- Area
- Highlands and Islands
- Postcode district
- KW15
- Nation
- Scotland
- Guide price
- From £2,700 inc VAT
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
What to know about air-to-air heat pumps in Kirkwall
Every property in Kirkwall 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.
Top-floor rooms in Kirkwall that overheat in summer gain from the cooling an air-to-air system provides. Flats in Kirkwall on storage or panel heaters can often switch to air-to-air without fitting radiators or pipework.
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
- Flats and apartments with storage or panel heaters
- Rooms that get too hot in summer as well as cold in winter
What's included
- Refrigerant pipe runs to each indoor unit, made and charged by an F-gas certified engineer
- Condensate drains and neat external pipe covers
- Outdoor unit and indoor units for each room
- Electrical supply and controls set up for each room
- Free survey covering rooms to heat, unit positions and hot water options
For terraced homes in Kirkwall, the outdoor unit can often sit in a rear yard with tidy pipe runs to each room.
Grants and rules for heat pumps in Scotland
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme does not apply in Scotland. Instead, homeowners in Kirkwall can apply to Home Energy Scotland for a grant of up to £7,500 towards a heat pump, with up to £1,500 more for eligible rural and island homes, plus an optional interest-free loan of up to £7,500. You need a written funding offer before any work starts.
There is no VAT on installing a heat pump anywhere in the UK, Scotland included, until 31 March 2027. Scottish permitted development rules and building standards apply, and the surveyor checks the unit position and any listed or conservation-area constraints.
Air-to-air heat pumps prices in Kirkwall
Guide prices for Kirkwall and the rest of the Highlands and Islands 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.
How long is the heating season in Kirkwall?
Kirkwall has about 6 hours 11 minutes of daylight at midwinter against 18 hours 30 minutes in midsummer. Heat pumps are designed to keep working well below freezing, but the design temperature for the survey is set for local conditions, not an average day.
What happens after you enquire in Kirkwall?
- Start online with a guide price or call us.
- A home survey in Kirkwall 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.
Kirkwall is in an area we cover by arrangement, so survey dates and any travel costs are confirmed individually in your quote.
Air-to-air heat pumps in Kirkwall: questions
What size heat pump does a Kirkwall 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 Kirkwall home.
Can you service a heat pump in Kirkwall that someone else installed?
Yes. We arrange servicing and repairs for most air source heat pumps in Kirkwall, whoever fitted them. Tell us the make and model when you book.
How soon can you survey a home in Kirkwall?
Survey dates depend on how busy installers are in the Highlands and Islands. We offer the next available dates when you enquire and confirm them in writing.
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.
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.