- Area
- Greater London
- Postcode district
- SW12
- Nation
- England
- Guide price
- From £2,700 inc VAT
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
Air-to-air heat pumps in Balham: what to expect
Every property in Balham 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.
A survey in Balham covers indoor unit positions, pipe routes and hot water for homes across Greater London. Top-floor rooms in Balham 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
- Homes where fitting radiators and pipework would be very disruptive
- Extensions, conservatories and garden rooms
What's included
- Electrical supply and controls set up for each room
- Condensate drains and neat external pipe covers
- Commissioning, MCS certificate and the air-to-air grant claim in England and Wales where eligible
- Outdoor unit and indoor units for each room
- Refrigerant pipe runs to each indoor unit, made and charged by an F-gas certified engineer
Installers in Balham plan condensate drains and pipe covers so indoor and outdoor runs stay neat.
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 Balham 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.
What to budget for air-to-air heat pumps in Balham
The ranges below are typical installed prices for homes in Greater London, including VAT. A survey sets the exact figure, because two similar-looking houses in Balham can need quite different radiators and pipework.
| System | Installed guide price |
|---|---|
| Air-to-air heat pump, 1–2 rooms | £2,700–£5,600 |
| Air-to-air heat pump, multi-room 3–4 bedroom home | £4,500–£8,950 |
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.
How long is the heating season in Balham?
On the shortest day Balham gets about 7 hours 50 minutes of daylight, and the winter sun reaches only around 15° above the horizon at noon. Winters this far south are milder than in most of the UK, which helps a heat pump run at low flow temperatures for much of the season.
How installation works in Balham
- Start online with a guide price or call us.
- A home survey in Balham gives us the room-by-room heat loss.
- Your written quote sets out the design, the price and the grant position where you live.
- Installation is booked for dates that suit you; most homes take 2–4 days on site.
- After commissioning you get a handover of the controls and settings, plus the certificates.
Air-to-air heat pumps in Balham: questions
How long does installation take in Balham?
Most installations take 2–4 days on site. Jobs with several radiator changes or new pipework take longer, and your quote for a Balham home states the expected time.
Do you cover Tooting as well as Balham?
Yes. We arrange surveys and installation in Tooting, which is about a mile south-west of Balham, and across Greater London.
Where would the outdoor unit go on a Balham 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 Balham home.
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.
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.