- Area
- Greater Manchester
- Postcode district
- M2
- Nation
- England
- Guide price
- From £2,350 inc VAT
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
Air-to-air heat pumps in Manchester: what to expect
A heat pump suits most Manchester homes, but the details decide how efficiently it runs. Our survey looks at insulation, radiators and hot water use room by room.
Flats in Manchester on storage or panel heaters can often switch to air-to-air without fitting radiators or pipework. For terraced homes in Manchester, the outdoor unit can often sit in a rear yard with tidy pipe runs to each room.
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
- Homes where fitting radiators and pipework would be very disruptive
- Rooms that get too hot in summer as well as cold in winter
What's included
- Commissioning, MCS certificate and the air-to-air grant claim in England and Wales where eligible
- 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
- Electrical supply and controls set up for each room
- Condensate drains and neat external pipe covers
Installers in Manchester 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 Manchester 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 Manchester
Here are typical prices for air-to-air heat pumps in Greater Manchester, installed and including VAT. Use the guide price tool for a figure based on your home, then a survey confirms it in writing.
| System | Installed guide price |
|---|---|
| Air-to-air heat pump, 1–2 rooms | £2,350–£4,900 |
| Air-to-air heat pump, multi-room 3–4 bedroom home | £3,900–£7,850 |
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 Manchester?
Manchester sees roughly 7 hours 28 minutes of daylight in December and 17 hours 02 minutes in June. With a longer heating season than the south, the gains from low flow temperatures and good controls add up over the year.
From survey to switch-on in Manchester
- Send your postcode and a few details, or use the guide price tool.
- A surveyor visits your Manchester 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 Manchester: questions
How long does a heat pump survey take in Manchester?
A home survey in Manchester 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.
Do I need new radiators for a heat pump in Manchester?
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 Manchester home gives a room-by-room list.
How long does installation take in Manchester?
Most installations take 2–4 days on site. Jobs with several radiator changes or new pipework take longer, and your quote for a Manchester home states the expected time.
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.
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.