- Area
- Devon
- Postcode district
- PL1
- Nation
- England
- Guide price
- From £2,400 inc VAT
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
What to know about air-to-air heat pumps in Plymouth
The question for a Plymouth home is rarely whether a heat pump can work, but what needs to change to make it work well: radiator sizes, pipework, controls and where the unit goes.
Top-floor rooms in Plymouth that overheat in summer gain from the cooling an air-to-air system provides. Extensions and garden rooms in Plymouth that are hard to connect to the main heating can have their own air-to-air unit.
An air-to-air heat pump warms rooms directly with air, and can cool them in summer, but it does not heat your hot water.
- Flats and apartments with storage or panel heaters
- Households that already have, or will add, a separate source of hot water
- Homes where fitting radiators and pipework would be very disruptive
What's included
- Electrical supply and controls set up for each room
- Free survey covering rooms to heat, unit positions and hot water options
- Condensate drains and neat external pipe covers
- Outdoor unit and indoor units for each room
- Commissioning, MCS certificate and the air-to-air grant claim in England and Wales where eligible
A survey in Plymouth covers indoor unit positions, pipe routes and hot water for homes across Devon.
Grants and rules for heat pumps in England
In England the Boiler Upgrade Scheme gives £7,500 towards an air source heat pump (£9,000 if it replaces oil or LPG, from 21 July 2026 to 31 March 2027), and since 28 April 2026 a valid EPC is no longer needed. The grant is applied for by the MCS-certified installer and shown as a deduction on your Plymouth quote.
There is no VAT on installing a heat pump anywhere in the UK until 31 March 2027. In England most houses can have an air source heat pump under permitted development, provided the unit meets the MCS noise and siting standards; the old 1 m boundary limit was removed on 29 May 2025. We flag listed buildings, flats and sensitive conservation-area positions at survey.
Air-to-air heat pumps prices in Plymouth
Here are typical prices for air-to-air heat pumps in Devon, installed and including VAT. Use the guide price tool for a figure based on your home, then a survey confirms it in writing.
| System | Installed guide price |
|---|---|
| Air-to-air heat pump, 1–2 rooms | £2,400–£5,050 |
| Air-to-air heat pump, multi-room 3–4 bedroom home | £4,050–£8,100 |
Installed, inc VAT. Air-to-air systems heat (and can cool) rooms but do not provide hot water. In England and Wales the Boiler Upgrade Scheme gives £2,500 towards an air-to-air system in a home, deducted from your quote where eligible.
Short winter days in Plymouth and what they mean
Plymouth sees roughly 8 hours 01 minutes of daylight in late December against 16 hours 26 minutes in June. Milder southern winters suit heat pumps well, though the system is still sized for a cold snap rather than an average day.
How installation works in Plymouth
- Send your postcode and a few details, or use the guide price tool.
- A surveyor visits your Plymouth home, measures every room and checks where the outdoor unit can go.
- You receive a heat loss design and a fixed written quote, with any grant shown where it applies.
- Installers fit the unit, cylinder and any radiator changes, typically over 2–4 days on site.
- The system is commissioned, set up with weather compensation and handed over with the paperwork.
Air-to-air heat pumps in Plymouth: questions
How long does installation take in Plymouth?
Most installations take 2–4 days on site. Jobs with several radiator changes or new pipework take longer, and your quote for a Plymouth home states the expected time.
Where would the outdoor unit go on a Plymouth house?
Usually at the side or rear, on a level base with space around it for airflow and servicing, away from bedroom windows where possible. The surveyor checks positions at your Plymouth home.
What size heat pump does a Plymouth home need?
It depends on the heat loss, not the postcode. As a rough guide, a 3 bedroom semi often needs 6–9 kW, but the room-by-room survey sets the actual size for your Plymouth home.
How much sound do the indoor units make?
Indoor units are designed to run quietly, with a fan you will hear most when heating or cooling at full output. Lower fan settings and night modes reduce sound in bedrooms. Siting matters for the outdoor unit too: it needs airflow and a position that passes the MCS noise assessment. Ask to see the sound levels of the proposed units at survey.
Is there a grant for air-to-air heat pumps?
In England and Wales, yes: the Boiler Upgrade Scheme includes a grant of £2,500 for air-to-air heat pumps in homes, from 28 April 2026. The MCS-certified installer applies to Ofgem and deducts it from your quote, subject to the scheme's conditions. The scheme does not cover Scotland or Northern Ireland; in Scotland, Home Energy Scotland has its own rules.