Heat pump or air conditioning: which to choose?
Both systems rely on the same technology but meet different needs. Here are our guidelines for making the right choice.
- Impartial advice
- Air con and heat pumps
- Free quote
- Certified refrigeration engineerBrussels Environment & Wallonia
- Homes & businessesHouses, offices, hospitality, shops
- Fast responseBrussels, Walloon Brabant and Flemish Brabant
- Free quoteNo obligation
Hesitating between a heat pump and air conditioning? Both systems use the same heat transfer principle, but they are designed for different uses.
- For: homeowners and businesses
- Quote: free, no obligation
- Carried out by: certified refrigeration engineers
The main difference
Air conditioning is designed first and foremost to cool indoor spaces in summer; reversible models can also heat in spring and autumn. A heat pump is designed first and foremost to heat the home all year round, and sometimes to produce hot water.
Air conditioning: for summer comfort
- Cool one or more rooms in summer
- Supplementary heating in spring and autumn (reversible models)
- Lighter installation
- Suited to flats, offices and sun-exposed rooms
Heat pump: for heating
- Heat the whole home in winter
- Replace or supplement a boiler
- Produce domestic hot water (air-to-water)
- Suited to houses and renovations
Our advice
If summer comfort is your priority, air conditioning is often enough. If you want to reduce your heating consumption, an air-to-water or air-to-air heat pump is a better fit. As refrigeration engineers and RESCert-certified installers, we handle both and advise you based on your situation.
Questions to ask yourself
- Is your priority summer comfort or winter heating?
- Do you have central heating with radiators or underfloor heating?
- Do you also want to produce domestic hot water?
- Do you live in a house or a flat, and where could the outdoor unit go?
- Is your home well insulated?
Where we work
We cover the whole Brussels region, as well as Walloon Brabant and Flemish Brabant. Not sure if we cover your area? Give us a call and we will let you know.
A few photos from our jobs
Photos taken by our team during our jobs.
Working on a flat roof unit 
Outdoor unit on a wall bracket 
Outdoor unit on the garden side 
Outdoor unit on a roof
Frequently asked questions
Is reversible air conditioning a heat pump?
Yes, technically reversible air conditioning is an air-to-air heat pump. The difference lies mainly in the intended use and sizing: cooling a few rooms or heating the home in winter.
Which uses less energy?
Both use electricity to move heat rather than produce it, which makes them efficient. Actual consumption depends mainly on sizing, insulation and usage.
Can I combine both?
Yes. An air-to-water heat pump can provide heating and hot water, while air conditioning cools a few rooms in summer. A reversible air-to-air heat pump can also do both.
How do I know what suits my home?
The simplest way is to describe your home, your current heating and your expectations to us. We point you to the right solution without pushing you towards one or the other.
Need a quote or a repair?
Tell us what you need: we will get back to you quickly with the right solution.