A2A Heat Pump / Air Con

Newbie_John

As with the 29/5/2025 changes I understand that it's possible to install air con / A2A heat pump without planning permission?

We don't have radiators / gas at the property and air to water heat pump costs even after grant were just too high, hence I was thinking of getting A2A mostly for heating and casual 5-7 days a year for cooling.

Could someone just answer my questions?

1. I got a quote around £2000 for Daikin 3.5kW - and one indoor unit - it doesn't require planning permission, right? (far away from neighbours, no conservative area, detached house..)
2. A bit random, but is it possible to get MCS certificate for A2A pump? 

I'm just double checking what sales people said and as these are new rules hard to find good info online.

Thank you

zxzxzx

I had a Midea 3.5 plus one indoor fitted for £1500 a year ago.
PP no longer needed as you said, not sure about MCS.

Newbie_John

Ok I think I'll answer myself regarding MCS, looks like there are some ongoing things but not available yet, maybe by end of the year.

Martyn1981

Hi John, purely for comparison purposes, I've looked at the company that have supplied and installed a 3.5kW unit for me. Actually same company have installed 2 for me,

looks like starting price of around £707 for unit, and £600* for install.

*£595 for units up to 4.1kW, and VAT free if supplied and installed by same company.

Newbie_John

Ok so an update few months later.

1) no need for planning permission since May 2025
2) they've been even added to governement grant list recently with £2500 
3) skipping the MCS as this was me not knowing what I'm asking about

Usage based on my Daikin 3.5kW and Stylish unit indoor:
- very quiet, much quieter than expected, indoor if all the swings are switched off it's much quieter than a fan, though it all depends how hard it's working - if at typical cycle with temperature 7°C+ I can't hear it
- electricity usage is amazing, it takes max 1kW and heats a lot, with my COP varying between 3-6 (3 during -2°C and 6 when it's above 10°C outside)
- indoor unit is located downstairs and makes 30m^2 are cosy very quickly using a quarter of electricity of what other electric heater would take. But normally it averages like 300W per hour.

After one month of usage (with negative temperatures outside) it worked really well. Hard to tell how much heating electricity it's saving but I'd say easily 2/3, only issue now is that we just keep it running all day long unlike other heaters off when we're out.

And the best part is that if you have mortgage with Barclays their green home reward doesn't exclude A2A heat pumps so you can also get it for almost free 😅

matt_drummer

Newbie_John said:

- electricity usage is amazing, it takes max 1kW and heats a lot, with my COP varying between 3-6 (3 during -2°C and 6 when it's above 10°C outside)
- indoor unit is located downstairs and makes 30m^2 are cosy very quickly using a quarter of electricity of what other electric heater would take. But normally it averages like 300W per hour.

After one month of usage (with negative temperatures outside) it worked really well. Hard to tell how much heating electricity it's saving but I'd say easily 2/3, only issue now is that we just keep it running all day long unlike other heaters off when we're out.

How are you calculating COP?

You know the electricity consumed, how are you working out the heat produced?

Newbie_John

Daikin Onecta app shows you electricity used and thermal output.
For example warm yesterday (7°C-14°C):
Electricity: 4.7kWh
Output: 25.9kWh

So cop: 25.9/4.7=5.5 COP

From what I've read online it's an estimation, but not too bad, as some people measured it using special devices and compared and it was fairly similar.

That was the only heating we used in about 90m^2 house that day keeping it cosy at 21°C.

wrf12345

If it follows A2W rules you will only need planning permission if no MCS certificate, but MCS have not worked out how to certify A2A yet so possibly okay in the interim period, which is likely to be a few months. Or knowing how things run in this country, either no-one really knows or permitted development without MCS is not possible even though it is not yet ready.

Newbie_John

My understanding is that since 29/5/2025 there is no need for permission as long as it's capable of heating.
On top of that in recent weeks government added £2500 grant for A2A as well:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/discounts-for-families-to-keep-warm-in-winter-and-cool-in-summer