- Area
- Essex
- Postcode district
- CM7
- Nation
- England
- Guide price
- From £2,450 inc VAT
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
What to know about air-to-air heat pumps in Braintree
In Braintree, as anywhere in the UK, the heat pumps that perform well are the ones designed around low flow temperatures and sized from a proper heat loss calculation.
Extensions and garden rooms in Braintree that are hard to connect to the main heating can have their own air-to-air unit. Top-floor rooms in Braintree 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.
- Extensions, conservatories and garden rooms
- Rooms that get too hot in summer as well as cold in winter
- Flats and apartments with storage or panel heaters
What's included
- Condensate drains and neat external pipe covers
- Electrical supply and controls set up for each room
- Commissioning, MCS certificate and the air-to-air grant claim in England and Wales where eligible
- Free survey covering rooms to heat, unit positions and hot water options
- Refrigerant pipe runs to each indoor unit, made and charged by an F-gas certified engineer
A survey in Braintree covers indoor unit positions, pipe routes and hot water for homes across Essex.
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 Braintree 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 Braintree
The ranges below are typical installed prices for homes in Essex, including VAT. A survey sets the exact figure, because two similar-looking houses in Braintree 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 Braintree's winters
Braintree has about 7 hours 46 minutes of daylight at midwinter and 16 hours 43 minutes at midsummer. That swing matters if you pair a heat pump with solar panels: summer generation can cover much of the hot water, winter generation far less.
What happens after you enquire in Braintree?
- Tell us about your home: postcode, property type and current heating.
- We book a survey in Braintree; 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 Braintree: questions
Where would the outdoor unit go on a Braintree 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 Braintree home.
How long does a heat pump survey take in Braintree?
A home survey in Braintree usually takes one to two hours. The surveyor measures every heated room, checks windows, walls and radiators, and looks at where the outdoor unit and cylinder can go.
How soon can you survey a home in Braintree?
Survey dates depend on how busy installers are in Essex. We offer the next available dates when you enquire and confirm them in writing.
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.