Why choose Avenir Renovations?
Why switch to a heat pump in Leuven?
Replacing an end-of-life boiler
Twenty-five-year-old oil boiler, atmospheric gas boiler, oil tank to be replaced: many installations have reached the end of their life. Rather than installing a fossil boiler for another twenty years, the question of the heat pump naturally arises.
It draws most of its energy from the air, ground, or water, and only uses electricity to operate the compressor and transfer it to the house.
A heating system consistent with energy renovation
Coupled with good insulation and, ideally, solar panels, the heat pump makes the house independent from fossil fuels. It also counts favorably in the EPC certificate.
In a poorly insulated house, it works less efficiently and costs more to operate. That is why we look at the envelope before discussing the machine.
More consistent comfort
A heat pump heats at low temperature, continuously. The heat is softer and more homogeneous, without the jolts of a boiler that starts and stops. Some models can also provide slight cooling in summer.
Heat pump models
Several types of heat pumps can improve the heating of your home. The choice depends on your insulation, existing equipment, and your land.
Study, equipment, and installation of the heat pump
Installing a heat pump requires a precise study and equipment suited to your home. Each step contributes to ensuring performance, thermal comfort, and durability.
Calculation of heat losses room by room, checking existing radiators, hot water needs, available electrical power. An oversized heat pump costs more to purchase and operates less efficiently. Undersized, it leaves the house cool on very cold days.
Recognized brands, high performance coefficient, low noise outdoor units, intelligent regulation. After-sales service and maintenance are planned from the start.
We prioritize devices whose parts and technicians are available in Belgium, so that a breakdown in the middle of winter can be resolved in a few days rather than a few weeks.
For an air-water heat pump replacing a boiler, generally count on two to five days of work, including commissioning. The replacement of radiators or the installation of underfloor heating extends the project duration.
The old boiler is disassembled and removed. If an oil tank is no longer in use, it must be emptied and neutralized or removed by a specialized company.
Regular maintenance by a certified technician is recommended: checking the circuit, cleaning the outdoor unit, and verifying the settings. It ensures efficiency and extends the lifespan of the device.
Between visits, simply keep the outdoor unit clear of leaves and snow, and monitor the pressure of the heating circuit.
What is the price of a heat pump in Leuven?
The price depends on the model, power, emitters to be adapted, and domestic hot water. Amounts before deducting the grant, VAT of 6% included when the building is over ten years old.
| Type of work | What affects the price | Indicative price including VAT |
| Installed air-water heat pump (detached house) | Power, location of the unit, hot water boiler | 11,000 to 18,000 € |
| Installed hybrid heat pump | Condition of the existing gas boiler | 7,000 to 12,000 € |
| Geothermal heat pump with drilling | Depth and number of drills, access to the garden | 20,000 to 32,000 € |
| Air-air heat pump (one to three rooms) | Number of indoor units | 3,500 to 9,000 € |
| Replacement of low-temperature radiators | Size and number of radiators | 500 to 1,200 € / radiator |
| Neutralization or removal of the oil tank | Capacity, access, buried or in the basement | 800 to 2,500 € |
| Thermodynamic boiler for hot water | Volume, location | 2,500 to 4,500 € |
The estimate is based on a calculation of the house's heat losses, a survey of the radiators, and the choice of the location of the outdoor unit, validated with you on-site.
Example: in a mid-terrace house in Wilsele insulated in the roof and cavity walls, an 8 kW air-water heat pump with an integrated boiler often costs around 14,000 euros including VAT. For a household in category 3, the grant significantly reduces the bill.
Procedures and grants for a heat pump in Leuven in 2026
The amounts of Mijn VerbouwPremie
The grant depends on the household's income category and the type of heat pump. For categories 1 and 2, the highest incomes, it reaches 1,500 euros for an air-water heat pump, 4,000 euros for a geothermal one, and 800 euros for a hybrid.
For categories 3 and 4, the amounts are significantly higher: up to 6,000 and 8,000 euros for a geothermal pump, 3,000 and 4,000 euros for a hybrid. In all cases, the grant is capped at a percentage of the invoice, up to 50% for category 4.
The conditions for application
The file is submitted on the online portal of the Region, within a maximum of two years from the final invoice. A grant for a heat pump or a thermodynamic boiler can only be obtained once every ten years for the same dwelling. We provide you with the detailed invoice and the technical sheets necessary for the file.
The permit for the outdoor unit
The outdoor unit is generally exempt from permits, within certain location limits. However, municipal rules may regulate the distance from the property boundaries. It is checked before installation, especially in a semi-detached house where the unit is placed near the neighboring garden.
6% VAT and renovation loan
The reduced VAT rate of 6% applies to installations in a house over ten years old, under certain conditions. Households in categories 2, 3, and 4 can also finance the work with Mijn VerbouwLening, the Flemish renovation loan. The amounts and conditions change: we verify them with you at the time of ordering.
Radiators, noise, and bills: points to anticipate
The existing radiators
They often suffice if the house is well insulated and they are large enough to heat at low temperature. Otherwise, some radiators are replaced or a hybrid heat pump is chosen.
A simple test helps to decide: if the house remains comfortable in winter with a boiler set to a low water temperature, the current radiators will probably be sufficient.
The noise of the outdoor unit
Recent models are discreet but not silent. A good location, away from neighbors' bedrooms and without echo effects between two walls, makes all the difference.
In the narrow gardens of terraced houses, closed corners are avoided and the unit is placed on anti-vibration supports, sometimes with an acoustic screen.
The effect on the energy bill
The electricity bill increases since the heat pump replaces gas or oil. However, the overall energy bill decreases in a well-insulated house, especially with solar panels. Regulation can also avoid consumption peaks, which matters with capacity tariffs.
Frequently asked questions about the heat pump in Leuven
Can we keep the old boiler as a backup?
With a hybrid heat pump, the gas boiler remains in place and takes over during extreme cold. With a properly sized standalone heat pump, a backup boiler is generally not necessary: the unit often has an electric auxiliary heater.
Does a heat pump work in extreme cold?
Yes. Current air-water heat pumps continue to heat at significantly negative temperatures, with lower efficiency on the coldest days. An electric auxiliary heater takes over if necessary, but it only operates a few days a year when the unit is properly sized.
How much does an air-water heat pump consume?
A heat pump produces an average of three to four kilowatt-hours of heat for every kilowatt-hour of electricity consumed. For a well-insulated terraced house, this often represents between 2,500 and 4,500 kWh of electricity per year for heating and hot water.
Heat pump or new gas boiler?
A new boiler costs less to purchase but commits the house to fossil fuels for twenty years. In an insulated house, the heat pump offers a more stable bill, a better EPC rating, and remains the only heating solution still subsidized for everyone in Flanders.
The right time to decide
For higher incomes, the Flemish grant for the heat pump is available until the end of 2027. Between the study, potential prior insulation, and installation, a serious project takes several months.
If your boiler is nearing the end, now is the time to talk about it. The on-site study is free.
Agency Avenir
Rénovations
for Heat pump installation in Leuven
An expert to take charge of your renovation projects and guarantee deadlines, budgets and quality of all services.
