Hi Phil3822,

I bought an air to air ASHP from Appliances Direct and installed it myself. At the moment I use the unit for heating during the day when my solar PV panels are generating enough power to run it. In that way I get free 'green' heating during the day and run the gas boiler at night, which of course reduces my carbon footprint.

You need to be a fairly good DIY'er to install one yourself, and you may have difficulty getting any AC company to install one you have purchased yourself, they all seem to want to push a particular manufacturer, who no doubt gives them a discount for pushing their brand.

We use the solar gain, we get from our South facing conservatory, as a heat source this time of year, it also helps reduce our carbon footprint.

I am not certain if you can have an air to water ASHP and also an air to air ASHP and still claim RHI, I remember reading something about you can only have one ASHP in the RHI requirements. Also you cannot claim RHI payments for an air to air ASHP.

If you require any further information then please let me know. 

I think you may also need planning permission for multiple external units as permitted develpment only allows one.

I have 4 AC units installed in and around the house - including bedrooms and main living space. We LOVE it in the summer, coupled with Solar PV its free. Nothing better than getting into bed at 21 degrees on a hot evening and getting a good nights sleep.

Units (split system) cost around £600 fully installed for the small units and the big one was £1000. I would 100% do it again. We are actually getting a new one installed at the end of the year/start of next year in another bedroom

Ah this is really helpful info guys. I doubt I will end up getting an air source heat pump for my heating before RHI expires (2022) and the government will at some point need to figure out ways of encouraging more people to heat pumps regardless if they have air con I hope. The planning permission is again good to be aware of but if the government wants people to have heat pumps they must overcome that barrier also. It is all a pain though and something to bare in mind. I have mobile units at the moment so the office and bedroom. Not great. Your prices for fully installed seem amazingly good batalto.

Hi Batalto,

It would be interesting to know who installed your AC units and when. The quotes I have had recently from local AC Companies were in the region of £1.5k to £2k.

I read through the planning portal details on heat pumps. It states that only the first heat pump is permitted development. Interesting as not sure an air conditioning unit is regarded as a heat pump. The notes also say the heat pump must be solely used for heating so that’s certainly not air conditioning. I find this interesting as know folks like batalto with numerous air con compressors on the back and also know of big properties which require two units for a heat pump central heating system. Huge new build homes around here have 3 units going to a hydro box for some reason. They are all springing up around my parts. 

It was just a local company. If you are near Hampshire, happy to give you the details.