What it is and how it works

An air conditioning system has two parts. An indoor unit sits on a wall or in the ceiling of the room. An outdoor unit sits outside, on the ground, a wall bracket or a flat roof. Copper pipes carry a refrigerant between them, alongside a power cable and a small drain for condensation.

In cooling mode, the indoor unit takes heat out of the room and the refrigerant carries it to the outdoor unit, which releases it outside. In heating mode, the system runs the other way: it takes heat from the outside air, even on a cold day, and releases it into the room. That is why a unit that does both is called an air-to-air heat pump.

One outdoor unit can serve a single room, or several indoor units in different rooms. We fit Daikin and Fujitsu systems and choose the model to suit the rooms, the space outside and how quiet it needs to be.

Cost and grants

The price depends on how many rooms you want to cover, the size of each room, the models chosen and how far the pipes have to run. We give a fixed quote after the survey, itemised so you can see what each part costs. We show the VAT treatment on every quote.

Getting a quote? Fill in our air conditioning checklist first, so we can size each room before we visit.

The government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme lists £2,500 towards an air-to-air heat pump. To qualify you must own the property and be replacing an existing heating system such as oil, gas, LPG or electric heating. Most new builds do not qualify. The installer applies on your behalf and must be MCS certified. We check your eligibility, and the certification the scheme needs, at the survey before you commit to anything.

Planning rules also apply to outdoor units. Whether a unit needs permission depends on the property and where the unit goes, and listed buildings and conservation areas are treated differently. We check this at the survey too.

Figures reviewed 18 September 2026.

Air conditioning and the rest of your home

Air conditioning pairs naturally with solar panels. The days you most want cooling are usually the days your panels generate the most, so much of the power can come from your own roof. A battery stores the surplus for a warm evening. If you are planning an air source heat pump for your heating and hot water, air-to-air units can look after the rooms that still overheat in summer. We design them together so the electrics, the outdoor units and the solar are sized to work as one system.

Pros and cons

Pros

Cools the rooms you choose on hot days and nights, with the windows shut
The same unit runs in reverse to heat the room in spring, autumn and winter
Hottest days tend to be sunny days, when solar panels generate the most
Each indoor unit has its own controls, so you only cool or heat the rooms in use
Fitted to the wall or ceiling, with no need to lift floors or change your radiators

Cons

It heats and cools air only, so it does not make hot water or feed radiators
Indoor units sit on the wall or ceiling and the outdoor unit is visible outside
The outdoor unit makes some noise when it runs, so where it goes matters
Pipes and cables run between the indoor and outdoor units, and the route needs careful thought
Some homes, such as listed buildings, may need permission before an outdoor unit goes up

Who it suits

Bedrooms, top floors and loft rooms that get too hot in summer
Home offices and rooms with large areas of south or west facing glass
Homes with solar panels, or planning them, that want to use more of their own power
Households that want a second source of heat in the rooms they use most

What is included in a Bespoke installation

A survey of the rooms, the outdoor unit position and the pipe and cable routes
Sizing for each room, based on its size, glazing and use
Daikin or Fujitsu indoor and outdoor units, chosen to suit the rooms and your budget
Refrigerant pipework, drainage and electrical connection, with refrigerant work done by F-Gas qualified engineers
Commissioning and testing by the same team
A handover showing you the controls, the modes and the app, where the unit has one

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between air conditioning and an air-to-air heat pump?

Very little. Most modern air conditioning units can run in reverse and heat as well as cool. When a unit does both, it is often called an air-to-air heat pump. It is the same kit, described by what it does in winter.

How is it different from an air source heat pump?

An air source heat pump heats water, which then feeds radiators, underfloor heating and your hot water cylinder. An air-to-air heat pump heats or cools the air in a room directly and makes no hot water. Many homes use one for the whole house and the other for the rooms that overheat.

Can I run air conditioning from my solar panels?

Yes. Your air conditioning uses the electricity your panels generate, the same way any appliance does. Hot, sunny days are usually strong days for solar, so much of your cooling can come from power you made yourself. A battery can carry some of that into the evening.

Is there a grant for an air-to-air heat pump?

The government's Boiler Upgrade Scheme lists £2,500 towards an air-to-air heat pump. You must own the property and be replacing an existing heating system such as oil, gas, LPG or electric heating, and most new builds do not qualify. The installer applies for you and must be MCS certified. We check your eligibility, and the certification the scheme needs, at the survey.