Medway · Heat pump installation
Heat pump installation in Higham, Medway
We cover Higham for air source heat pumps. Diagnosis first, a fixed price and proper paperwork when we finish.
- Checking emitters for a heat pump
- An oil, LPG or gas boiler near the end of its life
- Questions about where the outdoor unit can go
Air source heat pumps for homes and businesses in Higham
We begin with a room-by-room heat loss survey. It shows how much heat each room needs on a cold day, so the heat pump and the radiators or indoor units can be sized properly. Guesswork leads to systems that are too big or too small. If you are dealing with radiators that may be too small for a heat pump and ageing boilers that will need replacing, we can sort it out.
If your home in or near Higham is heated by oil, LPG or electric heaters with no mains gas, an extra £1,500 is available through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme until March 2027.
Nothing is signed off by word of mouth: commissioning details and F-Gas records for a new system, a note of the fault and the fix for a repair, or a service record. Keep it with the system’s paperwork, because it helps with any later warranty question.
- Where
- Higham (ME3, DA12)
- Region
- Medway
- Price guide
- £8,000–£16,000 (0% VAT on homes), before the grant
- Replies
- On the working day you ask
- Quotes
- Fixed-price quote after a site survey
- Accreditations
- NICEIC and F-Gas, MCS
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 30 October 2026
The process
Each visit runs to the same pattern: check the plan with you, protect the area, do the work, test what we’ve done and talk you through it. The visit itself takes several days for an air-to-water system with a new cylinder, less for an air-to-air system. A note on how to find the property and where to park makes a visit to Higham easier.
- Step one is understanding the house, how it’s heated today and what you’d like to change.
- The survey measures heat loss room by room and looks at radiators, hot water and the best spot for the outdoor unit.
- The price comes back fixed and in writing, with the grant and VAT shown line by line.
- We fit the outdoor unit and connect it to the heating, hot water and controls.
- Once it’s running correctly, the MCS certificate is issued and we show you the settings.
Getting ready for the visit
- Mention any roof access, ladders or high-level work
- Have the make and model of any existing unit to hand
- Plan for pets to be kept clear during the visit
Getting a price
Photos are enough for some jobs; others need a visit first. Bigger systems, commercial sites and awkward pipe routes are normally surveyed on site. Either way, you get a fixed price before any work is booked.
Advice
Before you call an engineer
Keep a note of anything odd: an error code, a new noise, a drip, a smell or a change in how well the system heats or cools. It helps us diagnose quickly, and a photo or a short video of the display is even better.
For air conditioning, cleaning the indoor unit’s filters is the main job owners can do, if the manual says so. They come out, get a gentle clean and go back only when they’re dry. For a heat pump, the main owner jobs are a clear outdoor unit and sensible control settings.
Air source heat pumps in Higham: the local picture
VOA council tax data date about 54% of homes in the Higham area to the post-war years, 1945 to 1972, and about 84% of households live in detached or semi-detached houses, according to the last census (2021). Homes of that age often have cavity walls that may or may not be insulated, which the survey checks. Houses normally have space for an outdoor unit and a hot water cylinder.
If you live near Higham station, the survey compares air-to-water and air-to-air for your home before anything is quoted. Temple Manor lies about 2.3 miles south-east. Owners of listed homes need consent before a heat pump is fitted, so it’s one of our first questions.
Higham is about 2 miles north-west of Rochester, in Medway. Properties in Higham get the same service as everywhere we cover: diagnosis first, a fixed price and proper paperwork when we’ve finished. Higham is one of 68 places in Medway we cover. There’s also a page for Bromley, roughly 19 miles from Higham.
Our working area takes in ME3 and DA12. That includes properties on Villa Road, Darby Gardens and Ash Crescent and nearby roads. We also cover the places around Higham: Gadshill (1 mile south), Lower Higham (1 mile north), Shorne (1 mile west), Shorne Ridgeway (1 mile south-west) and Mockbeggar (2 miles east). Larger places within reach include Gillingham (6 miles south-east), Chatham (5 miles south-east), Rainham (8 miles south-east) and Luton (5 miles south-east).
Local landmarks in Higham
Around Higham, our work takes us to homes and businesses near Rede Common, Sir John Falstaff Public House and Strood Academy. The closest station to Higham is Higham station, roughly 0.9 miles north-east. Well-known places in the area include Rochester Castle (2.6 miles south-east) and French Hospital (2.8 miles south-east). For a walk, there’s Gad's Hill and Rede Common.
After we’ve gone
A little care keeps the system in better shape. We recommend:
- Use the settings explained at handover
- Leave indoor units unobstructed
- Keep the outdoor unit clear all year
Equipment warranties come from the manufacturer. We explain the terms for your brand, including any servicing conditions.
Heat pumps prefer steady, low-temperature running as explained at handover.
Common questions in Higham
Can I get the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant in Higham?
Higham is in England, where the Boiler Upgrade Scheme runs. Air-to-water and ground source systems attract £7,500. Air-to-air gets £2,500, but only where it takes over from fossil-fuel heating and covers the whole home’s heating demand. You do not apply yourself: the MCS certified installer does, which is us.
Is planning permission needed for a heat pump in Higham?
It depends on the property. The half-mile around the middle of Higham holds about 5 listed buildings and structures. Heat pumps on houses are often permitted development, but listed buildings need consent and conservation areas restrict outdoor units facing a road. Where it’s needed, we check with the local planning authority (for Higham, typically Gravesham council).
Do you work on commercial properties?
Yes. From one rented home to commercial buildings, the approach is the same: survey or diagnosis, a fixed price and proper paperwork.
What accreditations do you have?
As the law requires for refrigerant work, we’re an F-Gas certified company. We’re also NICEIC approved, MCS certified for heat pumps and Checkatrade members.
Do I need to service the system to keep the warranty?
For some brands, yes. Read the manufacturer’s terms, or send us the make and model and we will explain them, and book the service at the interval they recommend.
Who is responsible for leak checks?
Whoever operates the equipment, together with the technicians who service it. Larger systems need regular checks: at least every 12 months from 5 tCO2e and every 6 months from 50 tCO2e. We’ll work out which band applies to yours.
Why does F-Gas certification matter?
The law says any company working on equipment containing F gas has to be certified, and each engineer needs the right qualifications too. It means the refrigerant in your system is handled legally.
Towns and villages near Higham
What else we do in Higham
Why deal with it now?
A heat pump sized without a proper heat loss survey can struggle in cold weather or run inefficiently. Doing the survey properly from the start avoids that. Waiting rarely makes an air conditioning problem smaller.
Our prices page shows typical ranges, but each job is priced on what it involves. For a fixed-price quote, ring 07833 053749 or send an email, and we will talk you through it.
What you get with us
- Covering London and the South East
- An F-Gas certified company, as the law requires
- NICEIC approved for electrical work
- We diagnose before we treat
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