Hot water has to come from elsewhere, such as an existing immersion cylinder, an electric water heater or a separate hot water heat pump. In England and Wales, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme now includes a grant of £2,500 for air-to-air heat pumps in homes, from 28 April 2026, subject to the scheme's conditions. The installer must be MCS-certified to apply, and the refrigerant work must be done by an F-gas certified engineer.
For terraced homes in Hampshire, the outdoor unit can often sit in a rear yard with tidy pipe runs to each room. Top-floor rooms in Hampshire that overheat in summer gain from the cooling an air-to-air system provides. A survey in Hampshire covers indoor unit positions, pipe routes and hot water for homes across Hampshire.
Who it suits
- Rooms that get too hot in summer as well as cold in winter
- Flats and apartments with storage or panel heaters
- Households that already have, or will add, a separate source of hot water
- Homes where fitting radiators and pipework would be very disruptive
Grants and rules for heat pumps in England
Homes in Hampshire can use the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which takes £7,500 off the cost of an air source heat pump when it replaces fossil-fuel or electric heating. Replacing oil or LPG heating qualifies for £9,000 for installations from 21 July 2026 to 31 March 2027, and air-to-air systems for £2,500. The MCS-certified installer named in your quote applies for the grant and deducts it from the price.
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.
Air-to-air heat pumps prices in Hampshire
These are guide prices for Hampshire, 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–£5,150 |
| 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.
Towns we cover in Hampshire
We cover 23 towns in Hampshire for air-to-air heat pumps. Each links to local guide prices and the grant position for England.
| Town | Postcode district | Nearest town | Midwinter daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southampton | SO14 | Totton | 7 h 56 min |
| Portsmouth | PO1 | Gosport | 7 h 57 min |
| Basingstoke | RG21 | Alton | 7 h 52 min |
| Gosport | PO12 | Portsmouth | 7 h 57 min |
| Waterlooville | PO7 | Havant | 7 h 56 min |
| Farnborough | GU14 | Aldershot | 7 h 52 min |
| Eastleigh | SO50 | Southampton | 7 h 55 min |
| Winchester | SO23 | Eastleigh | 7 h 54 min |
| Havant | PO9 | Waterlooville | 7 h 56 min |
| Andover | SP10 | Winchester | 7 h 52 min |
| Fareham | PO16 | Gosport | 7 h 56 min |
| Aldershot | GU11 | Farnborough | 7 h 52 min |
| Fleet | GU51 | Farnborough | 7 h 52 min |
| Totton | SO40 | Southampton | 7 h 55 min |
| New Milton | BH25 | Lymington | 7 h 57 min |
| Bordon | GU35 | Alton | 7 h 53 min |
| Yateley | GU46 | Fleet | 7 h 51 min |
| Alton | GU34 | Bordon | 7 h 53 min |
| Romsey | SO51 | Totton | 7 h 55 min |
| Fordingbridge | SP6 | Ringwood | 7 h 55 min |
| Lymington | SO41 | New Milton | 7 h 57 min |
| Petersfield | GU31 | Bordon | 7 h 55 min |
| Ringwood | BH24 | Fordingbridge | 7 h 56 min |
Air-to-air heat pumps questions
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.
Are air-to-air heat pumps suitable for flats?
Often, yes. They need no radiators, pipework or cylinder, so they suit flats heated by storage or panel heaters. You need a position for the outdoor unit, such as a balcony, wall bracket or ground-floor yard, and leaseholders normally need the freeholder's or management company's consent. Planning rules for flats differ by nation, so we check what applies at survey.
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.
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.