Money
How do I get a price from you?
Ring 01279 744503, or send the form saying where you are and which rooms you mean. We call back, and arrange a visit if the job looks workable.
What does it cost to have air conditioning fitted?
National figures from Checkatrade in May 2026 run from £1,900 to £2,240 for a wall unit with labour, and electrics add £400 to £700. The cost guide breaks that down.
What does it cost to run?
Checkatrade says 20p to 60p an hour, varying with the unit, its age and the building. Our worked example uses the current price cap.
Is the cheapest quote the best one?
Often it has left something out. Compare electrics, pipe length, commissioning and warranty, and ask to see the F-gas certificate.
Winter heating
Will air conditioning heat a room?
Most modern splits can, by running in reverse. The heating guide explains how.
How does it compare with a plug-in heater?
By a long way. At a seasonal efficiency of 4, you pay about a quarter as much for the same warmth.
Does it give me hot water?
Almost never, so your boiler or immersion stays.
Fitting
How do I know what size I need?
As a first guess, a room of 15 to 25 square metres wants 2 to 2.5kW, then you adjust for sun and glass. The size guide explains how.
Is a new electrical circuit needed?
Usually, and in England it counts as notifiable work under Part P, so it has to be certified.
Can one outdoor box serve several rooms?
Yes, on a multi-split, which helps on terraced and semi-detached houses limited to a single unit.
Can you fit it in a flat?
Often, once whoever owns the outside walls has agreed in writing. A block is limited to one unit of 0.6 cubic metres under the planning rules. See air conditioning in a flat.
Portable or fixed?
Portable if it is short-term or you rent, fixed if you are staying and want it quiet. Here is the comparison.
Permissions and rules
Is planning permission needed?
Frequently not, if the unit is reversible, on a house and clears the permitted development list. The planning guide has that list.
What changes in a conservation area?
Road-facing walls and roofs are out, along with anywhere closer to the road than the building. Harlow has ten of these areas and East Herts has 42.
How loud is the outdoor unit allowed to be?
Under MCS 020(a), 37 dB(A) measured a metre from the neighbour's nearest habitable room door or window.
What is the maximum temperature for a workplace?
There is none in law. It has to be reasonable, and heat has to be assessed as a risk. See office air conditioning.
What does TM44 mean?
A five-yearly energy inspection for buildings whose air conditioning totals over 12kW.
Servicing and faults
How often should it be serviced?
Once a year suits most homes, but check the handbook. Servicing covers busier sites.
Why is water coming out of the indoor unit?
A blocked drain is the usual reason. Turn it off and catch the drips. See repairs.
Does it need re-gassing every year?
No. A sealed circuit keeps its refrigerant, so a low level means a leak.
Will you look at a unit another company fitted?
Yes, happily. Have the make and model ready.
Where we work
Which towns do you cover?
Harlow, Epping, Loughton, Bishop's Stortford, Hertford, Cheshunt and everywhere between. The areas page lists each place by council.
My postcode is not listed. Can you still come?
Possibly. Ring 01279 744503, or put it in the form and we will say.
Useful to have ready
A few details about the building let us say more on the first call.
- Your postcode
- House, flat or business premises
- Which rooms, and roughly how big
- Which way the windows face
- Who owns the outside walls, if you rent or lease
Ask us to ring you
Question not here? Send your number and we will ring to talk it through. Or ring 01279 744503.