- Area
- Greater London
- Postcode district
- SW3
- Nation
- England
- Guide price
- From £2,700 inc VAT
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
Air-to-air heat pumps in Chelsea: what to expect
In Chelsea, 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 Chelsea that are hard to connect to the main heating can have their own air-to-air unit. Installers in Chelsea plan condensate drains and pipe covers so indoor and outdoor runs stay neat.
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.
- Flats and apartments with storage or panel heaters
- Extensions, conservatories and garden rooms
- Rooms that get too hot in summer as well as cold in winter
What's included
- Outdoor unit and indoor units 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
- Condensate drains and neat external pipe covers
- Refrigerant pipe runs to each indoor unit, made and charged by an F-gas certified engineer
For terraced homes in Chelsea, 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 Chelsea quote.
Installing heat pumps is zero-rated for VAT across the UK until 31 March 2027. Since 29 May 2025, permitted development in England allows up to two air source heat pumps on a house, each up to 1.5 m³, with no blanket 1 m boundary rule — the installation must still meet the MCS planning standards, including the noise check. Listed buildings, flats and some conservation-area positions need extra consent, which we check at survey.
Air-to-air heat pumps costs around Chelsea
Guide prices for Chelsea and the rest of Greater London are shown below, installed and inc VAT. We publish ranges rather than a single figure because design details move the price, and the written quote after survey fixes it.
| 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.
Designing for Chelsea's winters
Chelsea sees roughly 7 hours 50 minutes of daylight in late December against 16 hours 38 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.
The steps for air-to-air heat pumps in Chelsea
- Tell us about your home: postcode, property type and current heating.
- We book a survey in Chelsea; 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 Chelsea: questions
How soon can you survey a home in Chelsea?
Survey dates depend on how busy installers are in Greater London. We offer the next available dates when you enquire and confirm them in writing.
Where would the outdoor unit go on a Chelsea 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 Chelsea home.
What size heat pump does a Chelsea home need?
It depends on the heat loss, not the postcode. As a rough guide, a 3 bedroom semi often needs 6–9 kW, but the room-by-room survey sets the actual size for your Chelsea 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 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.