Air-to-air heat pumps: a plain guide
An air-to-air heat pump heats and cools individual rooms from one system, with separate control for each space. It suits homes with a few problem rooms rather than a whole house that needs reheating.
The key points
- It both heats and cools — one system, year round
- Each indoor unit has its own thermostat
- Installation is quick and needs no wet plumbing
- It's not a whole-house central heating replacement
- Sizing is confirmed room by room before any firm quote
What it is
An air-to-air heat pump moves heat between the outside air and the air in a room. In winter it brings warmth in; in summer it takes warmth out. One outdoor unit feeds one or more indoor units, and every indoor unit is controlled separately.
Who it’s for
Homes with specific rooms that don’t work: a loft bedroom that bakes in summer, an office the radiators ignore, an extension that was never properly heated. If your whole house needs reheating because the boiler is on its way out, read our air-to-water guide instead.
What to expect from installation
An outdoor unit on an external wall or at ground level, small-bore pipework to each indoor unit, and a day or two on site for most homes. No radiators, no re-plumbing, no re-plastering.
What still needs checking
The right capacity for each room, the outdoor unit position for airflow and noise, and whether your property needs anything beyond permitted development. That’s what the assessment confirms.
See the air-to-air service page or start your home assessment.
More in this guide
Can a heat pump cool a house?
Yes — an air-to-air heat pump provides proper, controlled cooling in summer as well as heating in winter. An air-to-water heat pump is mainly…
Read moreQuestions
Is an air-to-air heat pump the same as air conditioning?
It does everything an air conditioner does, plus efficient heating in winter. Most people who want 'air con' are better served by a reversible air-to-air system.
How many rooms can one outdoor unit serve?
Commonly up to four or five indoor units, depending on the model and the sizing.
Does it work in winter?
Yes. It extracts heat from outside air even in cold weather, though very low temperatures reduce efficiency.
