Medway · Heat pump installation
Heat pump installation in Grain, Medway
One call covers air source heat pumps in Grain, from the first look to sign-off. F-Gas certified, NICEIC approved and Checkatrade members.
- Not knowing whether a grant applies
- Working out where a cylinder could go
- Moving away from fossil-fuel heating
How we handle air source heat pumps in Grain
For an air-to-water heat pump, the price is £8,000–£16,000 (0% VAT on homes), before the grant. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme can provide £7,500 towards an eligible air-to-water system in England and Wales, and as the installer we apply for it on your behalf. Not every home qualifies, so we check eligibility before you commit. Common call-outs are for plans to switch to electric heating with a heat pump and choosing between air-to-water and air-to-air, across underfloor heating, hot water cylinders and air-to-water heat pumps.
Older and listed homes in villages like Grain need extra care, because permitted development does not apply within the grounds of a listed building, so we check consent first.
AirCon Doctor is an F-Gas certified company and NICEIC approved for electrical work, MCS certified for heat pumps and a Checkatrade member. Refrigerant work is done by engineers who hold the F-gas qualifications the law requires.
- Where
- Grain (ME3)
- Region
- Medway
- Quote
- A fixed price before work begins
- Credentials
- F-Gas certified company, NICEIC approved, MCS
- Guide price
- £8,000–£16,000 (0% VAT on homes), before the grant
- Replies
- Same working day
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 30 October 2026
Air source heat pumps around Grain
The coast is only about 1 mile from Grain. For a heat pump near the sea, ask about any coastal protection option the manufacturer offers. The last census (2021) found about 38% of households in terraced houses. In a terrace, the outdoor unit position and the MCS noise check need particular care.
Sizing comes from the heat each room loses on a cold day, not from the size of the old boiler. If your home is one of the older properties near Church of St James, the survey checks whether it’s listed or in a conservation area before the outdoor unit position is chosen.
Grain is about 5 miles north-west of Minster, in Medway. Wherever you are in the ME3 postcode area, we cover air source heat pumps. Grain is one of 68 towns, villages and districts in Medway we cover for homes and businesses. Bromley, roughly 30 miles off, has its own page on this site.
You’ll find streets such as High Street, Power Station Road and Chapel Road, and we cover them all. We work across ME3 for air source heat pumps. We also cover Wallend (1 mile west), Blue Town (2 miles south-east), Sheerness (2 miles south-east), Queenborough (3 miles south-east) and Rushenden (3 miles south). We also work in nearby towns such as Gillingham (8 miles south-west), Chatham (10 miles south-west), Rochester (10 miles south-west) and Rainham (8 miles south-west).
Local landmarks in Grain
Typical jobs here are in properties near The Hogarth Inn. For rail, the closest station is Sheerness-On-Sea station, roughly 2.1 miles south-east. Other landmarks nearby include Bluetown Heritage Centre (1.8 miles south-east).
What the work involves, system by system
Heat loss surveys
We look at walls, windows, floors, roofs and ventilation along with the room sizes.
Air-to-air heat pumps
Air-to-air heat pumps warm rooms through indoor units and can cool them in summer. Hot water needs a separate source, so that has to come from elsewhere.
Looking after your system
Looking after the system is mostly common sense. Our tips:
- Check eligibility for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme early
- Use the settings explained at handover
- File the MCS certificate safely
The warranty on the heat pump is the manufacturer’s, on its own terms. We go through the conditions with you, including any servicing they ask for.
Keep the outdoor unit clear of leaves, plants and stored items. It needs good airflow to collect heat from outside, so keep it clear all year.
FAQs for Grain
Is the coast a problem for outdoor units in Grain?
It can. Grain is within about 1 mile of the coast, and salt air speeds up corrosion on outdoor units. We site outdoor units out of the worst of the sea wind where possible and can suggest models with corrosion protection where the manufacturer offers it.
Is a heat pump in Grain permitted development?
The answer turns on the property and where the outdoor unit would sit. The half-mile around the middle of Grain holds about 4 listed buildings and structures. The permitted development rules for heat pumps leave out listed buildings and stop outdoor units going on road-facing walls or roofs in conservation areas. Anything outside the rules needs an application, and we raise it with the planning department at Medway council, normally the authority for Grain first.
What VAT do I pay on a heat pump?
Under HMRC Notice 708/6, a heat pump installed in a home is zero-rated until 31 March 2027 and 5% after that. For air-to-air systems, we confirm the VAT on your quote.
What does F-Gas certified mean?
For refrigerant work, both the engineer and the company need the right F-gas credentials. It’s worth checking before booking and we’ll gladly show you ours.
Will you make a mess?
We start with protection: sheets over the floor and nearby furniture. Holes and fixings are agreed with you, and we clean up afterwards before we leave.
What warranty do I get?
Warranty comes from the manufacturer and depends on the brand and product. For instance, Daikin’s standard warranty on split air conditioning is 2 years and we explain the terms for your brand on the quote.
Can I get the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant?
That depends on the scheme conditions, which we check for you. As the installer, we make the application where you qualify.
Other services in Grain
What air conditioning will not do
Before you book, it helps to know what’s not included:
- Formal advice on VAT for your situation
- Gas boiler work, such as disconnecting the old boiler, which needs a Gas Safe registered engineer
- Getting planning permission or listed building consent on your behalf
If you’re not sure, just ring 07833 053749 or email us and we will give you a straight answer before booking.
What the work covers
- Air-to-water heat pumps
- Radiator systems
- Air-to-air heat pumps
- Underfloor heating
- Homes heated by oil, LPG or gas
- Hot water cylinders
What we do, step by step
The visit goes in the diary at a time that works for you, and we keep you posted if anything changes. When we arrive, we check the job against the survey or the photos you sent. If something is different, we talk it through with you before carrying on. From there, the work takes a few days for most air-to-water installations, with air-to-air systems often quicker. Photos of the existing unit help with repairs and servicing in Grain.
- First, a chat about the property and your goals for the heating.
- The survey checks heat loss, emitters, hot water and the outdoor unit position.
- We explain which type of heat pump suits the home and whether a grant could apply.
- We install the heat pump and connect it up.
- After commissioning, you get the MCS certificate and a handover.
Preparing for the visit
- Let us know if the building has a permit or sign-in process
- Make sure we can reach the outdoor unit, or where it will go
- Keep pets out of the rooms we are working in
Get a fixed-price quote
If you need air source heat pumps in Grain, call us on 07833 053749, or email if that’s easier. Let us know the type of property and what you need, plus some pictures if they’re to hand. Enquiries get a reply the same working day.
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What a customer said
“Very professional from the initial survey through to installation. The engineer explained everything clearly and the quote was exactly what we paid. Would not hesitate to recommend AirCon Doctor.”
David W., Haywards Heath