A heat pump provides the heat, but how that heat (or cooling) reaches each room makes a big difference to your comfort and running costs. We’ve been installing heat pumps for well over a decade, and we design heating, cooling and ventilation systems that get the most from them.
We can install any of the systems below on their own, or as part of a whole-home energy system alongside heat pumps, solar PV and battery storage.
- Underfloor heating
- Fan-assisted radiators
- Air conditioning
- MVHR (mechanical ventilation with heat recovery)
- Duct-based central air distribution systems
Underfloor Heating
Underfloor heating is the perfect partner for a heat pump. Heat pumps work most efficiently at lower flow temperatures, and the large surface area of underfloor heating spreads that gentle heat evenly across the whole room, with no cold spots and no radiators taking up wall space.
Our preferred underfloor heating system is ROTH. Roth has been making wet underfloor heating systems for more than 40 years, mainly in Germany, and is known for its precision engineering and quality.
Fan-assisted radiators
If underfloor heating isn’t practical, fan-assisted radiators are a great alternative. Quiet built-in fans push warm air into the room, so they give out more heat at the lower temperatures a heat pump runs at. This means they can often be smaller than a conventional radiator with the same output. They’re ideal for retrofits, where lifting floors isn’t an option.
Air conditioning
With summers getting hotter and heatwaves more frequent, more homeowners are thinking about how to keep their homes cool as well as warm. Air conditioning is ideal for bedrooms, garden rooms and home offices, as well as commercial spaces like shops and cafés.
Modern air conditioning units do more than cool. Many can also heat efficiently, and their filters and dehumidifying function help reduce dust mites and allergens, which is a real benefit for allergy sufferers.
Air conditioning runs on electricity, so pairing it with solar PV or a 100% renewable energy tariff can help offset its running costs and carbon impact.
0% VAT until 31 March 2027: Fixed air conditioning units installed in homes currently qualify for 0% VAT as energy-saving materials. From 1 April 2027 this moves to a reduced rate, so now is a great time to invest.
We install Toshiba air conditioning, which we’ve chosen for its quality, value and excellent customer support. Find out more about our air conditioning service.
Talk to us to see if air conditioning is right for your project.
MVHR (mechanical ventilation with heat recovery)
Modern, well-insulated homes are much more airtight, which is great for heating bills but means stale air and moisture can build up. An MVHR system solves this by keeping a constant supply of fresh, filtered air moving through your home.
It extracts stale, humid air from kitchens, bathrooms and utility rooms and brings in fresh air from outside. As the air passes through the unit, heat from the outgoing air is recovered and used to warm the incoming air, so you get fresh air without losing the heat you’ve paid for.
Benefits of MVHR include:
- Fresh, filtered air in every room, all year round
- Less condensation, damp and mould
- Fewer pollen and dust particles, which is helpful for allergy sufferers
- Lower heating demand, because heat is recovered rather than lost
MVHR is particularly well suited to new builds, extensions and deep retrofits, and we often design it in for self-build projects.
Duct-based central air distribution systems
We believe ducted air systems will become a standard feature of modern homes. Working with your heat pump, they use small, discreet ducts to connect each room, delivering heating, cooling, ventilation and air purification from a single system. When designed as part of a complete system, it’s a true all-in-one solution.
Invisible.AC is a world leader in high-specification, energy-efficient heating and cooling. Its Small Duct High Velocity (SDHV) technology provides a fully integrated system for air conditioning, heating, ventilation and air purification.
See the brochure here
The Unico System is a small-duct system with compact, modular air handlers that can be installed in lofts, utility rooms, voids and crawlspaces. This makes it a good choice for existing homes where space is tight.
Why choose PBT Installations?
- Over a decade of heat pump design and installation experience
- Systems designed around your home, not off-the-shelf
- Everything from one team: heat pumps, heat distribution, ventilation, solar and battery storage
- Trusted, quality brands including ROTH, Toshiba, Invisible.AC and Unico
Frequently asked questions
Can a heat pump work with my existing radiators?
Often, yes, but some radiators may need upgrading to larger or fan-assisted models so your home stays warm at lower flow temperatures. We’ll check this during your survey.
Can air conditioning heat my home too?
Yes. Most modern air conditioning units are air-to-air heat pumps, so they can heat in winter as well as cool in summer.
Do I need MVHR?
MVHR is recommended for very airtight homes, such as new builds and deep retrofits, where natural ventilation is limited. We can advise whether it’s right for your property.
Can you install these systems alongside a heat pump?
Yes. All of these systems are designed to work with a heat pump, and we can install them together as one complete system.