Air Conditioning Frequently Asked Questions

No. We believe that all units should be correctly specified and professionally installed by qualified engineers from a recognised air conditioning company. If we provide 'supply only units, we have no control over their final installation.

Yes, Airconco provides free site surveys, subject to the conditions for your property.

For flats and apartments, we require written confirmation from your managing agent that the proposed installation is permitted before we carry out a free survey. In our experience, around 95% of leases include a restrictive covenant covering this type of work. If you would like a survey before permission has been granted, the current fee is £240 + VAT. This fee is refundable against the installation cost if you proceed with Airconco.

A survey helps us understand your property, assess suitable equipment, and identify any installation requirements that could affect the quotation.

Next step: Find out about our air-conditioning installation service/.

We aim to offer competitive prices and believe that comparable quotations should be assessed on a like-for-like basis.

Before comparing prices, check that each quotation covers the same equipment, cooling capacity, installation work, electrical requirements, warranty, and aftercare. A lower initial price may not include everything needed to complete the installation.

If you have a competing quotation, send us the details, and we'll review what is included.

Next step: Read our guide to comparing air-conditioning quotes.

The cost depends on the equipment, number of rooms, cooling and heating requirements, installation complexity, and any additional work needed at your property.

For example, installing a single-room system is generally a different project from installing several units across a large home or commercial building. Electrical upgrades, access requirements, and the position of the outdoor unit can also affect the price.

Airconco can provide a budget estimate through our AC price calculator. A site survey may be needed to confirm the specifications and final quotation.

Our expert surveyors and engineers have many years experience in the industry. When there are various options or solutions, we provide you with all the information you will need to make an informed decision.

There is no single brand that is best for every property. The right choice depends on your budget, room size, system requirements, preferred features, appearance and warranty.

Airconco supplies and installs systems from Daikin, Gree, Mitsubishi Electric, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Samsung and Fujitsu. Our team can help you compare suitable options rather than choosing equipment based on the brand name alone.

Airconco also holds specific manufacturer credentials, including Daikin D1+ Premium approved contractor status for split and Sky Air product ranges, Fujitsu approved installer status, and registered distributor and installer status for Gree fitted systems.

Next step: Compare the options in our air-conditioning manufacturer guide.

First, go to the ‘CoolCulator’ on our website, where you can answer a few simple questions to get a budget estimate. Another option is to call us, and one of our experienced sales team members can help.

Yes. Our surveys and written quotations for new fitted air conditioning installations are free of charge. That means you get proper expert advice before you commit, and it gives us the chance to recommend the right system rather than a one-size-fits-all answer. We have been doing this since 1986, so we know a good installation starts with a careful survey and honest advice.

Yes. In many cases, we can give you a very useful ballpark figure before the survey, especially if you can tell us the room size, how the space is used, and what type of property it is. We then confirm everything after the site visit and turn that into a proper written quotation. It is a good way to get a feel for budget early on, while still making sure the final price is based on the right specification.

In most cases, yes. We can often give you a sensible guide price before we visit, but the survey is where we properly measure the room, assess the heat load, check pipe and drain routes, review electrics, and work out the best positions for the indoor and outdoor units. It is the difference between a rough idea and a system that is properly designed. We would always rather specify the right solution than guess, especially when we are backing the installation with a 10-year warranty.

We talk through how you use the room, what matters most to you, and which styles of units are likely to suit the space best. We also assess glazing, ceiling height, access, drainage, electrics, noise, outdoor-unit location, and appearance, so the final design works in the real world and not just on paper. By the end of the visit, you should have a much clearer idea of the best options, the likely costs, and what the installation would involve.

Our quotation is designed to be clear and upfront. In most cases it includes the equipment, standard installation materials, labour, commissioning, and normal handover, with any special items or work outside scope shown separately. That way you can see exactly what is and is not included and compare quotations on a like-for-like basis. We believe transparent quoting is one of the reasons customers trust us with both small domestic jobs and major commercial projects. 

Very often it comes down to the quotation not being like for like. Cheaper quotes can hide undersized equipment, excluded electrical works, lower-grade products, rushed installation methods, or weaker aftercare. The headline figure may look attractive, but it can end up being poor value if the system underperforms or problems appear later. We would always encourage you to compare the detail, the warranty, the equipment brand, and the service behind the price, and not just the cheapest number on the page.

If you have received a comparable quotation elsewhere, send it over, and we will review it properly. If it is genuinely like-for-like, we will always do our best to match it. The important part is making sure it really is comparable in terms of equipment, scope, warranty, and workmanship. We are very competitive, but we will not cut corners just to win a job, because that only stores up problems for the customer later.

Yes. As well as being the UK’s leading installers, we also have the largest range of portable air conditioning units. If we are carrying out an installation for you, we can provide mobile hire units at a reduced rate.

However large or small the project, it will be fully managed by our experienced supervisors or senior engineers. We do not compromise on the quality of supervision, whether we fit one unit or 100 units.

This is dependent upon the size of the installation and will vary from property to property. For example, in a conservation area, it is necessary to have Local Authority permission. Alternatively, you may require permission from your Landlord if you do not own your property. We always recommend that the Landlord and/or Local Authority is informed of your intention to fit air conditioning and that you receive written authorisation confirming they have no objections. We can assist you by providing drawings and technical details when you apply to your Local Authority or Landlord.

We are happy to provide installations during evenings or on weekends. However, the cost would be greater than for an installation during normal working hours. Please let us know if you have any time constraints or restrictions on working hours, and we will advise you accordingly.

This depends on both the complexity and size of the installation; it could vary from a single day to several weeks for larger commercial installations. We will, however, give you an indication of how long the installation will take when we provide you with our quotation. As a rule of thumb, each individual unit takes approximately one to one and a half days to install.

When you give us the ‘go-ahead,’ we order the equipment immediately. In most cases, we can have the units fully installed within two weeks. Please note that as with all weather-related industries, lead times can vary according to demand. Watch the video below our experienced personel do an air conditioning installation.

Almost any room can be air-conditioned with the right design. That includes bedrooms, lounges, conservatories, loft conversions, offices, shops, restaurants, healthcare spaces, schools, and server rooms. The real question isn't whether a room can be air-conditioned, but which system best fits that room and how the installation should be designed. That is where an experienced surveyor makes all the difference.

Yes, absolutely. Most of the systems we install are on retrofit projects rather than brand-new builds. The design is tailored to minimise disruption and keep the finished installation as neat and unobtrusive as possible. Retrofitting is where experience really shows, because the challenge is usually not the equipment itself but how to route pipework, drainage, and electrics cleanly through an existing building. That is something our team deals with every day.

No. We believe fitted air conditioning should be properly specified, professionally installed, commissioned, and handed over by qualified engineers. That is the best way to protect performance, reliability, appearance, and warranty. We are not interested in selling boxes and walking away; we want the system to work properly for years, which is why we provide a full installation service rather than supply only.

Sometimes, yes - especially in flats, listed buildings, conservation areas, leasehold properties, or buildings with managing agents. Getting permission is the client's responsibility, but we can usually provide technical information, drawings, and equipment details to support the application. We are used to working with these situations, particularly in London, so we can normally point out the likely issues early and help you avoid wasting time on the wrong type of system.

That depends on the time of year, stock availability, and the size and complexity of the project. Once you give us the go-ahead, we move the job into scheduling and give you the earliest practical installation date. If the project is urgent, tell us, and we will always do our best to help. Because we have been trading since 1986, we understand that clear communication on timing matters just as much as the quotation itself.

A straightforward single-room installation is often completed in around one to one-and-a-half days per unit. Larger, more complex, or multi-room projects naturally take longer, especially where there is more pipework, electrical work, access equipment, or ceiling and builder coordination involved. We will always be realistic with you about programme and disruption. Good installations are not rushed, because the finish and reliability matter just as much as speed.

Yes, that can often be arranged for clients who need it. The main thing to bear in mind is that out-of-hours work usually costs more than standard weekday installation, and it may need to be booked further ahead. It is particularly common for offices, retail, and other commercial spaces where access is easier outside normal trading hours. If timing is critical, tell us early, and we will build the programme around that as far as possible.

Yes. Because we also provide portable air conditioning, we can often arrange temporary cooling while a permanent system is being installed or while you are waiting for repair work. That can be especially helpful for bedrooms during warm weather, occupied offices, or critical rooms that cannot simply be left to overheat. It is one of the advantages of using a company that handles both fitted and portable solutions rather than just one side of the market.

Evaporative cooling systems lower the temperature of enclosed domestic and commercial properties through the evaporation of water molecules that have previously absorbed the heat from the air. To learn more about evaporative cooling click here.

Daikin and Mitsubishi Electric are acknowledged market leaders and come with their own warranty of up to ten years. However, we will also offer the same level of warranty on Fujitsu, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and Gree air conditioners, as these units provide an equivalent level of reliability at a lower price. Learn more about air conditioning manufacturers.

We install all the leading brands of air conditioners including Daikin, the Mitsubishi brands, Fujitsu and Gree for which we offer a warranty of up to ten years. We can also install other brands upon request. We do not install cheaper brands because, in our experience, they are not reliable and invariably end up costing our customers more in the long term.

An air conditioning unit is designed only to cool the room for which it has been specified; leaving inter-leading doors or windows open will reduce its effectiveness.

Fitted air conditioners are designed to bring the room down to a comfortable temperature. A correctly specified unit should be capable of cooling a room by 8 – 10°C lower than the outside ambient temperature.

Please note that if you are trying to cool a room to low temperatures, then you may require specialist refrigeration equipment rather than air conditioners.

Most fitted systems require an outside condenser box. There are some specialist units that can be used when this is not possible. Ask our expert team about ‘water cooled’ systems or our all-in-one air conditioners.

Fitted air conditioners are exceptionally quiet. They generate a soft fan sound that many people are able to sleep through without disturbance.

All of our systems comply with Health & Safety regulations, as does all documentation that we supply. Our Fitted Air Conditioning department will produce all required Method Statements and Risk Assessments for installations and for any service or repair works for which we have quoted. This documentation would be made available upon receipt of an official order or Letter of Intent to carry out the works.

We only sell products from brand leaders in the air conditioning field which are expected to last for many years. To maintain this longevity, it is essential that the equipment is subject to routine maintenance and servicing. The market is unfortunately flooded with cheap devices, which has often been ‘dumped’ in the UK – this equipment is inevitably specified in cheaper quotations. We do not deal with these inferior products, nor with ‘budget brand’ equipment as we have found these systems to be unreliable and more expensive in the long term.

The equipment we install makes use of the latest inverter technology and is, accordingly, extremely efficient. The government even offers incentives to install our air conditioners; residential customers only have to pay 5% VAT due to the excellent energy efficiency they offer. Most units we install carry an A++ efficiency rating.

Virtually all modern air conditioners provide heating as well as cooling. They are also an extremely efficient and cost-effective means of providing heating. Also, systems that provide heating will qualify for a reduced VAT charge (5% for residential use). This is an ideal scenario when building an extension to a property as there is no need to extend the existing central heating system into the new area.

To install an air conditioner, you must be a qualified air conditioning engineer with an F-Gas certificate. We are often called out to sites to fix units that have been incorrectly installed. DIY installations or even installations by qualified builders without the necessary expertise in air conditioning invariably end up costing much more in the long run, with wasted time and materials.

We do not size a system on room dimensions alone. We also consider glazing, ceiling height, solar gain, occupancy, equipment, lighting, insulation, room usage, and whether doors are left open, so the unit is selected based on the real heat load rather than guesswork. Correct sizing matters a lot: an undersized system struggles, and an oversized one can be wasteful or uncomfortable. That is exactly why our survey process is so detailed.

A wall-mounted split system is usually the most practical choice for a bedroom. It is often the easiest option to retrofit; modern premium models are very quiet, and you get reliable cooling and heating without dominating the room. If aesthetics or layout are especially important, we may also discuss ducted or low-wall options. The main thing is choosing the right model and position, because a well-designed bedroom system should be comfortable, quiet, and easy to live with.

Low-wall units are often a very good answer in loft conversions because sloping ceilings can make high-wall units awkward. They sit lower on the wall, can solve layout problems that come with loft rooms, and often work well where knee walls or awkward ceiling lines limit your options. In some lofts, a wall-mounted unit still works, but the right answer depends on the shape of the room, furniture layout, and where pipework and drainage can sensibly run.

Ceiling cassette systems are often a strong option in offices and shops with suspended ceilings. They sit neatly within the ceiling void, keep the room looking tidy, and can distribute air evenly across open commercial spaces. In some layouts, a ducted system may be even better if you want the most discreet finish. During the survey, we will look at ceiling depth, lighting, structural constraints, and how the space is actually used before recommending the right approach.

That is where floor-mounted or low-wall systems can really come into their own. They are particularly useful where there is no sensible high-level wall position or where ceiling installation is not practical. In some properties, a no-outside-box system may also be worth discussing if the real issue is external unit location rather than indoor space. Good design is about working with the room you actually have, not trying to force a standard answer into an awkward layout.

If the quietest and most discreet result is the priority, ducted air conditioning is often the best answer. The working parts are largely hidden away and, from inside the room, you mainly see subtle grilles rather than a full indoor unit. That said, some premium wall-mounted and low-wall systems are also very quiet when chosen and positioned well. We will always balance noise, appearance, budget, and practicality rather than pushing one type of unit onto every job.

That is exactly the kind of situation where a no-outside-box or water-cooled system can make sense. These systems keep the equipment inside the property and are often useful in listed buildings, flats, or locations where an external condenser is not possible. They are usually a more specialist solution and not always the cheapest to run, but when a traditional split system is not viable they can be an excellent answer. We will only recommend them where they genuinely suit the job.