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.
A survey in West Sussex covers indoor unit positions, pipe routes and hot water for homes across West Sussex. Top-floor rooms in West Sussex that overheat in summer gain from the cooling an air-to-air system provides. Extensions and garden rooms in West Sussex that are hard to connect to the main heating can have their own air-to-air unit.
Who it suits
- Homes where fitting radiators and pipework would be very disruptive
- 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
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 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.
Air-to-air heat pumps prices in West Sussex
Here are typical prices for air-to-air heat pumps in West Sussex, 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 | £2,500–£5,200 |
| Air-to-air heat pump, multi-room 3–4 bedroom home | £4,150–£8,300 |
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 West Sussex
We cover 14 towns in West Sussex 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crawley | RH11 | Horley | 7 h 53 min |
| Worthing | BN11 | Shoreham-by-Sea | 7 h 56 min |
| Bognor Regis | PO21 | Chichester | 7 h 57 min |
| Littlehampton | BN17 | Arundel | 7 h 56 min |
| Horsham | RH12 | Crawley | 7 h 54 min |
| Haywards Heath | RH16 | Burgess Hill | 7 h 55 min |
| Chichester | PO19 | Bognor Regis | 7 h 56 min |
| Burgess Hill | RH15 | Haywards Heath | 7 h 55 min |
| East Grinstead | RH19 | Crawley | 7 h 53 min |
| Shoreham-by-Sea | BN43 | Worthing | 7 h 56 min |
| Emsworth | PO10 | Havant | 7 h 56 min |
| Arundel | BN18 | Littlehampton | 7 h 56 min |
| Midhurst | GU29 | Petworth | 7 h 55 min |
| Petworth | GU28 | Midhurst | 7 h 55 min |
Air-to-air heat pumps questions
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.
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 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.
Can an air-to-air heat pump heat my water?
No. An air-to-air heat pump heats and cools the air in rooms but does not produce hot water. You need a separate source, such as an existing immersion cylinder, a hot water heat pump or an electric water heater. If you want one system for heating and hot water, an air-to-water heat pump with a cylinder is the alternative.