Which Samsung heat pump an installer is likely to offer you, how efficient and how loud it is on its published figures, what the Boiler Upgrade Scheme asks of it, and what to get in writing about the warranty.
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A Samsung heat pump for heating a UK house is an EHS air-to-water heat pump, and the newest model is the EHS Mono R290: a monobloc air source heat pump with propane (R290) as its refrigerant, in 5, 8, 12 and 16 kW sizes, every size listed in the MCS product directory. The 8 kW size, AE080CXYDEK, has an MCS SCOP of 4.66 at a 35 °C flow temperature and 3.41 at 55 °C, and a sound power of 59 dB(A) on its UK energy label. Samsung's UK pages publish no warranty length or terms for its heat pumps, so the terms you get depend on what your installer puts in writing.
This review is about heating a home and its hot water. Samsung also sells heat-pump tumble dryers and air conditioners, which are different products and are not covered here. In the UK you buy a Samsung heat pump through an installer, and technical support goes through that installer too. The brand suits you if you have room indoors for a cylinder, a spot outside away from your neighbours' windows, and an installer who sets out the warranty in full.
What we like
What we like less
Sorted by overall score, highest first.
How to read the ranking Scores out of 5. Quality: efficiency at 55 °C, outdoor sound power and maximum flow temperature of the model listed in our heat pump comparison. Warranty: 3.5 is the usual two-year manufacturer warranty; longer cover at no extra charge scores more, unclear terms or no cover at no extra charge score less. Price: our editorial price tier for the brand in the UK (5 = most affordable), an estimate rather than a price list. Overall: quality 50%, warranty 25%, price 25%. The full method is on our editorial method page.
Compare the specifications and warranties of the exact model.
Heat pump · 3 Versions
| Specifications | Samsung EHS Mono R290 8 kW AE080CXYDEK/EU (single phase, pump integrated) | Samsung EHS Mono R290 12 kW AE120CXYDEK/EU (single phase, pump integrated) | Samsung EHS Mono R290 16 kW AE160CXYDEK/EU (single phase, pump integrated) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Output and type | |||
| Maximum flow temperature | 75 °C | ||
| Type | Monobloc | ||
| Power supply | 220-240 V 1~ 50 Hz | ||
| Rated heat output (Prated) at 55 °C | – | 12 kW | 15 kW |
| Efficiency on the EU label | |||
| Energy class at 35 °C | A+++ | ||
| Energy class at 55 °C | A++ | ||
| Noise | |||
| Outdoor sound power | 59 dB(A) | 60 dB(A) | 65 dB(A) |
| Refrigerant | |||
| Refrigerant | R290 | ||
| Dimensions and weight | |||
| Dimensions (H × W × D) | 850 × 998 × 500 mm | 1,018 × 1,270 × 530 mm | 1,018 × 1,270 × 530 mm |
Samsung's UK homeowner site lists the EHS Mono R290, the Mono HT Quiet, the Split, the TDM Plus with air conditioning, and the ClimateHub indoor unit. This review concentrates on the Mono R290, Samsung's propane model.
| Series | Type | Sizes | Max flow | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EHS Mono R290 | monobloc | 5, 8, 12, 16 kW | 75 °C | propane refrigerant; sound power 55–65 dB(A) |
| Mono HT Quiet | monobloc | 8, 12, 14 kW | 70 °C | Samsung's high-temperature model |
| Split | split | not listed on the UK page | not listed | refrigerant pipes run to an indoor unit |
| TDM Plus | heating and cooling | not listed on the UK page | not listed | heating, hot water and air conditioning |
At 7 °C outside and a 35 °C flow, the four sizes deliver 5, 8, 12 and 16 kW. Samsung's UK page says the 75 °C flow holds at outdoor temperatures from −10 to 35 °C, and the unit keeps heating down to −25 °C. The 8, 12 and 16 kW come in single phase (code ending DEK), the normal house supply, or three phase (DGK); the 5 kW is single phase only.
The Mono R290 works with either of two indoor setups. The ClimateHub combines the hydraulic unit and a hot-water cylinder of 200 or 260 litres in one cabinet; Samsung's UK product pages give it as 1,800 mm high, 595 mm wide and 700 mm deep. Or the installer fits Samsung's Mono control kit and connects a cylinder from another maker, which can keep a cylinder you already have. If you are replacing a combi boiler, either option means finding floor space for a cylinder for the first time.
The choice affects features too: Samsung's UK page says Smart Grid readiness, which lets the heat pump respond to a signal from your solar panels or the grid, isn't available on the Mono with a third-party cylinder.
The Mono HT Quiet is built for high flow temperatures: Samsung says it delivers up to 70 °C and points to its MCS SCOP at a 65 °C flow. At 55 °C its MCS SCOP is 3.22 to 3.34 for the 8 kW, 3.64 for the 12 kW and 3.61 for the 14 kW. If you are quoted one, ask why it suits your radiators better than the Mono R290.
In a split system, refrigerant pipes connect the outdoor unit to an indoor unit. Samsung's UK page gives no sizes or figures for its Split or TDM Plus, so ask for the datasheet and MCS certificate of either.
SCOP, the seasonal coefficient of performance, is the heat a heat pump delivers over a heating season for each unit of electricity, measured on a standard test. The MCS product directory lists it for every certified model at each flow temperature; where a size is listed with several indoor units, we show the lowest figure. Samsung's UK datasheets don't print SCOP, so the directory is the only published source.
| Model (single phase) | MCS SCOP 35 °C | MCS SCOP 55 °C | Sound power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mono R290 5 kW (AE050CXYDEK) | 4.84 | 3.43 | 55 dB(A) |
| Mono R290 8 kW (AE080CXYDEK) | 4.66 | 3.41 | 59 dB(A) |
| Mono R290 12 kW (AE120CXYDEK) | 4.72 | 3.51 | 60 dB(A) |
| Mono R290 16 kW (AE160CXYDEK) | 4.57 | 3.43 | 65 dB(A) |
MCS SCOP
| Model | 35 °C flow | 55 °C flow |
|---|---|---|
| 5 kW | 4.84 | 3.43 |
| 8 kW | 4.66 | 3.41 |
| 12 kW | 4.72 | 3.51 |
| 16 kW | 4.57 | 3.43 |
The gap between the columns matters more than the gap between sizes. For the 8 kW, 4.66 ÷ 3.41 = 1.37: on the test, the same heat at a 55 °C flow takes about 37% more electricity than at 35 °C. So the design flow temperature your installer sets, which depends on your radiators, does more for your bills than the choice of size; the 75 °C is headroom for the coldest days, not a target. At 55 °C, the seven rival models we rank reach 3.51 to 3.94 in the directory.
A test SCOP is also not what a home achieves: the government-funded Electrification of Heat trial measured a median of 2.78 across 428 air source heat pumps. At about that level, our example home (a 1970s gas semi using 9,500 kWh of gas a year, 85% boiler efficiency assumed) would pay about the same for its heating units with a heat pump as with its boiler, on Ofgem price cap unit rates (GB average, direct debit, 1 October to 31 December 2026, no VAT on electricity in Great Britain until 31 March 2027) with standing charges left out; the result depends on the house, the installation and the tariff. The arithmetic is in heat pump running costs.
Sound power is a property of the unit; sound pressure is what reaches a window and falls with distance. Samsung's UK page quotes noise levels as low as 35 dB(A), but that is a sound pressure, measured 3 m in front of the unit in a test room in quiet mode; the 8 kW datasheet gives 45 dB(A) in normal running. In England and Wales, permitted development needs the MCS 020(a) calculation to show no more than 37 dB(A) at a neighbour's nearest window or door, and it uses the sound power from the label, never a low-noise-mode figure.
An example: an 8 kW Mono R290 (59 dB(A)) on the ground against your house wall (two reflecting surfaces, factor 4), 3 m from a neighbour's bedroom window. With nothing in between, the MCS formula gives 59 + 10 × log(4 ÷ (4 × π × 3²)) = 59 − 14.5 = 44.5 dB(A), well over the limit. A solid brick or masonry wall that hides the window completely from the top of the unit takes off 10 dB, giving 34.5 dB(A), inside it. Without a barrier, it would need about 7.1 m to get down to 37.0 dB(A). More on placement in heat pump noise; check with your local planning authority before you commit to a spot.
In England and Wales, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme takes £7,500 off an air source heat pump if your home qualifies; some off-gas-grid homes replacing oil or LPG may qualify for £9,000 instead, for applications properly made from 21 July 2026 to 31 March 2027. Your installer, who must be MCS-certified and in an approved consumer code such as RECC or HIES, applies to Ofgem and deducts the grant from your bill, so get the voucher before work starts. A heat pump supplied and installed in your home also carries 0% VAT until 31 March 2027, then 5%. Scotland and Northern Ireland differ: Scotland has its own grant and loan through Home Energy Scotland, and Northern Ireland has no grant open to every homeowner; the details are in heat pump grants.
The grant follows the installation, not the brand, but the model matters: the MCS design standard requires the heat pump to be listed on the MCS website. All four Mono R290 sizes are listed, with the ClimateHub or with the control kit and a separate cylinder, on certificates running to 30 September 2033 or 30 June 2034. The Mono HT Quiet sizes are listed on certificates running to 30 September 2032 or 30 June 2034. Whatever the model, your existing gas, oil or LPG heating must be fully replaced rather than kept as a back-up; the rules are written about heating, so if you want to keep gas for cooking, ask your installer.
This is the weak spot of a Samsung quote. Samsung's UK support page says the heat pump needs an annual service "to check it is running smoothly and help keep your warranty valid", and sends you to your installer for technical support. It gives no warranty length, no registration route, no list of what is covered and no terms document. Samsung's five-year registration scheme on its main UK website covers washing machines, tumble dryers, fridges and other appliances, not heat pumps.
That doesn't mean a Samsung heat pump has no warranty: it means you have to get the terms from your installer, in writing, before you sign. Ask for these points:
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| How many years, and from when? | You can only compare Samsung with a brand that publishes its terms once you know the length |
| Parts only, or parts and labour? | Parts-only cover leaves you paying for the engineer's time |
| Who gives it: Samsung or the installer? | It decides who you claim from if the installer stops trading |
| Does someone have to register it, and by when? | Some makers' terms drop to 12 months if registration is missed |
| Who may do the annual service? | Samsung says the service helps keep the warranty valid |
| Does it pass to a new owner? | It matters if you might sell within the warranty period |
Servicing. Samsung's support page names a servicing partner for its heat pumps, and your installer may offer servicing too; ask what the annual service costs and what it includes. What a service involves is in heat pump servicing and lifespan.
Whatever Samsung offers, it adds to your statutory rights against the installer who sold and fitted the system; it doesn't replace them.
You run the system from a wired remote controller indoors or from Samsung's SmartThings app. The app needs a Wi-Fi connection, a Samsung account and the Wi-Fi kit, which is ordered separately, so check your quote includes it. Once connected, SmartThings shows your energy use, and its AI Energy mode, which Samsung says learns when you use hot water to save energy, needs a ClimateHub with Wi-Fi built in; Samsung warns it may affect performance, and you can switch it off at any time.
Solar panels. Samsung's datasheet calls the Mono R290 PV-enabled and Smart Grid Ready, with the connection prepared in the ClimateHub, so it can use more of your own solar electricity. With a third-party cylinder Samsung says Smart Grid readiness isn't available, though the solar function is, so if solar matters, ask the installer to confirm the setup in writing.
Tariffs. Samsung's UK pages don't describe tariff-based control. On a time-of-use tariff you set the heating and hot-water schedules yourself in the app or on the controller.
A gas semi with a combi boiler and room for a cylinder. The 8 kW size matches the 8 kW median size of air source heat pumps whose Boiler Upgrade Scheme grants were paid from July to September 2026, and the ClimateHub keeps the cylinder and hydraulics in one cabinet; the heat-loss survey decides the size.
A smaller or well-insulated home. The 5 kW size has the lowest sound power of the four, 55 dB(A), and suits lower heat losses; the heat-loss survey decides the size.
A spot well away from neighbours, or behind a wall. With 59 dB(A) at 8 kW, the Mono R290 needs more distance or a solid barrier than quieter rivals to pass the 37 dB(A) test.
Less suited if the outdoor unit has to sit close to a neighbour's window in a terrace, or if you want a published manufacturer warranty you can read before you choose a brand.
Why Samsung isn't in our comparison. In our comparison of air source heat pumps we score the model nearest 8 kW from each brand on four published criteria: efficiency at 55 °C (40%), outdoor sound power (25%), the warranty you get at no extra charge (25%) and maximum flow temperature (10%). With no published warranty terms we can't score that criterion, so Samsung is unranked. The 75 °C flow would raise its score, while the 3.41 SCOP at 55 °C and the 59 dB(A) would lower it. Manufacturers and installers don't pay for placement; how we score is in our editorial method.
How to put two quotes side by side, and what consumer-code protection to ask about, is in choosing an MCS installer.
No. A heat-pump tumble dryer uses a small heat pump to dry clothes. Samsung's EHS heat pumps are air-to-water systems that heat your radiators and hot water, fitted by an MCS-certified installer.
Samsung doesn't publish homeowner prices; the installer prices the whole job. Across all brands, the median installed price of an air source heat pump in England and Wales, for jobs whose Boiler Upgrade Scheme grants were paid from July to September 2026, was £12,826 before the grant, as reported by MCS installers, with VAT included. In England and Wales, if your home qualifies, the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant comes off that.
All four sizes are listed in the MCS product directory, which the MCS design standard requires. Whether your installation gets the grant in England and Wales depends on your home, an MCS-certified installer in an approved consumer code such as RECC or HIES, and Ofgem's decision, not on the brand.
Samsung's UK pages don't say. They state only that an annual service helps keep the warranty valid, and they send you to your installer for support. Ask the installer for Samsung's terms in writing before you sign: the length, whether labour is covered, and who you claim from.
The Mono R290 has a sound power of 55 to 65 dB(A) on its UK energy labels, depending on size; the 8 kW is 59 dB(A). Samsung's 35 and 45 dB(A) figures are sound pressure, not sound power, so they can't be set against other makers' sound power; the worked distances against the 37 dB(A) permitted development limit in England and Wales are in the section above.
It is Samsung's indoor unit: the hydraulic parts and a 200- or 260-litre hot-water cylinder in one cabinet, 1.8 m tall. It pairs with the Mono R290 and is the route Samsung names for Smart Grid readiness and its AI Energy mode.
Reading time: 14 min
Heat pump running costs in our example 1970s semi: 2,884 kWh and £759 a year at SCOP 2.8, £850 at 2.5 and £686 at 3.1 (Ofgem price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026), against £865 for gas including a £108 standing charge that ends only if the gas supply is disconnected, as we assume.
Read moreHeat pump running costs
Reading time: 15 min
Heat pump noise explained: sound power and sound pressure, how distance, walls and fences change the level, the MCS 020(a) test for permitted development in England and Wales with a worked example on a UK datasheet, placement, what reduces noise and how to handle complaints.
Read moreHeat pump noise
Reading time: 16 min
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme in full: amounts in England and Wales, the £9,000 for oil or LPG homes to 31 March 2027, who qualifies, the six steps from quote to voucher, Scotland and Northern Ireland, loans and 0% VAT to 31 March 2027.
Read moreHeat pump grants
Reading time: 15 min
Heat pump servicing explained: the annual service checklist, owner checks for the outdoor unit, pressure and condensate, UK warranty conditions by brand, F-gas leak-check thresholds in Great Britain, faults you can check first and an efficiency example.
Read moreHeat pump maintenance
Reading time: 15 min
Seven air source heat pumps around 8 kW ranked from MCS certificate data, UK warranty terms and makers' documents, with our weights, every model's values, a worked score, a noise example and a quote checklist.
Read moreBest air source heat pumps
Reading time: 15 min
How to choose an MCS-certified heat pump installer: checking certification and consumer-code membership, what a complete quote and design must show, warning signs, deposit protection under RECC and HIES, and cancellation rights.
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