Greater London · Heat pump installation
Heat pump installation in South Kensington, Greater London
Need air source heat pumps in South Kensington? We look at the job first, give you a fixed-price quote and do the work at a time that suits you, finishing with proper records.
- Radiators that may be too small for a heat pump
- An oil, LPG or gas boiler near the end of its life
- Comparing heat pump types
Before you call an engineer
Do not move, re-route or disconnect units or pipework yourself. Disconnecting a system means dealing with refrigerant, which only a qualified engineer can do, and the electrical side needs a competent person. Ask us to quote for a move instead.
On air conditioning, the filters in the indoor unit are normally the one part owners can clean, 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 South Kensington
Many air source heat pumps can be installed as permitted development in England, without a planning application. The conditions include an outdoor unit of no more than 1.5 m³ and compliance with MCS 020(a), and the unit can’t be used solely for cooling or sit within the curtilage of a listed building. We look at the planning position for your home during the survey. The work covers air-to-air heat pumps, underfloor heating and radiator systems, and common reasons people get in touch are an oil, LPG or gas boiler near the end of its life and finding a place for the outdoor unit.
Homes in South Kensington are often flats and terraces, where outside space is limited, and that decides which kind of heat pump works. An air-to-water system needs space outside and normally a hot water cylinder inside, while air-to-air units take less room.
If a fault appears while the equipment is under the manufacturer’s warranty, tell us the make, model and installation date. We will tell you how the manufacturer’s warranty is likely to apply before anything chargeable is done.
- Place
- South Kensington (SW3, SW7, SW10)
- Region
- Greater London
- Certified
- F-Gas certified, NICEIC approved, MCS
- Quote
- A fixed price before we start
- Costs
- £8,000–£16,000 before the grant, 0% VAT on homes
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 30 October 2026
Nearby places to South Kensington
Also in South Kensington
How the visit works
Refrigerant work is done by qualified engineers working for an F-Gas certified company, and electrical work is done by us as NICEIC approved contractors. So on the day, you don’t need a separate electrician for the electrical side. The work takes from a couple of days to around a week, depending on the system and how much of the heating changes. Some blocks in South Kensington need contractor details in advance, so tell us what your building needs.
- First, a chat about the property and your goals for the heating.
- A survey covers heat loss, radiators, hot water and where the outdoor unit could sit.
- 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.
- We commission it, complete the MCS certificate and show you how to use it.
Before we arrive
- Mention any roof access, ladders or high-level work
- Arrange for someone to be there to let us in
- Clear access to the fuse board
Getting a quote
Want a quote for air source heat pumps? Please ring us on 07833 053749 or use the quote form with a few details about the property. We’ll talk you through the options and give you a fixed-price quote before you commit to anything.
Related advice
How the job changes from property to property
Hot water cylinders
Existing cylinders may not be suitable for a heat pump and we tell you if it needs replacing.
Radiators and underfloor heating
At lower water temperatures, radiators give out less heat, and the survey checks each one.
Air source heat pumps in South Kensington: the local picture
About 71% of homes in the South Kensington area were built before 1919, according to VOA council tax data, and Census 2021 figures found about 83% of households live in flats. Older homes can lose heat faster, so a room-by-room heat loss calculation, and sometimes insulation or larger radiators, comes before sizing a heat pump. For flats, the first questions are where an outdoor unit could go, whether a cylinder fits and what the lease allows. London homes can be short of space for an outdoor unit and cylinder, which affects the choice of heat pump.
Carlyle's House lies about 0.6 miles south-east. Owners of listed homes need consent before a heat pump is fitted, so it’s one of our first questions. If your home is near West Brompton station and heated by a gas boiler, an air-to-water heat pump can replace it where the survey shows it suits.
South Kensington is about 1 mile south-east of Kensington, in Greater London. Our engineers cover South Kensington for air source heat pumps and across the rest of Greater London. Our list for Greater London has 764 entries and South Kensington is among them.
Our nearest recent job to South Kensington was on East Hill, Wandsworth (SW18), about 3 miles south: installing a Daikin wall-mounted unit in the open-plan living area.
That includes properties on King's Road, Fulham Road and Museum Lane and the roads around them. You will find South Kensington on the A3217, so it’s easy for us to get to. If you’re just outside South Kensington, we cover Little Chelsea (1 mile south), Chelsea (1 mile east), Brompton (1 mile north-east), World's End (1 mile south) and Earl's Court (1 mile west). Within a short drive, we also cover London (4 miles east), St Pancras (4 miles north-east), Shoreditch (5 miles north-east) and Walthamstow (9 miles north-east).
What’s near South Kensington
In South Kensington, that means homes and buildings near London School of Dramatic Art, Burton’s Court and Anglesea Arms. Other local landmarks include Natural History Museum Library and Archives (less than half a mile north) and Collingham College (0.5 miles west). For rail, the closest station is West Brompton station, about 0.8 miles west. Nearby you’ll also find Victoria and Albert Museum Spiral (under half a mile north) and Baynard's Castle (3.6 miles north-east). Not far away are Serpentine and Campden Hill.
When it’s something else
Not every problem is solved by air source heat pumps, and we’d rather say so up front. It will not put right:
- Gas boiler work, such as disconnecting the old boiler, which needs a Gas Safe registered engineer
- Promising eligibility for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme
- Improving the building’s insulation
Not sure which it is? You can give us a ring on 07833 053749 or write to us at info@aircondoctor.co.uk and we will tell you honestly.
What the work covers
- Air-to-air heat pumps
- Homes heated by oil, LPG or gas
- Hot water cylinders
- Underfloor heating
- Air-to-water heat pumps
- Radiator systems
South Kensington: your questions answered
Does the Boiler Upgrade Scheme cover homes in South Kensington?
South Kensington is covered, as the scheme runs across England and Wales. The amount depends on the type of heat pump, and the survey confirms which applies. As an MCS certified installer, we apply for it on your behalf.
Can I fit a heat pump in South Kensington without planning permission?
The answer turns on the property and where the outdoor unit would sit. The Thurloe Estate and Smith's Charity Conservation Area takes in the middle of South Kensington. A heat pump on a house can be permitted development if it meets the conditions, including the MCS noise check, but not within the grounds of a listed building, and in a conservation area the outdoor unit cannot face a road. Where needed, we check with Kensington and Chelsea council, which is typically the planning authority for South Kensington.
Who has to arrange F-Gas leak checks?
The F-gas rules share it between the equipment’s operator and the engineers who work on it. How often depends on the size of the refrigerant charge in tonnes of CO2 equivalent: at least every 12 months from 5 tCO2e, and every 6 months from 50 tCO2e.
Do you protect the property while you work?
We put dust sheets over floors and furniture near the work first, and the area is kept tidy throughout. At the end, we clear up and show you what we have done.
How much time does a heat pump install need?
It takes a few days for most air-to-water installations, with air-to-air systems often quicker. The cylinder, the radiators and the pipework make the biggest difference and the timing is set out with your quote.
Do you offer emergency call-outs?
Yes, 24/7. When you call, tell us the make, what’s happening and any error code, and we’ll talk you through the next steps.
Do you work on systems someone else installed?
Yes. We start with a proper look and tell you honestly what we find, including anything about the original installation that needs putting right. Any work is priced before it goes ahead.
From one of our customers
“Excellent service from start to finish. Two wall-mounted units installed in our home. Clean, tidy work: they protected all the floors and left no mess. The systems work brilliantly. Would highly recommend.”
Sarah M., East Grinstead