Air-to-air heat pumps
The same system that keeps you cool in summer heats your rooms efficiently in winter. It is a popular way to replace electric or storage heaters, and to heat rooms that the main heating struggles to reach.
From £1,595 for a single room
- Heats in winter, cools in summer
- Around three to four times more efficient than electric heaters
- Daikin and Mitsubishi Electric systems
- Possible £2,500 government grant
How it works
An outdoor unit takes heat from the outside air, even on cold days, and pumps it to an indoor unit, which blows warm air into the room. In summer the system runs in reverse and removes heat instead.
Because it moves heat rather than making it, an air-to-air heat pump typically delivers around three to four units of heat for each unit of electricity it uses.
Who it suits
- Homes with electric panel heaters or storage heaters.
- Flats and apartments without gas.
- Loft conversions, extensions and garden rooms the radiators don’t reach.
- Offices and shops that need heating and cooling from one system.
The £2,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant
The scheme now includes air-to-air heat pumps, not just air-to-water systems.
The government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme offers £2,500 towards an air-to-air heat pump in England and Wales.
- The heat pump must replace fossil fuel or electric heating, such as gas, oil, LPG or electric heaters.
- You must own the property. Most new builds and social housing are not eligible.
- An MCS-certified installer applies for the grant, and it is taken off the price.
- One grant per property.
Ask us whether your home could qualify. Full details are on GOV.UK under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
Air-to-air or air-to-water?
Both are heat pumps. The difference is how the heat reaches your rooms.
| Air-to-air (what we fit) | Air-to-water | |
|---|---|---|
| Heats through | Indoor units blowing warm air | Radiators or underfloor heating |
| Cooling in summer | Yes | Usually no |
| Hot water | No | Yes |
| Disruption | Low, usually a day per room | Higher, often new radiators and a cylinder |
| Grant | £2,500 if eligible | £7,500 if eligible |
Heat pump questions
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What is an air-to-air heat pump?
It is the same system as split air conditioning, run in reverse in winter. The outdoor unit takes heat from the outside air and the indoor unit blows warm air into the room. In summer it works the other way to cool.
Is there a grant for air-to-air heat pumps?
Yes. The government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme offers £2,500 towards an air-to-air heat pump in England and Wales. It must replace fossil fuel or electric heating, the property must be eligible, and an MCS-certified installer must apply. Ask us whether your home could qualify.
How efficient are air-to-air heat pumps?
They typically produce around three to four units of heat for every unit of electricity, which makes them much cheaper to run than plug-in electric heaters or storage heaters.
Can an air-to-air heat pump heat my whole home?
It can heat the rooms with indoor units, and a multi-room system can cover several rooms. It does not heat hot water, so homes with a boiler often keep it for hot water.
Do I need planning permission?
Usually not for a house in England. Since May 2025, air-to-air heat pumps count as permitted development within limits on size and noise. Flats, listed buildings and some conservation areas need extra checks.
Will it work in cold weather?
Yes. Modern units keep heating well below freezing, although efficiency drops a little on the coldest days.
Other services
Air conditioning installation
Single rooms to whole homes, supplied and fitted.
Servicing and maintenance plans
Annual servicing and maintenance plans.
Air conditioning repairs
Fault finding and fixes for most major brands.
Home and bedroom air conditioning
Quiet systems for bedrooms, lofts and living rooms.
Commercial air conditioning
Offices, shops, restaurants and care homes.
Types of air conditioning
Wall-mounted, multi-split, ducted and cassette.