Is it time to install Air Conditioning at Home & how much does it cost?

Yes it's been hot as balls here in the UK in the past couple of months. Thank God I didn't opt for real grass in my renovated garden, it would have been like every scorched stretch of grass I've seen in the parks recently. The humidity indoors has been ratcheting up the past few years. I have a couple of cheap-y fans dotted around the flat but they super loud in the night and recently I've started to look into getting some air conditioning.

Crikey, it's like being back in Houston all over again. The days of getting up in an air conditioned hotel room. Going down stairs to the parking garage (not even stepping outside), getting into an air conditioned car and driving to an air conditioned office. The salad days. Who would have thought I would be seeking out such modern tech such as Air Conditioning here in the UK?

So let me share with you some research that I have done already and anyone that has any advice I would be grateful if you could contact me, Instagram is best.

First stop, what would be the best fan. I know it's not air conditioning as such but if you have a small dwelling at the bottom of the garden, or looking to cool your flat on a budget, then this Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool could be a decent alternative. £650 through the Dyson site. It is elegant, it heats as well as cools so can be a permanent fixture in your space. TIP: Amazon Prime days will also discount prices on items like these. You could also buy a portable air con unit from around £400-600 but these are typically loud, big and you also need an outlet to run the hot air tube outside.

Second Stop, recent UK YouTube videos. The trouble with doing research on Air Conditioning installations in the UK is the plethora of American companies that have saturated the search. Amazingly I caught one that was just uploaded last week by Yorkies Bits and Bobs Home Tech.

I'll let you watch the video to get a look at the company offering the installation, but here are the prices in short of how much it costs to get Air Conditioning installed.

Two Units (two rooms) £2,400 including vat, labour etc.

Apparently the cooling was so effective and efficient that it cooled a 3rd room also. This might seem a little excessive for a lot of you. Indeed it does for me also. For the short number of comfortable days and nights that you may need it for. But I'm also thinking of my girlfriend, I'm thinking of keeping my pets cool, and as I'm working from home most days, this is a more persuadable option for me than you might think.

Also, some of you could be thinking of AIR BNB'ing your flat or dwelling during the summer months and your tenants won't thank you if the place has an unbearable heat that prevents them from sleeping.

How about pricing?

This is going to be harder to gauge with the price increase that is coming down the road in October. But on average you will be looking to pay an extra £50 more per quarter on your energy bills. This price will probably double in line with the increase in energy bills.

A word from the contractors

I also reached out to a friend contractor of mine and asked about listed buildings and split units. Here is what she had to say.

There is a difference between central air condition and split units. The central air condition is more convenient when you're dealing with a big surface area like a building. The split unit would be best for individual flats or apartments. 

On a split unit you have to have a space where to put the main compressor (like a patio or balcony or whatever) And then each room will have a small wall hung unit, very small, no need to drill square in the wall, a small opening the size of an apple. 

You can buy energy saving ones, usually they do hot and cold at the same time. Those split units can do heat and cold from the same machine. You need to keep in mind that with the climate changes that air con will be the norm. With listed buildings you can insert a split unit on the balcony it will be fine.