Wokingham · Heat pump installation
Air Source Heat Pumps in Reading
For heat pump installation in Reading, one call is all it takes, from the first look to sign-off. F-Gas certified, NICEIC approved and Checkatrade members.
- Questions about the Boiler Upgrade Scheme
- Working out whether radiators need upsizing
- Wanting to stop using oil, LPG or gas for heating
Keeping the system healthy
Every system needs looking after, and most of it is easy. Our tips:
- Keep up with insulation and draught-proofing
- Clear leaves and debris from the outdoor unit
- Check what your manufacturer’s warranty asks of you
Now and then in cold weather, the outdoor unit defrosts itself. You might see steam or hear the unit change note and it’s part of how the system works.
Let the heat pump run steadily rather than switching it on and off as explained at handover.
Air source heat pumps for homes and businesses in Reading
Every installation starts with a 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. Sizing by rule of thumb isn’t good enough. If the problem is deciding on the outdoor unit position and an oil, LPG or gas boiler near the end of its life, we can help.
A place the size of Reading has homes of every age, and the age of a home matters a lot for a heat pump. Every design starts with a room-by-room heat loss calculation, so the system is sized for your home and not guessed.
Nothing is signed off by word of mouth: commissioning details for an installation, a fault and repair note for a repair, or a record of the service. File it with the manual, because it helps with any later warranty question.
Also near Reading
What else we do in Reading
What we do, step by step
You do not need to do much on the day. Just let us in and point us to the units, or to where they’ll be fitted, and we take it from there. At the end, we tidy up and run through the work with you. Shops and offices in Reading do not usually need to close for the work.
- First we talk through the property and the current system.
- A heat loss survey is carried out, room by room.
- We design the system, check the radiators and cylinder and look at the outdoor unit position.
- You get a fixed price, with any grant and the VAT set out.
- Installation, commissioning and MCS registration complete the job.
Preparing for the visit
- Let us know where we can park and unload
- Make sure we can reach the outdoor unit, or where it will go
- Clear the space around the indoor unit, or where it will go
Get a fixed-price quote
Want a quote for air source heat pumps? Please ring us on 07833 053749 or write to us at info@aircondoctor.co.uk with a few details about the property. We will explain what we’d recommend and why, then send a fixed-price quote before you commit to anything.
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What affects the quote in Reading
Your quote is based on your property. We take into account:
- Access, including height, roofs and ladders
- The condition of any existing system
- Whether it’s a simple split or a larger system
The price reflects the work, not guesswork. That is why every job is looked at first, and the price is agreed before work begins.
What we need to know
Good pictures often save a visit. Try to include:
- A photo of the consumer unit with the cover closed
- The rating plate or label on any existing unit
- The address and the type of property
Photos are the fastest route to a quote: the room or the existing unit, the outside wall or roof where the outdoor unit sits or would go, and the label on any existing unit. Tell us the address and what you need, and many jobs can be priced from that.
Homes in Reading and heat pumps
Roughly a third of a mile or less from central Reading, you reach the Russell Street and Castle Hill Conservation Area. Draw a one-mile circle round the middle of Reading and it takes in 6 conservation areas. About 164 listed entries lie within half a mile of central Reading, Church of St Mary (grade I) among them. For a heat pump, permitted development doesn’t apply within the grounds of a listed building, and in a conservation area the outdoor unit can’t go on a wall or roof facing a road, so we check with the planning team at Reading council, which typically handles Reading where needed. Valuation Office Agency council tax records show about 36% of homes in the Reading area were built in 2000 or later, and the 2021 Census found about 63% of households live in flats. Lower heat loss in recent homes often means a smaller heat pump and fewer radiator changes. A flat may have no room for a hot water cylinder, and the freeholder usually has a say on the outdoor unit, which can tip the choice towards air-to-air.
If you live near Reading West station, the survey compares air-to-water and air-to-air for your home before anything is quoted. With Mapledurham House about 3.6 miles north-west, it’s worth asking whether your own home is listed before planning a heat pump.
Reading is about 38 miles west of London, in Wokingham. Whether you are in the middle of Reading or further out, our engineers cover air source heat pumps, from a single room to a whole building. Our area takes in 35 places across Wokingham, from busy centres to quieter spots. For properties nearby, see our Guildford page (22 miles or so).
The closest recent job we can point to from Reading was on Princess Way, Camberley (GU15), about 13 miles south-east: installing a Samsung VRF system serving twelve rooms across two floors, including open-plan working areas, individual offices, a server room and a boardroom.
Reading is one of the larger places we cover in Wokingham. All of RG6, RG31, RG1 and RG30 is covered, from busy streets to back roads. We also cover the places around Reading: Coley Park (1 mile south-west), West Reading (1 mile north-west), Newtown (1 mile east), Lower Caversham (1 mile north-east) and Whitley (2 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include Wokingham (6 miles south-east), Woodley (3 miles east), Crowthorne (9 miles south-east) and Lower Earley (3 miles south-east).
Near you in Reading
We fit and service air conditioning in homes and premises around Former Kennet Arms, Eldon Square and Kendrick School, among other places. Also close by are University of Reading library (1.5 miles south-east) and Eurospeak Language School (0.5 miles north). For rail, the closest station is Reading West station, roughly 0.7 miles north-west. Well-known places in the area include The Oracle (under half a mile north-east) and Berkshire Medical Heritage Centre Museum (0.8 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Sonning Hill and Longwater.
What happens if it’s left?
Permitted development rules can change, and conditions vary between properties. We look at the planning position early, so there are no surprises, including conservation areas, listed buildings and Article 4 directions. Booking before summer means the work in Reading is done before you need it.
Typical ranges are on our prices page, but each job is priced on what it involves. For a fixed-price quote, ring us on 07833 053749 or email us, and we will explain what it covers.
Why book with us
- We diagnose before we treat
- A 24/7 emergency line
- Leading brands including Daikin, Mitsubishi Electric and Fujitsu
- Checkatrade member
Reading questions
Does the Boiler Upgrade Scheme cover homes in Reading?
Reading is covered, as the scheme runs across England and Wales. 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. The installer applies, and we are MCS certified.
Is Reading in your area for air source heat pumps?
Yes, Reading is within the area we cover. Tell us a little about the job and we’ll take it from there.
Can I fit air conditioning or a heat pump myself?
Not the refrigerant work. The F-gas rules require certified companies and qualified engineers for it, and a new electrical circuit is notifiable building work unless a registered competent person does it.
How long will it take to install a heat pump?
A typical installation takes anything from a couple of days for air-to-air to the best part of a week for air-to-water with radiator changes. The programme is planned to keep time without heating short, and we explain it in advance.
Do I need new radiators for a heat pump?
We find out during the survey. Where a radiator is already large enough, it stays, and any that need upsizing are set out in the quote.
Do you offer maintenance contracts?
Yes. Send details of the systems and how they’re used, and we’ll suggest a schedule with a fixed price. That can include the leak checks the F-gas rules require for larger systems.
How do you keep the place clean during the work?
Protection goes down first: dust sheets over floors and anything close to the work. Any drilling is agreed with you first, and we clear up the dust and offcuts when we finish.
A customer’s words
“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