Bringing comfort and control to a Norfolk bungalow

In Kings Lynn, Norfolk, homeowner John and his wife, Rachel, faced an uncomfortable surprise on moving into their new bungalow: a supposedly modern heating system that under-delivered on every front. Their disappointment sparked a complete rethink of how to heat the home, leading to the installation of a high-performance Daikin air-to-air heat pump. The result? Year-round comfort, precise control, and significantly lower energy bills. 

John and Rachel moved into their detached 1960s bungalow during the pandemic, and things looked promising at first. “It had a heat pump system already installed,” John explains. “But once we moved in, we realised it just didn’t work properly.”

The house was fitted with an old non-Daikin ducted system, retrofitted by the previous owner. “It was awful. The vents were set in the ceiling and there was a spider’s web of metal trunking in the loft. It felt industrial, and didn’t really heat the house effectively,” he recalls. “We tried resetting it, tweaking the settings, but it would take hours to warm up – even by just a single degree. And we couldn’t control different rooms individually. Rachel and I discussed it, and we agreed it was time to start again.”

A complete redesign, starting from scratch

Looking for a new solution, John turned to EOC Services Ltd, a trusted Daikin installer based in Norfolk. Consultant Andrew Hill, who has over 25 years’ experience working with Daikin systems, quickly diagnosed the issue.

“This needed a complete rethink,” Andrew explains. “The system had clearly been installed to meet minimum specs, but not to deliver proper comfort. We’d seen this before, and in cases like this, Daikin’s modular air-to-air units are a brilliant fix.”

The solution was simple and smart: three individual Daikin Stylish (FTXA) wall-mounted units. each with its own external split system. “We’ve got a 5kW unit in the kitchen-diner, a 4kW in the lounge, and a 3kW in the bedroom,” says John. “They originally quoted us for five, but we didn’t need to heat the spare rooms, so we kept electric radiators in those rooms.”

According to Andrew, modular installations are often the best route in older homes. “There was just no space in the loft to run new ducting. So multiple split units gave us flexibility, efficiency, and a much easier installation.”

A fast, clean install with lasting results

With minimal disruption and no need to remove radiators or rip up floors, the job was quick. “They drilled through the wall for each indoor unit, mounted the outdoor condensers, and that was basically it,” John says. “The whole thing was done in two to three days. It was a very tidy and efficient job.”

Andrew agrees: “It was a straightforward domestic install. We carried out the usual design calculations based on room size and usage, then matched each space with the appropriate output from the Daikin FXTA range. It’s a system we’ve worked with for years - it performs well, and it’s easy to maintain.”

Mounted discreetly high on the walls, the units blended seamlessly into each room. “They’re quiet, clean-looking, and very subtle,” says John. “You hardly notice them, until you feel how warm the room is.”

Instant warmth and effortless control

Unlike the old system, the Daikin units deliver rapid, focused heat. “Within minutes, you can feel the temperature rising,” John says. “It’s like stepping off the plane on a summer holiday. Before, it took forever. Now, it’s heat in an instant.”

Control has also improved dramatically thanks to the Daikin Onecta smartphone app. “We can control the units from our phones: switch them on or off remotely, set schedules, tweak temperatures. And when we’re not using a room, we just switch it off.”

Big difference, small energy bills

For John, the most surprising change has been the impact on energy bills. “When we moved in, our electricity bill was over £300 a month. Now it’s around £50,” he says. “We’ve also taken advantage of off-peak tariffs, along with recently installed solar PV. It means that we can run the kitchen-diner unit overnight at 18-19°C for just pennies per kWh. It’s cost-effective and keeps the house comfortable all the time.”

Built-in summer cooling

Though mainly a winter solution, the air-to-air units also help during hot spells. “We’ve only used the cooling function a handful of times,” John says. “But we’ve got two large dogs, and it’s been useful when the temperature spikes. It’s just a simple switch of mode, and it works great.” Happy dogs, happy home!

Set it and forget it

John and Rachel have been using the system for over two years and report zero performance issues. “It’s been perfect. No radiators. No boiler. Just clean, fast heating and cooling. It’s stylish, efficient, and it works. You set it and forget it.”

For Andrew, that kind of reliability is part of why EOC remains loyal to Daikin. “We’ve worked with Daikin for over 25 years, and we’re a D1+ Partner, which is the highest level of installer. In fact, we aligned our business growth strategy to Daikin at the turn of the century, because we saw the direction of travel and the fact that Daikin make great products with good warranties that we can pass on to our customers directly. With the product quality, the warranty support, and the ease of integration with modern homes, partnering with Daikin is a no-brainer for us.”

As for the air-to-air market, Andrew sees sustained growth. “We started with air-to-air 25 years ago, and it’s still a core market seller for us. High-wall units like these are popular with homeowners who want low disruption and high performance. They give you both heating and cooling, in a single unit, and with today’s insulation standards, you often only need modest output to maintain comfort.”