An air-to-air heat pump is a split system: an indoor unit on the wall, an outdoor unit outside, and a refrigerant pipe between them. In winter it pulls warmth out of the outside air and blows it into the room. In summer it runs in reverse and cools. It's the same equipment people call air conditioning.
Because it moves heat instead of making it, a modern unit delivers several times more heat than the electricity it uses. That makes it far cheaper to run than plug-in electric heaters or storage heaters, and roughly comparable with gas for the rooms it heats.
What we install
Single split — one room
One indoor unit and one outdoor unit. The usual choice for a loft bedroom, home office, extension or garden room.
Multi-split — two to five rooms
Several indoor units on one outdoor unit, each with its own controls. Cheaper per room than separate systems, and only one unit outside.
Brands
Daikin, Mitsubishi Electric, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Fujitsu, Panasonic, LG, Samsung and Midea. For heating-led jobs we look at each model's heating efficiency (SCOP) and how well it holds its output in cold weather, not just the cooling figures. Our Mitsubishi vs Daikin comparison covers the main differences.
Where it works best
- Loft conversions — cold in winter, too hot in summer, and often badly served by the existing radiators.
- Extensions and kitchen-diners where extending the central heating would mean a bigger boiler or new pipework.
- Garden offices and studios with no gas supply.
- Conservatories that are unusable for half the year.
- Living rooms — heat the room you use most with the heat pump and turn the boiler down.
Got a room that's always cold? Send us the details and a photo and we'll price it.
Get a fixed priceHow the installation works
- 01
Tell us about the room
Which room, how it's heated now, and a couple of photos of the inside and outside wall. That's usually enough for a first price.
- 02
Survey and sizing
We size the unit for the room's heat loss in winter, not just its floor area, and agree where the indoor and outdoor units go.
- 03
Fixed written quote
One price covering the unit, pipework, electrical connection, commissioning and making good.
- 04
Installation day
A single room is normally one day. Indoor unit on the wall, outdoor unit on brackets or a base, one small hole between them.
- 05
Commissioning
Pressure-tested, vacuumed and charged under F-Gas rules, then tested in both heating and cooling mode.
- 06
Handover
We show you the controls and the app, register the warranty and book in the first annual service.
What it won't do
It heats the rooms it's fitted in, but it doesn't heat water or feed radiators, so it won't replace a boiler on its own. It also isn't covered by the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant — that only applies to air-to-water heat pumps fitted by an MCS certified installer. We don't install air-to-water systems.
Where the outdoor unit goes can need planning permission, especially for flats, listed buildings and conservation areas. The Planning Portal has the general rules, and we check your property at survey.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much does an air-to-air heat pump cost to install?
Typically £1,800 to £3,000 for one room supplied and fitted, and £3,500 to £5,000 for two rooms on a multi-split, including VAT. Our air-to-air heat pump cost guide breaks the figures down and compares running costs with gas and electric heaters.
Can it heat my whole house?
It can heat several rooms on a multi-split, but it doesn't make hot water, so most homes keep their boiler for hot water and the rest of the heating. Where it pays off best is the rooms you use most, and the ones the central heating struggles with.
Do I need planning permission?
Often not for a house, but it depends on the property and where the outdoor unit goes. Flats, listed buildings and conservation areas are the usual exceptions. We check this at survey, before anything is ordered.
Is it noisy?
Indoor units are very quiet — the best are around 19–20 dB on their lowest setting, quieter than a whisper. Outdoor units hum when working hard. We position them away from bedroom windows and neighbours' windows where we can, and use anti-vibration mounts.
Is it eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?
No. That grant only covers air-to-water heat pumps that replace a fossil-fuel boiler, claimed through an MCS certified installer. Air-to-air systems are not eligible from any installer.