Daikin Air-To-Air Heat Pumps Gain MCS Certification
Key Takeaways
- 65 Daikin air-to-air heat pump combinations are now MCS-listed.
- The range includes Multi-split and Multi+ heat pump systems.
- BUS provides £2,500 towards qualifying air-to-air heat pump installations.
- MCS installer certification for air-to-air systems is still being implemented.
- Daikin’s certification helps clear a big obstacle for future BUS-funded installations.
Daikin has taken an important step towards making government-supported air-to-air heat pumps more accessible to UK homeowners.
A total of 65 Daikin Multi-split and Multi+ air-to-air heat pump combinations are now listed on the MCS Product Directory following Eurovent Certification.
This matters because MCS certification is a key part of the eligibility requirements for installations supported through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS). Under the expanded scheme, eligible homeowners in England and Wales can receive £2,500 towards a qualifying air-to-air heat pump installation.
Jargon Buster: Reversible Air-to-Air Heat Pump
An air conditioning system equipped with a reversing valve that enables it to extract heat energy from outside air to heat a home during winter, as well as remove indoor heat to provide cooling during summer.
However, there is an important distinction.
Daikin’s products have now achieved the required product certification, while the industry is still completing the process that will allow installers to become MCS certified specifically for air-to-air heat pump installations.
So, what has changed, and when could homeowners begin accessing the £2,500 grant?
What Has Daikin Achieved?
Daikin UK has become the first successful applicant to have residential multi-split air-to-air heat pumps listed on the MCS Product Directory through the Eurovent Certification route.
The certification covers 65 different system combinations.
These are divided into:
- 45 Multi-split combinations, capable of connecting one outdoor unit to between two and five indoor units.
- 20 Multi+ combinations, which can combine room heating and cooling with domestic hot water.
The certified combinations include systems that use Daikin’s Perfera indoor units, giving homeowners much more flexibility than traditional single-room air conditioning.
Depending on the chosen configuration, a multi-split air-to-air heat pump can provide heating and cooling across several rooms while using a single outdoor unit.
Daikin’s Multi+ system goes further by allowing up to four indoor units and a hot-water cylinder to be connected to a single outdoor unit.
Why Does MCS Certification Matter?
MCS stands for the Microgeneration Certification Scheme.
It provides recognised standards for low-carbon technologies, including solar panels and heat pumps, covering both eligible products and the companies that install them.
For homeowners interested in the BUS, MCS is particularly important.
Ofgem stated that installations supported through BUS must be completed by an appropriately MCS-certified installer, and that qualifying products must meet the applicable MCS standards.
An Engineer’s View
Getting air-to-air heat pumps onto the MCS product directory is a game-changer for UK homeowners seeking efficient year-round climate control. Once installer certification frameworks align, these multi-split systems will offer one of the most flexible pathways to decarbonising domestic space heating.
– Rhys Powell, F Gas Engineer
Before air-to-air heat pumps were added to the MCS Product Directory, there was a clear problem.
The government had expanded BUS to include air-to-air heat pumps, but there were very few practical routes for eligible products to meet the MCS requirements underpinning the scheme.
Daikin’s certification removes a major part of that obstacle.
How Much Is The Air-To-Air Heat Pump Grant?
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme now provides £2,500 towards qualifying air-to-air heat pump installations in residential properties in England and Wales.
That sits alongside the existing BUS grants available for other low-carbon heating technologies, including:
| Technology | Current BUS Grant |
|---|---|
| Air-to-air heat pump | £2,500 |
| Air-to-water heat pump | £7,500 |
| Ground source heat pump | £7,500 |
| Biomass boiler | £5,000 |
Eligible off-gas-grid homes can currently receive an enhanced £9,000 grant towards qualifying air-to-water or ground-source heat pumps under the temporary uplift, running until 31 March 2027.
The £2,500 air-to-air grant is a separate option designed to give homeowners more low-carbon heating choices.
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Does This Mean You Can Claim £2,500 For Daikin Air Conditioning Today?
Not just yet.
This is where the difference between product certification and installer certification becomes important.
Daikin now has qualifying air-to-air products listed on the MCS Product Directory.
In September 2026, UKAS approved updates to the MCS Installer Scheme to incorporate air-to-air heat pumps. The next stage is for certification bodies to obtain the necessary accreditation to certify air-to-air heat pumps for installers. Certsure (NICEIC) and NAPIT are among the organisations progressing through this process.
This means another big step forward, but the process isn’t finished yet.
MCS-certified air-to-air products are awaiting installer certification to become available.
Why Is This Important For Air Conditioning?
The terminology can become confusing because many products commonly described as “air conditioning” are actually reversible air-to-air heat pumps.
Instead of only cooling a room, a reversible system can transfer heat in either direction.
During summer, it removes heat from inside the property.
During winter, the process reverses, and the system extracts heat from outside air to warm the home.
That heating capability is crucial when discussing the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
BUS support is intended for heating systems, not for equipment installed solely for summer cooling.
MCS design standards also include reversible heat pumps capable of providing heating and cooling, provided the system is designed and optimised for heating.
So, the arrival of MCS-certified Daikin air-to-air products could open the door to something new.
UK homeowners haven’t usually thought of air conditioning as something that could get government support for both heating in winter and cooling in summer.
Which Daikin Systems Have Been MCS Certified?
The newly listed Daikin systems primarily come from the manufacturer’s Multi-split and Multi+ ranges.
Daikin Multi-Split
A multi-split installation connects several indoor units to one outdoor unit.
Daikin’s newly certified combinations range from smaller two-room arrangements through to systems serving as many as five zones.
This can make them helpful in homes where installing regular central heating would be difficult, or where people want to control the temperature in each room separately.
Daikin Multi+
Multi+ combines many of the benefits of a multi-split air-to-air heat pump with domestic hot water production.
One outdoor unit can connect to multiple indoor heating and cooling units and supply a compatible hot water tank.
Twenty Multi+ combinations are included within Daikin’s new MCS listings.
For some homes, this gives another alternative to traditional boiler-based heating.
Why Could Air-To-Air Heat Pumps Suit UK Homes?
Air-to-air systems will not be the right answer for every property.
But they do offer another option alongside boilers and air-to-water heat pumps.
They may be particularly interesting for properties where:
- Installing or replacing extensive radiator pipework would be difficult.
- Individual room temperature control is important.
- Summer overheating is becoming a problem.
- The property has limited space for heating equipment.
- Both heating and cooling are required.
- A homeowner wants to move away from fossil-fuel heating.
Air-to-air systems also avoid the need to circulate hot water through radiators.
Instead, heated or cooled air is delivered directly into the rooms being conditioned.
For some flats, smaller houses, or homes with tricky layouts, this could make installation much easier.
A Significant Step For WarmZilla And Daikin
WarmZilla already works, and is partnered, with Daikin to provide professionally installed air-conditioning and air-to-air heat-pump solutions.
The addition of MCS-listed Daikin products is an important milestone.
Government support for air-to-air heat pumps has been discussed for some time, but policy only becomes meaningful for homeowners once suitable products, installers and certification routes are in place.
Daikin has now completed an important part of that process. Its Multi-split and Multi+ systems are listed on the MCS Product Directory, while the wider industry continues to complete the installer-certification framework.
What Happens Next?
The next major milestone will be installers gaining the relevant MCS certification for air-to-air heat pump installations.
Once certification bodies are fully approved and installers have the right qualifications, installations with MCS-certified products should be able to go through the usual Boiler Upgrade Scheme process.
The installer handles the BUS application on behalf of the homeowner.
Ofgem also makes clear that being present on the Product Eligibility List does not automatically guarantee that every installation qualifies.
The system, installer, property and installation itself must all satisfy the relevant BUS requirements.
So, homeowners shouldn’t assume that just buying an MCS-listed Daikin unit will automatically qualify them for the £2,500 grant.
The complete installation needs to qualify.
Thinking About A Daikin Air-To-Air Heat Pump?
With MCS-certified Daikin air-to-air heat pump products now available, the £2,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant is one step closer to being a real option for UK homeowners.
It also highlights how quickly the UK heating market is changing.
Air conditioning is now more than just a way to keep your home cool during a heatwave. Modern reversible systems can heat your home in winter and cool it when it gets warm.
If you’re considering a Daikin air-to-air heat pump, WarmZilla can help you find the right system for your home and determine whether air-to-air heating is a good alternative to your current setup.
Take our air-conditioning survey today to find the right heating and cooling system for your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Daikin Air-To-Air Heat Pumps MCS Certified?
Yes. Daikin has 65 residential Multi-split and Multi+ combinations listed on the MCS Product Directory through the Eurovent Certification route.
Can I Get A £2,500 BUS Grant For A Daikin Air-to-Air Heat Pump?
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme provides £2,500 towards qualifying air-to-air heat pump installations. However, installer certification for air-to-air systems is still being implemented, so homeowners should confirm current grant availability with their installer before committing to an installation.
Can A Daikin air-to-air heat pump provide heating and cooling?
Yes. Reversible air-to-air heat pumps can heat rooms during colder weather and provide air conditioning during warmer periods. Some Daikin Multi+ configurations can also provide domestic hot water.
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