Air-to-air heat pumps
Use your air conditioning as efficient electric heating as well as cooling. Free survey for mainland installations, and a fixed written quote.
- Free site survey and fixed written quote
- Unit sizes, refrigerant and price set out in writing
- Work planned around your opening hours
What is an air-to-air heat pump?
An air-to-air heat pump takes heat from the outside air and releases it indoors as warm air — the same equipment as reverse-cycle air conditioning, sized and set up for heating. In commercial premises it can replace or reduce electric panel heaters and gas heating, and provides cooling in summer from the same units.
In the UK, guide prices run from about £1,650 to £3,950 per zone, plus VAT. A typical job (shop or office heated and cooled by 2–4 units) usually comes to £4,450–£13,500 plus VAT.
Most commercial air conditioning is already a heat pump. Set up and sized properly, it can be the main heating for an office, shop, studio or showroom, delivering several units of heat for every unit of electricity it uses, depending on the outdoor temperature and the system.
Heating needs a slightly different design brief from cooling: units sized for the coldest days, air directed downward where people are, defrost behaviour understood, and controls that avoid wasteful early-morning boosts. We design for heating and cooling together.
Where it suits
- Offices replacing electric heaters
- Shops and showrooms
- Studios, salons and gyms
- Community buildings and halls
- Workshops with offices
- Premises moving off gas heating
What is included
- Heat loss and heat gain assessment
- Units selected for low-temperature heating output
- Outdoor units positioned for air flow and defrost drainage
- Controls with schedules and set-back temperatures
- Commissioning and handover
- Running-cost guidance against your current heating
How the work is carried out
Heat loss survey
We assess fabric, glazing and ventilation to size for winter as well as summer.
Design
Units are chosen for their heating output at low outdoor temperatures, not just their cooling rating.
Install
Outdoor units go where defrost water can drain safely and air flow is not restricted.
Set controls
Schedules and set-backs are configured so the system heats efficiently.
Air-to-air heat pumps prices
National guide prices for 2026. Local pages show prices adjusted for each region.
| Item | Guide price (ex VAT) | Inc VAT | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wall-mounted heat pump unit | £1,650–£2,950 | £1,980–£3,540 | per zone |
| Cassette heat pump unit | £2,450–£3,950 | £2,940–£4,740 | per zone |
| Floor-standing console unit | £1,950–£3,450 | £2,340–£4,140 | per zone |
| Removal of old electric heaters | £45–£125 | £54–£150 | per heater |
Ex VAT, supply and install.
Running costs depend on electricity tariff, building fabric and use; we give an estimate with the quote.
Typical job: shop or office heated and cooled by 2–4 units — £4,450–£13,500 plus VAT.
Things to plan for
Winter output
Heating output falls as it gets colder outside, so we size against winter design temperatures.
Defrost water
Outdoor units shed water and ice when they defrost. They need a drained position away from walkways.
Air direction
Warm air rises, so units are set to direct air down when heating.
Building fabric
Draughty or poorly insulated premises need more heating capacity; simple draught-proofing can reduce the size needed.
Questions about air-to-air heat pumps
Can air conditioning really heat a building?
Yes. Reverse-cycle air conditioning is a heat pump. Sized for heating, it can be the main heat source for many commercial premises.
Is it cheaper than electric heaters?
In most cases, yes. A heat pump delivers several kWh of heat per kWh of electricity, while panel heaters deliver one. Actual savings depend on the system, building and tariff.
Does it work in freezing weather?
Modern units are designed to heat well below freezing, though output reduces as it gets colder. We size for that.
Do outdoor units ice up?
They frost in cold, damp weather and run short defrost cycles automatically. Drainage is planned so the water does not freeze on a path.
Will we still need other heating?
Often not, but in some buildings a small back-up for the coldest days is sensible. We advise at survey.
Premises we fit this for
Air-to-air heat pumps near you
Choose your county or region for local guide prices and the towns we cover.
England
- Bedfordshire
- Berkshire
- Bristol
- Buckinghamshire
- Cambridgeshire
- Cheshire
- Cornwall
- County Durham
- Cumbria
- Derbyshire
- Devon
- Dorset
- East Riding of Yorkshire
- East Sussex
- Essex
- Gloucestershire
- Greater Manchester
- Hampshire
- Herefordshire
- Hertfordshire
- Isle of Wight
- Kent
- Lancashire
- Leicestershire
- Lincolnshire
- London
- Merseyside
- Norfolk
- North Yorkshire
- Northamptonshire
- Northumberland
- Nottinghamshire
- Oxfordshire
- Rutland
- Shropshire
- Somerset
- South Yorkshire
- Staffordshire
- Suffolk
- Surrey
- Tyne and Wear
- Warwickshire
- West Midlands
- West Sussex
- West Yorkshire
- Wiltshire
- Worcestershire
Scotland
What happens next
Tell us what you need
Use the form, the quote tool, live chat or call us. A postcode and the type of premises is enough to start.
Survey or visit
For mainland installations we survey free of charge. Service and repair visits, and travel to remote locations, are priced before we book.
Written quote
You get the specification, the price and the programme in writing, including any landlord or planning points.
Work and handover
We install, service or repair around your hours, then hand over the commissioning and F-gas records.
Tell us about your premises
Send a few details and we will arrange a survey or call you back with a guide price.