Air Source Heat Pump Installation in London
Heat pumps run best in homes that hold heat and radiate it at low temperatures — which is why the honest first step in London is a suitability assessment, not a sales visit. Some homes are ready today; some need insulation or radiator upgrades first; a few are better served by a modern boiler. We'll tell you which yours is.
How a heat pump heats your home
An air source heat pump extracts heat from outside air — it works well below freezing — and concentrates it via a refrigeration cycle into your heating water. Because it moves heat rather than burning fuel, it delivers around 3 units of heat per unit of electricity across a season (the figure quoted as SCOP). The design consequence: heat pumps run cooler than boilers, so radiators are sized larger and the system runs longer and gentler. Comfort is excellent when designed right — steady warmth rather than blast-and-cool cycles.
Is your home suitable?
The suitability checklist: reasonable insulation (loft and, ideally, wall), space outside for the unit with clearance and a spot that respects neighbours, room for a hot water cylinder, and emitters that can be made to work at lower flow temperatures — meaning some radiator upsizing is common and underfloor heating is ideal. Planning permission is usually not required under permitted development, with rules on unit placement. None of these is exotic; the survey checks all of them and prices what's missing.
Installation, MCS and what you receive
What lands in your hands at the end: the MCS certificate, commissioning records showing design flow temperatures and settings, the grant handled and deducted, controls configured and explained (heat pumps reward set-and-leave running, not boiler-style on-off habits), and servicing guidance — an annual check keeps efficiency and warranty intact, and our network services what it installs. The handover conversation matters: homes new to heat pumps run them like boilers for the first month and wonder at the bills; run as designed, the economics arrive.
Water quality quietly decides how long heating components last around London. London's supply is hard — Thames Water draws heavily from chalk aquifers and the Thames itself, so limescale builds fast on heating elements, shower heads and tap internals. Where scale is a factor, protection on the boiler's cold supply and properly inhibited system water do more for the appliance's lifespan than any brand choice on the quote — and our engineers will say so.
Frequently asked questions
How long does installation take?
Two to five days for most homes: outdoor unit, cylinder, any radiator upgrades, controls and commissioning. You'll have the honest schedule with your quote, including any day the heating or hot water is offline during changeover.
Do heat pumps work in cold UK winters?
Yes — modern units heat effectively well below freezing, and countries far colder than the UK run on them at scale. Efficiency dips on the coldest days, which the design accounts for; the system is sized to hold the house at temperature through a design-condition cold snap.
Do I need planning permission?
Usually not — most installations fall under permitted development, subject to rules about unit siting. Listed buildings and conservation areas have extra considerations. The survey flags anything relevant to your London property before you commit.
How much does an air source heat pump cost in London?
Typically £7,000–£14,000 installed before support, depending on property size, radiator upgrades and cylinder work. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant — amount confirmed at quote time — reduces that for eligible homes, claimed by the MCS installer on your behalf.