An air-to-air heat pump takes heat from the outside air and delivers it straight into rooms as warm air through indoor units, usually mounted high on a wall. The same system can run in reverse to cool rooms in summer. Unlike an air-to-water heat pump, it does not use radiators or underfloor heating and does not heat a hot water cylinder.
Flats in Dorset on storage or panel heaters can often switch to air-to-air without fitting radiators or pipework. For terraced homes in Dorset, the outdoor unit can often sit in a rear yard with tidy pipe runs to each room. A survey in Dorset covers indoor unit positions, pipe routes and hot water for homes across Dorset.
Who it suits
- Households that already have, or will add, a separate source of hot water
- Rooms that get too hot in summer as well as cold in winter
- Homes where fitting radiators and pipework would be very disruptive
- Flats and apartments with storage or panel heaters
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 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 Dorset
These are guide prices for Dorset, installed and including VAT. Your final price is fixed in a written quote after the survey and depends on the heat loss of the house, the radiators that need changing and where the unit goes.
| 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.
Towns we cover in Dorset
We cover 12 towns in Dorset for air-to-air heat pumps. Each links to local guide prices and the grant position for England.
| Town | Postcode district | Nearest town | Midwinter daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bournemouth | BH2 | Christchurch | 7 h 57 min |
| Poole | BH15 | Bournemouth | 7 h 57 min |
| Weymouth | DT4 | Dorchester | 7 h 58 min |
| Christchurch | BH6 | Bournemouth | 7 h 57 min |
| Ferndown | BH22 | Wimborne Minster | 7 h 56 min |
| Dorchester | DT1 | Weymouth | 7 h 57 min |
| Wimborne Minster | BH18 | Ferndown | 7 h 57 min |
| Blandford Forum | DT11 | Wimborne Minster | 7 h 56 min |
| Bridport | DT6 | Dorchester | 7 h 57 min |
| Sherborne | DT9 | Yeovil | 7 h 55 min |
| Swanage | BH19 | Poole | 7 h 58 min |
| Wareham | BH20 | Poole | 7 h 58 min |
Air-to-air heat pumps questions
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.
Are air-to-air heat pumps suitable for flats?
Often, yes. They need no radiators, pipework or cylinder, so they suit flats heated by storage or panel heaters. You need a position for the outdoor unit, such as a balcony, wall bracket or ground-floor yard, and leaseholders normally need the freeholder's or management company's consent. Planning rules for flats differ by nation, so we check what applies at survey.
Can air-to-air heat pumps cool as well as heat?
Yes. Most air-to-air systems can reverse their cycle to cool and dehumidify rooms in summer, which makes them useful for loft rooms, south-facing extensions and home offices that overheat. Cooling uses electricity, so running costs rise if it is used heavily. You control heating and cooling for each room separately.
Can an air-to-air heat pump heat my water?
No. An air-to-air heat pump heats and cools the air in rooms but does not produce hot water. You need a separate source, such as an existing immersion cylinder, a hot water heat pump or an electric water heater. If you want one system for heating and hot water, an air-to-water heat pump with a cylinder is the alternative.