- Area
- South Glamorgan
- Postcode district
- CF10
- Nation
- Wales
- Guide price
- From £2,400 inc VAT
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
What to know about air-to-air heat pumps in Cardiff
The question for a Cardiff home is rarely whether a heat pump can work, but what needs to change to make it work well: radiator sizes, pipework, controls and where the unit goes.
Flats in Cardiff on storage or panel heaters can often switch to air-to-air without fitting radiators or pipework. Extensions and garden rooms in Cardiff that are hard to connect to the main heating can have their own air-to-air unit.
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
- Households that already have, or will add, a separate source of hot water
- Flats and apartments with storage or panel heaters
What's included
- 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
- 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
Installers in Cardiff plan condensate drains and pipe covers so indoor and outdoor runs stay neat.
Grants and rules for heat pumps in Wales
Homes in Cardiff can use the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which applies in Wales as well as England: £7,500 towards an air source heat pump, or £9,000 when it replaces oil or LPG heating for installations from 21 July 2026 to 31 March 2027. The MCS-certified installer named in your quote applies and deducts the grant.
There is no VAT on installing a heat pump anywhere in the UK, Wales included, until 31 March 2027. Planning rules for heat pumps in Wales are set by the Welsh Government and differ from England's, so the surveyor checks the unit position against them.
What to budget for air-to-air heat pumps in Cardiff
The ranges below are typical installed prices for homes in South Glamorgan, including VAT. A survey sets the exact figure, because two similar-looking houses in Cardiff can need quite different radiators and pipework.
| System | Installed guide price |
|---|---|
| Air-to-air heat pump, 1–2 rooms | £2,400–£5,000 |
| Air-to-air heat pump, multi-room 3–4 bedroom home | £4,000–£8,000 |
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.
Short winter days in Cardiff and what they mean
Cardiff 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.
What happens after you enquire in Cardiff?
- Tell us about your home: postcode, property type and current heating.
- We book a survey in Cardiff; 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 Cardiff: questions
Can you service a heat pump in Cardiff that someone else installed?
Yes. We arrange servicing and repairs for most air source heat pumps in Cardiff, whoever fitted them. Tell us the make and model when you book.
How long does installation take in Cardiff?
Most installations take 2–4 days on site. Jobs with several radiator changes or new pipework take longer, and your quote for a Cardiff home states the expected time.
Where would the outdoor unit go on a Cardiff 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 Cardiff home.
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.
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.