Stay warm this winter and cool when summer returns. Compare free, no-obligation quotes from independent air conditioning installers near you.
Most UK homes and offices use a split system: a slim indoor unit fitted high on the wall and an outdoor unit outside, joined by pipework through the wall.
Updated October 2026
Modern split systems work as air-to-air heat pumps, providing heating in winter and cooling in summer from the same unit.
Both are split systems that heat and cool. The difference is how they are fitted, how far they can stretch and how many rooms they can serve.
Best for whole homes and multiple rooms
Refrigerant work must be done by an F-Gas certified engineer, and the wiring by a qualified electrician.
Get standard system quotesBest for individual rooms and straightforward installations
Still needs a qualified electrician to wire it in. Extending the pipe run beyond the supplied kit needs a qualified technician.
Get pre-charged system quotes| Feature | Standard installed | Pre-charged |
|---|---|---|
| F-Gas engineer needed | Yes | No, for a typical install |
| Electrician needed | Yes | Yes |
| Rooms per outdoor unit | One or several | One |
| Pipe run | Longer runs possible | Limited to the supplied kit unless a technician extends it |
| Heating and cooling | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Whole homes, larger rooms, businesses | One room where the outdoor unit can sit close by |
Warm rooms in winter, comfortable sleep in summer.
Keep the space comfortable through every season.
Heating and cooling for staff and customers all year.
Rooms the radiators struggle to reach, warm in winter and cool in summer.
Enter your room size for a starting point in kW and BTU. Sun, insulation and ceiling height all make a difference, so an installer confirms the right size before fitting.
1 kW is roughly 3,400 BTU.
Every install is different, so prices vary between homes. Comparing quotes for the same rooms is the most reliable way to see what yours should cost.
Home or business, rooms and system type.
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Vetted local installers contact you directly with free quotes for your rooms, so you can compare like for like.
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For a standard split system, yes. Most use fluorinated refrigerant, so connecting and commissioning the pipework must be done by an F-Gas certified engineer. Pre-charged systems use a non-fluorinated refrigerant and arrive sealed and ready to connect, so they do not need an F-Gas engineer for a typical install. They still need a qualified electrician to wire them in, and extending the pipe run beyond the supplied kit needs a qualified technician.
Yes. Most modern split systems are reversible air-to-air heat pumps. The same unit cools the room in summer and heats it in winter, controlled from one remote or app.
A standard system is fitted and commissioned by an F-Gas certified engineer, comes in a wide range of sizes and can serve several rooms from one outdoor unit. A pre-charged system arrives sealed with its refrigerant already inside, needs no F-Gas engineer, and serves one room per outdoor unit with a limited pipe run.
It depends on floor area, ceiling height, sun exposure and insulation. As a rough guide, a bedroom or small office needs around 2.5 kW, a typical living room around 3.5 kW and a large open-plan space 5 kW or more. Use the sizing tool above, and an installer will confirm during a survey.
Many homes can fit an outdoor unit without a planning application, but the rules depend on the size and position of the unit, noise, and whether the property is listed, in a conservation area or a flat. Check with your installer or local council before work starts.
High on an internal or external wall, usually 15 to 20 centimetres below the ceiling, so it can draw air in over the top and spread it across the room. The outdoor unit sits on brackets or a ground stand outside, joined by pipework through the wall.
Yes. Comparing quotes is free and there is no obligation to go ahead with any installer.
No. We introduce you to independent local installers. We do not supply or fit air conditioning ourselves.
Enter your postcode and compare suitable systems from independent installers.
General information only, not technical or legal advice. Installers confirm system size, siting and any permissions for your property. Updated October 2026.