There was a point, some time last summer, when there was serious talk in our household about getting air conditioning. The bedrooms upstairs become unbearably hot when temperatures rose, largely due to the fact that there is little in the way of insulation in the either the walls or the roof, but also because a couple are south-facing.
We toyed with the idea of getting a couple of portable units, as well as mulling over whether or not, when we come to extend, getting something more permanent might be a good plan.
However, the expense involved was a deterrent, as was the fact that, just a few months later, I was complaining about being too cold to sleep at night. That said, with summer now upon us once more, I am again wondering whether air con should be on our agenda. But, before parting with any money, I asked the experts for their opinions – and their answers took me by surprise.
Is fitting air conditioning a good idea?
First things first, in an area of the world that really struggles when it comes to any kind of sustained warm weather, is spending money on air conditioning to keep a house cool for a few months of the year a wise thing to do?
Mike Bain, marketing manager at iHeat, told me that I was not alone in considering it. "We had a huge spike in enquiries during last year's heatwaves, especially when temperatures started creeping towards 40°C in parts of the UK, and we expect this year to be the same. The bedroom is probably the biggest area of demand for us," he explains. "Once people go through a few nights trying to sleep in 30°C heat, installing air conditioning suddenly starts to feel a lot less like a luxury."
Kevin Pennington, owner and managing director of Lancashire Air Conditioning, was also keen to highlight the positives. "When it does get ridiculously hot in the summer, air conditioning is phenomenally good to have in your home. This country is generally quite cold, but the changes to the building regulations have made houses much warmer, even in mild weather, especially when the house gets lots of solar gain through the windows.
"Imagine not having to lose sleep and not having your kids upset because they’re too hot," says Kevin. "When you get air conditioning, that problem goes away forever."
Mike Bain has spent the last four years working in home energy and renewables, helping homeowners improve efficiency and adopt smarter, more sustainable energy solutions. With hands-on industry experience, Mike is passionate about making renewable energy more accessible and understandable for everyday people.
Kevin is owner and managing director of Lancashire Air Conditioning. He specialises in domestic AC installations in England and has installed over 1,000 units personally and managed many more. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of UK-stocked AC units designed for homes and is a member of the Institute of Refrigeration, holding the designation TMInstR.
Why install air conditioning in the UK?
Undoubtedly the idea of being able to cool down our bedrooms in the midst of summer is appealing. But with hot weather such a rarity, is it worth the money?
"A lot of people still think of it as something you’d only use for a couple of weeks a year, but that’s not really how customers are looking at it anymore," explains Mike Bain. "Most modern systems both heat and cool, so homeowners are using them all year round to keep rooms at a comfortable temperature rather than just blasting cold air during a heatwave."
Given that air conditioning could also heat my bedrooms, which are freezing cold in the winter, it is starting to sound even more appealing.
"Air conditioning is the single most efficient form of heating that exists. Modern A+++ units are actually air-to-air heat pumps and they are so efficient that they use a very small amount of electricity to generate good amounts of heat," explains Kevin Pennington.
"Because we live in a temperate climate, it is very rarely below zero and often it is only between 6-10°C outside. This means that heat pumps work very well. In this country we need lots of heating, and I specifically use air conditioning for the purpose of heating rooms that I spend most of my time in," he continues.
"I have air conditioning only in my lounge and my bedroom. I am either at work or I’m generally in one of those rooms meaning I don’t have to put my central heating on to heat the whole house if it’s just me in and I’m only in one room. It is a phenomenal way of heating, and saves a fortune on gas."
Shop portable air conditioning
Capable of cooling spaces up to 20m² and taking up little in the way of space, this unit combines cooling action with a dehumidifier and fan. Another plus is that it is a little quieter to run than some other units on the market.
Another 3-in-1 offering with fan and dehumidifier, this unit is perfect for larger spaces – up to 60m³ in fact. It has a Class A energy rating and comes complete with the window kit needed to get you up and running.
If you are only after a small-scale unit to keep you cool at night or while you work, this one is ideal. It can run for 10 hours without needing to refill the water tank and is perfect for popping on your desk or bedside table.
What type of air conditioning is best in the UK?
It's clear then that air conditioning, particularly units that can heat a house as well as cool it down, do make sense. But what are the best options for the UK specifically?
In terms of the different types of air conditioning, portable units are the most obvious, and certainly the cheapest option, but how do they compare to fixed or ducted systems?
"The biggest shift for us is that people aren’t really asking 'do I need air con?' anymore. They’re asking questions about what type of system is best for their home and how many rooms they should cover," says Mike Bain. "There's very little selling for us to do, and it's more just a case of giving customers a good price and fast installation turnarounds."
"In the UK people usually start with portable air conditioning units that need the hose to be vented to outside," picks up Kevin Pennington. "Once people have got used to having a level of cooling but have had enough the noise at night, they tend to upgrade to a fitted unit vs a portable one.
"Because a fixed unit is an A+++ heat pump, it is incredibly attractive to people looking for energy efficient homes. A two room system using one single multi split unit is a good idea. Air conditioning in the master bedroom and the main living space leads to a much better quality of life, especially in homes that suffer from overheating due to solar gain."
"What we’re also seeing now is more multi-room installations," adds Mike Bain. "Instead of cooling one room, customers are having a single outdoor unit connected to multiple indoor units around the home, all controlled separately. It’s becoming much more of a whole-home comfort product."
How much does air conditioning cost to install and run?
Obviously, before shopping around, it is a good idea to have an idea of air conditioning costs. So what should homeowners expect to pay?
"To give you a brief idea of cost, a fully installed, good quality wall-mounted unit usually costs somewhere around £1,500 to £2,500, depending on the model and the complexity of the job," advises Kevin Pennington. "A two-room system, using one single multi-split unit would cost somewhere between £3,500 and £6,000 roughly, depending on the complexity and the quality of the unit units."
"A fixed air conditioning system for a bedroom or single room will usually land somewhere around £1,500 to £3,000 installed, depending on the set-up, brand and so on," says Mike Bain. "Portable units are obviously cheaper upfront (roughly £300 to £700 for a decent one) and can work fine short term, but they’re generally noisier and nowhere near as efficient or effective as a proper fixed system. Plus, you normally have to run a pipe to the outside."
Will installing air conditioning add value to a house?
At the same time as enjoying the obvious cooling benefits of air conditioning, many people, myself included, are interested to know whether it is likely to add to their value of their house.
In modern houses, according to Kevin Pennington, it could well contribute to an uplift in value. "It absolutely adds value to a house. Buyers are becoming very aware of how hot newly insulated houses get in the summer, and an A+++ heat pump is incredibly attractive to people looking for energy efficient homes."
That said, Mike Bain goes on to point out that we are still a way off air conditioning being a deal breaker for buyers here in the UK.
"I don’t think air conditioning is at the point in the UK where it massively adds value to a property in estate agent terms, but it definitely makes homes more desirable," he says, "especially newer properties, or those with loft conversions and south-facing bedrooms that get unbearably hot in summer."
Is it worth UK homeowners installing air conditioning in existing homes?
Plenty for me to think about then. Heat pumps that allow for both cooling and heating are a great idea and certainly something well worth considering for those self-building or carrying out extensive renovation work, but how about for someone like me, living in an old house, who is considering retrofitting?
"When you realise you will realistically use it all winter for cheap, zoned heating and all summer for cooling, it is one of the best investments you can make," says Kevin Pennington, although he goes on to explain that choosing the right system is crucial to make it worth it.
For my home, Kevin suggests sticking to a smaller scale system that cools just a couple of rooms rather than the whole house.
"Being realistic, unless you are prepared to spend a considerable amount of money, installing air conditioning in your entire house is not a great idea," explains Kevin. "We have some clients who have done this, but they generally live in large architect-designed properties and their budget allows them to have hidden ducted systems. Systems like this cost £50,000+ and they’re not realistic for the average homeowner."
FAQs
What is the difference between air conditioning and air source heat pumps?
This can cause some confusion. Fixed air conditioning units are a type of air-to-air heat pump. While people often think of air conditioning as something that only cools a room, they can also work in reverse, delivering warm air to heat it.
Not all air conditioning units can both heat and cool – those that can are known as air-to-air heat pumps.
Air conditioning with no heating function is a little cheaper than air-to-air heat pumps, but there is little difference in terms of running costs. However, if you were to opt for an air-to-water heat pump, which works a little differently and can be linked to your radiators or underfloor heating, costs will definitely rise.
If you are still unsure whether to take the plunge and install air conditioning, portable options are certainly worth a look. The best portable air conditioning can cool a room really quickly, are quick to set up and can be stored away when not needed.
Or, if it's simply not on your budget for this summer, try these 7 heat-busting tips for keeping a house cool, even without air con.
