When people think about air conditioning, they often picture somewhere much hotter than the UK. With our unpredictable British weather, it's reasonable to wonder whether having it installed at home is really worthwhile.
It's actually one of the questions I get asked most often.
What many people don't realise is that modern air conditioning isn't just about keeping a room cool during the summer. The systems I install can also provide heating, making them useful throughout the year.
We might not experience consistently hot weather in the UK, but when temperatures do rise, certain rooms can become uncomfortable, particularly bedrooms and home offices.
Air conditioning gives you control over the temperature in a room, rather than relying on opening windows or using portable fans.
And when the weather gets colder, the same system can provide heating.
Think about those chilly autumn evenings when you just want to warm up the living room. Instead of switching on the central heating for the whole house, you can use your air conditioning system to heat the room you're actually using.
That's one of the biggest reasons to consider modern air conditioning. You're getting a system that can be useful in more than one season.
Yes. Pretty much all the systems I install provide both heating and cooling.
They use heat pump technology, which transfers heat rather than simply converting electricity directly into heat.
Modern inverter systems are also designed to adjust their output once the room reaches the temperature you've selected, rather than continually running at full power.
This helps them operate efficiently, although the actual running cost will depend on how you use the system, your electricity tariff and the heating or cooling required.
Every property is different, and it's important to choose a system that suits the space.
When considering an installation, I look at the size and layout of the room, where the indoor unit would work best, how the pipework and drainage can be arranged, and where the outdoor unit can be positioned.
There's normally more than one option, so it's a case of finding a practical solution for the property.
Modern indoor units can also operate very quietly, which makes them suitable for rooms such as bedrooms where noise is an important consideration.
That really depends on what you're looking to achieve.
If you have a room that becomes uncomfortably hot in summer, or you're interested in a system that can provide both heating and cooling, it's certainly worth looking at the options.
As a rough guide, a straightforward single-room installation starts from around £1,800, depending on the unit chosen and how straightforward the installation is.
There's also a financial benefit for homeowners at the moment. Qualifying domestic air conditioning installations currently benefit from 0% VAT on both the equipment and installation labour, rather than the standard 20% rate.
This applies to qualifying fixed air source heat pump systems installed in residential properties, not ordinary business installations. The current VAT relief is scheduled to run until 31 March 2027.
The important thing is choosing a suitable system rather than assuming that every home needs the same solution.
Wondering whether air conditioning could be right for your property? Have a no-obligation chat with Sam at S. Mercer Plumbing.
Whether you're looking to keep your bedroom cool, make your home office more comfortable or improve heating and cooling at your business, Sam can talk you through the options.
Email Sam for a no-obligation chat or find out more about S. Mercer Plumbing.
