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Daikin Altherma Air Source Heat Pump in Chatham, SE

JapanClimate Zone 3

Looking at a Daikin Altherma air source heat pump for your Chatham home? Installed pricing for Daikin Altherma in South East England runs £7,000 - £14,000 before any support (indicative, June 2026). After the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant, that is illustratively £0 - £6,500 out of pocket; your MCS-certified installer claims the grant for you. Buyers wanting proven mainstream hardware with plenty of competing quotes.

Daikin Altherma is priced below the local typical pre-grant installed range of £8,300 - £14,300, making it one of the more affordable routes to a heat pump in this area.

Air source heat pumps perform strongly in this part of the UK. With comparatively mild winter temperatures, a correctly sized unit holds its seasonal efficiency (SCOP) well, and running costs sit toward the lower end of estimates. The MCS heat-loss survey that comes with every Boiler Upgrade Scheme installation confirms the right output and radiator sizing for your home.

£7,000 - £14,000
Installed before grant
£0 - £6,500
After grant (illustrative)
4.2
SCOP (efficiency)
5yr
Max warranty

Daikin Altherma Models Available

Altherma 3 R 8kW

£7,000 - £12,000
installed before grant, indicative
Heat output
8kW
SCOP
4.2
Running cost (est.)
~£595/yr
Noise
44dB
Suitable for
3-4 bed homes
After £7,500 grant (illustrative)
£0 - £4,500
Outdoor unit (HxWxD)
990x1270x533mm
Weight
105kg

Altherma 3 H HT 14kW

£10,000 - £14,000
installed before grant, indicative
Heat output
14kW
SCOP
4
Running cost (est.)
~£625/yr
Noise
48dB
Suitable for
large or hard-to-heat homes
After £7,500 grant (illustrative)
£2,500 - £6,500
Outdoor unit (HxWxD)
1440x1160x380mm
Weight
145kg

Specifications and pricing are indicative for the UK market as at June 2026. Running costs assume ~10,000 kWh of heat a year at 25p/kWh (Ofgem cap average; changes quarterly). Confirm current models and exact pricing with your MCS-certified installer.

How Daikin Altherma Performs in Chatham's Climate

ExcellentClimate Zone 3

Daikin Altherma performs at its best in this mild southern climate (zone 3 on our 1-7 scale). Expect seasonal efficiency close to the rated SCOP of 4.2 and running costs at the lower end of estimates.

Noise Levels in a Regional Area

At 44dB, Daikin Altherma produces moderate noise. In a regional area, the extra distance between properties means noise is less of a concern than in town, but sensible siting still helps.

Pros

  • World's largest heat pump manufacturer
  • High-temperature models suit older radiator systems
  • Wide UK installer base
  • Strong cold-weather output
  • Competitive entry pricing

Cons

  • Warranty shorter than some rivals unless extended
  • Quality of install varies with such a large network - vet quotes carefully

Grants for Daikin Altherma in Chatham

Boiler Upgrade Scheme

£7,500 off, claimed for you by your MCS-certified installer

Every Daikin Altherma air-to-water model on this page qualifies for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme in South East England when fitted by an MCS-certified installer, who applies on your behalf so the grant comes straight off the quote. Homes heated by oil or LPG get £9,000 from 21 July 2026. The EPC precondition was removed in April 2026 and the scheme runs to 2030. 0% VAT until 31 March 2027 applies on top. Accurate as at June 2026.

Full grant details for South East England→

The heating picture in South East England

Most homes here heat with a mains-gas boiler, and the Ofgem price cap gas rate jumps 27% on 1 July 2026 (5.74p to 7.33p/kWh). With £7,500 off through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and 0% VAT until March 2027, replacing the boiler with an air source heat pump at end-of-life is now cost-competitive up front and on running costs. Off-gas villages across Kent, Sussex and Hampshire heat with oil - those homes qualify for the higher £9,000 grant from 21 July 2026.

There is no gas ban in the UK and nobody is forcing the switch. The pressure is price: the Ofgem cap gas unit rate rises 27% on 1 July 2026 (5.74p to 7.33p per kWh, with typical bills up around 13%). For Chatham households on a gas boiler, the practical takeaway is to plan ahead: keep using and repairing the boiler you have, but when it reaches end-of-life, pricing a heat pump against a new boiler (with the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme and 0% VAT in the maths) is now the rational default.

Compare Other Brands in Chatham

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All brand costs in ChathamFull Daikin Altherma review

Daikin Altherma in Chatham: Frequently Asked Questions

How much does an air source heat pump cost in Chatham?
Most Chatham households pay £800 to £6,800 out of pocket (indicative, June 2026) after the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant is deducted from a typical pre-grant installed price of £8,300 to £14,300. Your MCS-certified installer claims the grant for you, so the discount comes straight off the quote. 0% VAT on residential installations (until 31 March 2027) is already reflected in quoted prices. Combi-to-cylinder conversions and radiator upgrades push costs toward the top of the range.
What heat pump grants are available in Chatham?
Chatham households can use the Boiler Upgrade Scheme: £7,500 off an air-to-water or ground-source heat pump (£2,500 for air-to-air, £5,000 for biomass), rising to £9,000 for homes heated by oil or LPG from 21 July 2026. The EPC-certificate precondition was removed on 28 April 2026, and the scheme has been extended to 2030. Your installer must be MCS-certified and applies on your behalf, so the grant comes straight off the quote. 0% VAT on residential installations applies until 31 March 2027 on top.
Do air source heat pumps work in Chatham's climate?
Chatham has a mild southern climate with relatively gentle winters. Air source heat pumps perform strongly in this part of the UK. With comparatively mild winter temperatures, a correctly sized unit holds its seasonal efficiency (SCOP) well, and running costs sit toward the lower end of estimates. The MCS heat-loss survey that comes with every Boiler Upgrade Scheme installation confirms the right output and radiator sizing for your home.
Is a heat pump cheaper to run than a gas boiler in Chatham?
On the Ofgem price cap (electricity around 25p per kWh, gas 5.74p rising to 7.33p per kWh on 1 July 2026), a heat pump running at a seasonal efficiency (SCOP) of 3.8 to 4.5 delivers heat at roughly the same cost as a 90%-efficient gas boiler or below it, and the 27% gas rate rise tilts the comparison further toward the heat pump. Households on heat-pump time-of-use tariffs typically do better again, though tariffs change so compare current offers. These are estimates: your actual costs depend on your tariff, your home's heat loss and how the system is set up.
How does the installation process work in Chatham?
Every grant-backed installation starts with a heat-loss survey of your home (an MCS requirement), which determines the heat pump output, the radiator sizing and whether your hot water cylinder needs upgrading or adding. The installer then fits the outdoor unit, cylinder and controls, commissions the system and walks you through it. If a gas boiler is being removed, that part of the work must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Timescales are usually measured in days, not weeks; your installer will confirm after the survey.
What size air source heat pump do I need in Chatham?
Sizing in the UK is driven by your home's heat loss, not just bedroom count: the heat-loss survey that comes with every Boiler Upgrade Scheme installation calculates it room by room. As a rough guide from the current UK model ranges, smaller well-insulated homes suit units around 5 to 8kW of heat output, typical 3 to 4 bed homes around 8 to 12kW, and large or older properties may need more. In your milder climate, correctly sized systems hold their efficiency well through winter.
Which air source heat pump brand is best for Chatham?
In Chatham's milder climate (zone 3 on our 1-7 scale), all eight brands with a verified UK presence perform well, so value and installer support matter most. Octopus Cosy is the disruptive-price route (about £4,460 average after the grant, installed by Octopus themselves), Samsung EHS is the value pick through independent installers, and Mitsubishi Ecodan has the widest installer familiarity in Britain.
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