Home / Guides / Choosing Air Conditioning
Choose between single and multi-room systems based on how many rooms you need to cool or heat, the size of each space and how much noise you can accept.
✓ Single room or multi-room
✓ Sizing and noise
✓ Bedrooms and home offices
Tell us what you need and we will come back to you.
One indoor unit and one outdoor unit. Simple and cost-effective.
One outdoor unit serving several indoor units.
Hidden or ceiling-mounted units for larger spaces and commercial premises.
Before looking at units, think about which rooms cause trouble and when. A bedroom that is too warm to sleep in is a different problem from a south-facing living room or a home office with equipment running all day.
Make a short list of the rooms, how often you use them and whether you want cooling only or heating as well. That list shapes the whole choice, and it helps us give you a more useful recommendation.
A unit that is too small struggles, and one that is too big wastes energy. We size the system to the room. Modern units can be very quiet, which matters in bedrooms.
Noise comes from both the indoor unit and the outdoor unit. Indoor units are designed to run quietly, with low fan settings for night use, and the outdoor unit can be positioned to limit disturbance to you and your neighbours.
Cooling a bedroom or home office can make a real difference to comfort. Position and noise level are key considerations.
A well-placed indoor unit cools evenly without blowing directly at the bed or desk, and a night mode keeps the noise and airflow gentle. In an office, a unit that also heats can replace a separate electric heater.
Indoor units are most often wall-mounted, but floor-standing, ceiling cassette and concealed ducted units are available where appearance or layout matters. The outdoor unit needs good airflow and sensible access, and is usually fixed to an outside wall or placed on the ground.
Pipework between the two is kept as short and neat as possible. We talk through the positions at the survey so you can see what to expect before you agree.
Useful features include timers, remote or app control, a heating mode, quiet night operation and filters that are easy to clean. Some units can be controlled by a phone, which suits people who want to cool a room before they get home.
Features are worth paying attention to only if you will use them. A simple, reliable unit that is correctly sized and installed will often serve you better than a feature-heavy one that is poorly matched to the room.
Most homes can have air conditioning without planning permission, but it can depend on the property, particularly for flats, listed buildings and conservation areas, where the position of an outdoor unit may matter. Check early, and ask us what to look at for your home.
If you rent, you will need your landlord’s agreement. If you own a flat, check your lease. A short conversation before you order anything avoids problems later.
Well-known makes tend to offer good reliability and easy access to spare parts, and many come with generous warranties. Rather than chasing a particular badge, look at the efficiency rating, the noise levels, the warranty terms and the quality of the installation. A good unit badly installed will disappoint, and a sound installation of a sensible unit rarely does.
Can’t see your question? Send us an enquiry using the form at the top of the page and we will come back to you.
Most modern units can, and they heat efficiently.
On a wall or on the ground with good airflow, ideally away from bedrooms. We agree the position with you.
Often not for homes, but it can depend on the property. We advise on what to check.
Modern units are quiet, particularly on low settings. We advise on models and positions for bedrooms.
Call 07549 400152 or send an enquiry online.
