- Area
- Edinburgh and the Lothians
- Postcode district
- EH2
- Nation
- Scotland
- Guide price
- From £2,450 inc VAT
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
Air-to-air heat pumps in Edinburgh: what to expect
Every property in Edinburgh 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.
For terraced homes in Edinburgh, the outdoor unit can often sit in a rear yard with tidy pipe runs to each room. Top-floor rooms in Edinburgh that overheat in summer gain from the cooling an air-to-air system provides.
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
- Households that already have, or will add, a separate source of hot water
- Flats and apartments with storage or panel heaters
What's included
- Electrical supply and controls set up for each room
- Condensate drains and neat external pipe covers
- Refrigerant pipe runs to each indoor unit, made and charged by an F-gas certified engineer
- Free survey covering rooms to heat, unit positions and hot water options
- Outdoor unit and indoor units for each room
Installers in Edinburgh plan condensate drains and pipe covers so indoor and outdoor runs stay neat.
Grants and rules for heat pumps in Scotland
In Scotland, heat pump funding comes through Home Energy Scotland rather than the Boiler Upgrade Scheme: a grant of up to £7,500 (up to £1,500 extra for eligible rural and island homes) and an optional interest-free loan of up to £7,500. For an Edinburgh home, apply and receive the written offer before the installation date is fixed.
Installing heat pumps is zero-rated for VAT across the UK until 31 March 2027. Scotland has its own permitted development rules for air source heat pumps and its own building standards, so we confirm what applies to your Edinburgh property at survey.
What to budget for air-to-air heat pumps in Edinburgh
These are guide prices for Edinburgh and the Lothians, 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 | £2,450–£5,100 |
| Air-to-air heat pump, multi-room 3–4 bedroom home | £4,100–£8,150 |
Installed, inc VAT. Air-to-air systems heat (and can cool) rooms but do not provide hot water.
Winter daylight and heating in Edinburgh
On the shortest day Edinburgh gets only about 6 hours 57 minutes of daylight, with the sun around 11° up at noon. Long Scottish winters mean the heat pump runs for much of the year, so careful sizing, good controls and correctly sized radiators make a real difference.
What happens after you enquire in Edinburgh?
- Tell us about your home: postcode, property type and current heating.
- We book a survey in Edinburgh; the surveyor measures rooms, windows and radiators and looks at cylinder space.
- The design and quote arrive in writing, including radiator changes and the outdoor unit position.
- On installation days the old system is removed and the new one fitted and filled.
- We commission the heat pump, show you the controls and register the installation.
Air-to-air heat pumps in Edinburgh: questions
How soon can you survey a home in Edinburgh?
Survey dates depend on how busy installers are in Edinburgh and the Lothians. We offer the next available dates when you enquire and confirm them in writing.
Where would the outdoor unit go on an Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh home.
How long does installation take in Edinburgh?
Most installations take 2–4 days on site. Jobs with several radiator changes or new pipework take longer, and your quote for an Edinburgh home states the expected time.
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.