Checked against the rules on 3 November 2026
Can air conditioning heat your home?
Yes. Most modern split air conditioning is reversible, which makes it an air-to-air heat pump, and it can heat a room efficiently in winter. It suits rooms without radiators and homes on electric heating. It will not make hot water, and heating a whole house with it takes planning, so most homes run it alongside a boiler.
Get a quote
Name, number and postcode are all we need. We phone you back.
How it heats
Reversing the flow of refrigerant swaps the roles of the two units. The outdoor unit collects heat from the outside air, even when it feels cold, and the indoor unit releases it into the room. No water is involved, so there are no radiators, no pipes to bleed and no cylinder.
How the running cost compares
Material from an Energy Saving Trust webinar says these systems typically have a seasonal efficiency (SCOP) above 4, meaning four units of heat for each unit of electricity. Using the Ofgem price cap rates for October to December 2026 of 26.32p per kWh for electricity and 7.97p per kWh for gas:
- Direct electric heater: 26.32p per kWh of heat
- Gas boiler, assuming 90% efficiency: about 8.9p per kWh of heat
- Air-to-air heat pump at SCOP 4: about 6.6p per kWh of heat
Against electric heaters the saving is large and steady. Against gas it is narrower and depends on the unit and on prices, which change every quarter. Electricity carries no VAT until 31 March 2027, which helps for now. Standing charges are not included in these figures.
Where it works well
- Rooms the radiators do not reach: conservatories, extensions and garden rooms.
- Homes with electric heating: flats and bungalows on panel or storage heaters.
- Homes with no wet system: those with no gas supply or no room for a cylinder.
- Top-up heating: warming the room you are in, with the boiler turned down.
What it does not do so well
It makes no hot water, so you still need a boiler, an immersion or a cylinder. The warmth comes from moving air rather than a hot radiator, and some people miss the radiant feel. Heating a whole house means an indoor unit in each main room, or doors left open so air can move, and the house still needs ventilating. When it is very cold outside, output and efficiency fall, and the unit pauses from time to time to defrost itself.
Should it replace your boiler?
For most Maidstone homes with a working gas boiler and radiators, no. The sensible use is alongside the boiler: heating a conservatory or a little-used room without firing up the whole house, and cooling in the summer. If your home is on electric heating, the case for fitting it is much stronger, as is the saving.
Common questions
How cold can it be outside?
It depends on the model. The data sheet gives the lowest outdoor temperature for heating, and many units work well below freezing, with lower output. Ask for the figure on any unit you are quoted.
Is it noisy in winter?
The outdoor unit may work harder in cold weather, so it may be a little louder than on a mild day. The planning noise calculation looks at this at the start.
Will it dry the air?
It does not add moisture, and when heating it can feel drier than a radiator-heated room to some people. Cooling mode actively removes moisture.
Sources
Have these to hand
A quote is quicker when we know a little about the building.
- Postcode and type of property
- The rooms, and their rough size
- Which way the windows face
- Where an outdoor unit might go
- Whether it is listed or in a conservation area
Looking for someone to do the work? See air conditioning in Maidstone for what we install, service and repair, and where.
Related services
Air-to-air heat pumps
Winter heating and summer cooling from one system, with no radiators.
Conservatory and garden room air conditioning
Rooms that are too hot in summer and too cold in winter.
Home air conditioning
Bedrooms, loft rooms, living rooms and home offices.
More guides
How much does air conditioning cost?
Installation, electrics, servicing and running costs, with the sums shown.
Do you need planning permission for air conditioning?
Permitted development, noise limits and Maidstone's conservation areas.
What size air conditioning do you need?
kW and BTU by floor area, and what changes the answer.
F-gas rules: what to check about your installer
The certificates to ask for, leak-check duties and the 2025 refrigerant ban.
Portable or fixed air conditioning?
Cost, noise, cooling and which one suits your room.
Ask for a quote
Leave your number and we will phone you back to talk through the job. Or ring 01622 239046.