- Area
- East Sussex
- Postcode district
- TN31
- Nation
- England
- Guide price
- From £2,450 inc VAT
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
What to know about air-to-air heat pumps in Rye
Every property in Rye is different, so the design starts from measurements rather than a rule of thumb. That keeps the system the right size and the running costs predictable.
Top-floor rooms in Rye that overheat in summer gain from the cooling an air-to-air system provides. Extensions and garden rooms in Rye 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.
- Rooms that get too hot in summer as well as cold in winter
- Extensions, conservatories and garden rooms
- Flats and apartments with storage or panel heaters
What's included
- Commissioning, MCS certificate and the air-to-air grant claim in England and Wales where eligible
- Electrical supply and controls set up for each room
- Condensate drains and neat external pipe covers
- Outdoor unit and indoor units for each room
- Refrigerant pipe runs to each indoor unit, made and charged by an F-gas certified engineer
For terraced homes in Rye, the outdoor unit can often sit in a rear yard with tidy pipe runs to each room.
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 Rye 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.
Guide prices for air-to-air heat pumps in Rye
The ranges below are typical installed prices for homes in East Sussex, including VAT. A survey sets the exact figure, because two similar-looking houses in Rye can need quite different radiators and pipework.
| System | Installed guide price |
|---|---|
| Air-to-air heat pump, 1–2 rooms | £2,450–£5,150 |
| Air-to-air heat pump, multi-room 3–4 bedroom home | £4,100–£8,250 |
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.
Designing for Rye's winters
Rye sees roughly 7 hours 55 minutes of daylight in late December against 16 hours 32 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.
From survey to switch-on in Rye
- Send your postcode and a few details, or use the guide price tool.
- A surveyor visits your Rye 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 Rye: questions
Where would the outdoor unit go on a Rye 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 Rye home.
How soon can you survey a home in Rye?
Survey dates depend on how busy installers are in East Sussex. We offer the next available dates when you enquire and confirm them in writing.
Do I need new radiators for a heat pump in Rye?
Often some, not all. Heat pumps run best at lower water temperatures, so rooms with small radiators may need larger ones. The survey of your Rye home gives a room-by-room list.
How do I look after an air-to-air system?
Clean the indoor unit filters regularly, typically every few weeks during heavy use and following the manufacturer's guidance, and keep the outdoor unit clear of leaves and snow. Annual servicing is recommended and is often a condition of the manufacturer's warranty. Any work on the refrigerant circuit must be done by an F-gas certified engineer.
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.