselves in a public discussion. We haven't verified them, and some were paid before the grants increased in 2026.

What people paid

Home	What they installed	Reported price
3 bed mid terrace, gas heating	Air to water, 7 radiators changed	€22,000 to €24,000 quoted by One Stop Shops; €17,000 to €19,000 quoted directly by installers
4 bed semi detached, built 2006	Air to water, 6 radiators changed	€14,000 total, €5,500 after the grant; other firms quoted €20,000
170 m² house, built 2006	Air to water, 12 radiators changed	About €9,600 after the grant
3 bed semi detached, built 2006, gas heating	Air to air, three indoor units	€11,000 before a grant that was €3,500 at the time
90 m² bungalow	Ducted air to air	€7,500
Ground floor only	One air to air wall unit	€1,900 (€1,300 equipment, €500 fitting)
1960s house	Air to water, underfloor heating, full replumb, 2 bathrooms	€20,000
1930s house, BER E to A	Deep retrofit: heat pump, solar, insulation, windows, ventilation	About €130,000 before grants

Six lessons from the thread

1. The same job can cost €5,000 more depending on who quotes

One homeowner got three quotes from local installers at €17,000 to €19,000, against €22,000 to €24,000 from One Stop Shops for the same house. Another paid €14,000 with a local firm when others quoted €20,000. Get three written quotes, including at least one local installer, and compare them line by line. Our quote guide explains what each quote should include.

2. A One Stop Shop isn't always the cheapest route

A One Stop Shop manages everything and deducts the grants upfront, which suits a deep retrofit with insulation, windows and ventilation. For a job that is only a heat pump and radiators, going directly to an SEAI registered installer was cheaper in every example in the thread. See how the two grant routes compare.

3. Ask how the grant is paid

The homeowner who saved most chose an installer who handled the grant paperwork and charged only the net price. Other installers expect you to pay the full amount and claim the grant yourself. Ask before you sign, and get it in writing, including who carries the risk if the claim is delayed or refused.

4. Air to air is a serious option for newer homes

Several owners of houses built around 2000 chose air to air instead of air to water, and describe their homes as warm all winter, with cooling in summer as a bonus. The SEAI grant for air to air is now up to €7,500, more than double what one owner received. The trade offs come up in the thread too: bathrooms usually need an electric towel rail, and you need a separate way to heat water. Read our air to air guide.

5. Running costs depend on the installation, not the technology

The biggest worry in the thread was whether a heat pump would cost more to run than oil. The honest answer from those who have one: it should be comparable or cheaper, but a badly designed system can eat electricity. An oversized or undersized unit, or a leaky house, are the usual causes. Our running costs guide lists what to check.

6. Comfort is a reason in its own right

The owner of the 1930s house says they will never recover €130,000 from lower bills. But the house went from struggling to reach 16°C, with damp and mould, to a steady 22°C. A green mortgage at a lower rate cut their repayments by about the same amount as the extra borrowing cost. Not every upgrade has to pay for itself to be worth doing.

Before you ask for quotes

1. Try the 45°C test: turn your boiler flow temperature down on a cold day and see whether the house stays warm.
2. Check your BER, and book an SEAI technical assessment if your home was built before 2007.
3. Use the estimator to see a realistic price range for your home before anyone visits.