22 questions in 7 topics
Home air conditioning questions answered
Plain answers to the questions we are asked most often about home air conditioning: what it costs, how installation works, servicing and repairs, how the systems work, noise and planning, our accreditations, and the areas we cover.
4 questions
Prices and sizing
How much does air conditioning cost to install?
Our fixed prices start at £1,400, fully supplied, installed, tested and commissioned. There are six packages, each in three sizes. See our full price list for every option.
What does the price include?
Every price covers full supply, installation, testing and commissioning. The only possible extra is a condensate pump, needed if the indoor unit is not on an external wall, which adds £200 including VAT.
Are there extra costs on installation day?
The only extra cost on our price list is the condensate pump, at £200 including VAT, if your indoor unit cannot go on an external wall. The price on our list is the fully installed price, including VAT, so there should be no surprises on the day.
What size air conditioner do I need?
As a guide, 2.5kW suits rooms up to 25m², such as a standard bedroom, 3.5kW suits rooms up to 35m², such as a large bedroom or a standard living room, and 5kW suits rooms up to 50m², such as a large living room. Rooms over 50m² are quoted on request.
4 questions
Installation
How does the installation process work?
You enquire, we carry out a free survey to look at your room, the wall and where the outdoor unit can go, then we install, test and commission the system on install day. Ask us about servicing afterwards to help keep it running well. See our installation page for the full process.
Will you leave my home tidy?
Yes. Clean installs with tidy pipework are one of our core promises, alongside fixed pricing and no pressure to buy anything you do not want.
Do I need planning permission for air conditioning?
This depends on your home, your area and local planning rules, and can differ for systems that heat as well as cool compared with cooling-only units. Always check with your local council or the Planning Portal before work begins. We are happy to talk this through at your free survey.
What if the indoor unit cannot go on an external wall?
You will need a condensate pump to carry condensation water away safely. This adds £200 including VAT to your price.
3 questions
Servicing
How often should home air conditioning be serviced?
We recommend a professional service once every twelve months for domestic systems. An annual check is also a common requirement for keeping your manufacturer warranty valid. Manufacturers set their own servicing conditions, so always check the documents that came with your system.
What does a service include?
A service includes cleaning the filters, checking the outdoor coils for debris, checking refrigerant levels and testing electrical connections.
Can I service my air conditioning myself?
You can keep the filters clean between visits. Handling refrigerant, however, is a legal requirement for an F-Gas certified engineer only. See our servicing page for more.
3 questions
Repairs
Is it worth repairing an old air conditioner?
It depends on the age and condition of your system and what has gone wrong. Our engineer can give you honest advice at the visit, including whether a repair or a replacement makes more sense.
Why is my air conditioner leaking water?
A common cause is a blocked condensate drain, which stops water draining away properly. There can be other causes too, which is why we send an engineer to diagnose the fault rather than guess over the phone.
Why is my air conditioner making a strange noise?
Noises can come from several different parts of the system. Our engineers diagnose the actual cause rather than guess. See our repair page for more.
3 questions
How air conditioning works
Can air conditioning heat my home as well as cool it?
Yes. Every system we fit heats as well as cools, so you get one unit for summer and winter.
What is the difference between a split and a multi-split system?
A single split system has one indoor unit connected to one outdoor unit, usually for one room. A multi-split system connects several indoor units to one outdoor unit, so you can cover more than one room. Read more on our how it works page.
Which brands and systems do you fit?
Our six fixed-price packages are Budget (Haier Revive Plus), Bronze (Samsung WindFree Comfort), Silver (Fujitsu Standard KM White), Gold (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Premium ZS White, our recommended package), Platinum (Daikin Perfera White) and Elite (Daikin Stylish White). We also quote for all major brands, including Hitachi, LG, Midea, Mitsubishi Electric, Panasonic and Toshiba, and our 2027 Bosch Special, the Bosch Climate 3200i, is from £1,695 fully installed with a 5-year manufacturer's guarantee. See the full price list for every option.
3 questions
Accreditation and F-Gas
Are you F-Gas registered?
Yes. We are F-Gas REFCOM registered (REF1022701), and our electricians are NAPIT Part P registered (64714).
Why does F-Gas registration matter?
UK law requires anyone installing or servicing equipment containing refrigerant gas to be F-Gas certified. It also matters for safety and for keeping your installation legally compliant. You can check any company's registration on the REFCOM website (opens in a new tab).
Will an uncertified installer affect my manufacturer warranty?
Many manufacturers set conditions around who can install or service a system to keep a warranty valid. Check the documents that came with your specific system, or ask the manufacturer directly, for the exact terms.
2 questions
Areas and booking
Which areas do you cover?
We cover Basildon, Benfleet, Canvey Island, Rayleigh, Southend, Wickford, Billericay, Brentwood, Chelmsford, Grays and surrounding towns. See our areas page.
How quickly will I get a quote?
We reply to quote requests the same day.
Still have a question?
Call 01268 264002, message us on WhatsApp, or get a free quote and we will reply the same day.
- Call 01268 264002Speak to the team directly
- Message us on WhatsAppSend a photo of the wall from your phone
- info@
essexhomeairconditioning.co.ukFor plans, drawings or anything long
