Air-to-air heat pumps in Maidstone
We fit air-to-air heat pumps in homes and small businesses in Maidstone and across mid Kent. It is the same kind of system as reversible air conditioning: it warms a room in winter by drawing heat from outside air, cools it in summer, and needs no radiators, water pipes or hot water cylinder.
Get a heat pump quote
Name, number and postcode are all we need. We phone you back.
- Heating and cooling from one unit
- No radiators or water pipes
- Runs alongside your boiler
What an air-to-air heat pump is
An air-to-air heat pump moves heat between the outside air and the air in your room. In summer it moves heat out, which is air conditioning. In winter the refrigerant runs the other way, picks up warmth even from cold outside air, and releases it indoors through the wall unit. It is different from the better-known air-to-water heat pump, which feeds radiators and a hot water cylinder.
How efficient it is, and what it costs to run
Efficiency in heating mode is measured as SCOP, the units of heat delivered for each unit of electricity across a season. Material from an Energy Saving Trust webinar says SCOP is typically above 4 for these systems. At the October to December 2026 price cap, electricity is 26.32p per kWh and gas is 7.97p per kWh. So, on those rates:
| Heat source | Cost per kWh of heat |
|---|---|
| Plug-in or panel electric heater | 26.32p |
| Gas boiler, assumed 90% efficient | about 8.9p |
| Air-to-air heat pump, SCOP 4 | about 6.6p |
The saving over electric heaters is large and easy to see. The gap with gas is smaller and moves whenever the price cap does. Electricity carries no VAT from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027, and real results depend on the unit, the weather and the building.
Where it works best
Air-to-air suits rooms where radiators are missing or struggling, and homes where a full air-to-water system would be too costly or too disruptive. That often means:
- conservatories, extensions and garden offices
- homes on electric heating, with no gas supply
- homes with small or poorly placed radiators, or no room for a cylinder
- bedrooms and living rooms in a less well insulated house
What it does not do
It will not give you hot water. Most homes keep the boiler, or an immersion or cylinder, for that. The warmth feels different too: moving warm air from a wall unit rather than the radiant heat of a hot radiator, so the fan runs while it is heating and doors need to stay open if one unit is serving more than one space. For whole-house heating, each main room usually needs its own indoor unit, and ventilation still has to be provided. Our guide to whether air conditioning can heat your home goes through this in more detail.
Common questions
Does it work when it is very cold outside?
Yes, within the limits on the data sheet, though output and efficiency fall as the temperature drops. The outdoor unit also defrosts itself from time to time, so we place it where the melt water can drain safely.
Can it replace my gas boiler?
Not by itself in most homes, because it does not make hot water and each room needs an indoor unit. Many people run it beside the boiler and use whichever suits the room and the day.
Is it the same as air conditioning?
Most reversible air conditioning is an air-to-air heat pump. The name usually tells you which season the seller has in mind.
Do I need planning permission?
Usually not on a house, if it meets the permitted development conditions. Air-to-air units have been covered since 29 May 2025, as long as they are not used solely for cooling. See our planning guide.
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
Air-to-air heat pumps across mid Kent
We provide air-to-air heat pumps in Maidstone and the towns around it. Start with air conditioning in Maidstone for everything we do, or choose your town for local buildings and planning notes.
Useful reading
Can air conditioning heat your home?
Reversible systems, the running cost against gas and electric, and the limits.
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.
Related services
Air conditioning installation
From the survey to the handover: what fitting a split system involves.
Home air conditioning
Bedrooms, loft rooms, living rooms and home offices.
Multi-split air conditioning
One outdoor unit serving several rooms, each with its own control.
Conservatory and garden room air conditioning
Rooms that are too hot in summer and too cold in winter.
Also from Maidstone Air Conditioning
Office air conditioning
Wall, ceiling and multi-split systems for working floors.
Commercial air conditioning
Shops, restaurants, salons, gyms and surgeries.
Server room cooling
All-year cooling for server cupboards and comms rooms.
Air conditioning servicing
Cleaning, checks and leak-test records for home and business systems.
Air conditioning repairs
Water leaks, weak cooling, fault codes and units that will not start.
Ask for a quote
Leave your number and we will phone you back to talk through the job. Or ring 01622 239046.