FAQs

How much does an air conditioning system cost?

There are many factors to take into account when pricing an air conditioning installation, such as the system’s heating/cooling capacity and its features, the length and complexity of the pipe run and the availability of a suitable electrical supply for the system. Currently the average cost to supply and install a premium brand 2.5kW high level wall mounted single-split air conditioning system to one room in a home is around £2000.00. Prices can start as low as £1600 for a basic unit in a small room and with a short and simple pipe run.

How long does it take to install an air conditioning system?

There are many variables when it comes to the length of time that it can take to install a new air conditioning system, such as the length and complexity of the pipe run, the indoor and outdoor unit locations and any special access requirements such as the need for scaffolding towers or lifting equipment. On average, it takes approximately 1 day per room for our fully qualified and insured engineers to complete the installation and commissioning work.

Does the installation work create a mess?

The indoor and outdoor components of an air conditioning system are connect by pipework that contains refrigerant in either a liquid or vapour phase as well as an interconnecting cable that powers the indoor unit and allows the two components to communicate with each other. The most intrusive part of the installation work is the need to core a hole through the external wall of the building so that the pipework and cables can be installed (this is not always necessary for first floor room installations where the pipework and cables can be run through the loft space and taken outside via the roof soffit). High and low-level wall mounted systems also need to be fixed to the wall, which is generally done using a SDS drill and Rawl or Fischer wall plugs. We always do our best to protect all surfaces in the work areas and we have specialist dust extraction systems that we use while drilling so that we minimise any mess or airborne dust particles. Our engineers always wear protective overshoes when inside a customer’s home and we always thoroughly clean all work areas at the end of every job.

Should my air conditioning system be maintained regularly?

Your air conditioning system should be professionally serviced at least once every 12 months. This is usually a requirement by the manufacturer in order to maintain the warranty on your equipment. It also ensures that your system is working efficiently and identifies any minor faults before they become bigger problems or result in component failure. As part of every air conditioning system service, we also carry out refrigerant leak checks and provide a leak check certificate along with a full PDF report.

How much does it cost to run an air conditioning unit?

The cost to run an air conditioning unit in the UK in 2025 will depend on several factors, including the unit’s size, energy efficiency, and your electricity tariff. As a general guideline, a typical air conditioner will cost anywhere from 10 pence to 25 pence per hour to run. However, this can vary significantly based on the specific unit and its usage. All of the units that we supply have industry leading energy performance and typically deliver 4-5 times the energy output compared to energy consumption. We also advise customers on good settings to get the most out of the system and to optimise energy efficiency.

Can my air conditioning unit be powered via a 13A plug or spur switch from an existing ring main?

To fully comply with current electrical installation regulations, your new air conditioning unit will need to have a dedicated power supply run directly from the consumer unit to an IP rated isolator located within 1m of the outdoor unit. Some installers will power the system by a 13A plug connected to an indoor socket, or via a spur switch connected to an existing ring main, but this is a poor practice to cut costs and it does not conform with current regulations. The nature of the inverter drive/variable speed compressors in modern air conditioning systems and heat pumps, means that they can cause issues with unsuitable devices in existing consumer units. Inverter motors inherently create some DC earth leakage and this can cause both nuisance trips and possible RCD blinding when used in combination with unsuitable RCD protection systems. We always carry out a thorough survey of existing consumer units and advise customers on recommended upgrades that may be required to ensure safe and trouble free operation.

What happens if I have any problems with my new air conditioning system?

All of our systems come with a full manufacturers warranty (minimum 2 years) and we also give an unconditional 2 year guarantee on all of our installation work. We provide ongoing customer support after new installations and while we are responsible for maintaining the equipment. We are available to help over the phone at anytime and for problems that can’t be resolved over the phone we aim to attend site within 24 hours to resolve the issue.

How much does it cost to service my air conditioning unit?

On average it costs around £50 per asset (indoor or outdoor unit) to service a unit to the manufacturers specification, to clean it thoroughly and to complete and provide copies of all the relevant reports and certificates. So, the average cost for a single-split wall mounted unit in a home would be £100 (£50 for the indoor unit and £50 for the outdoor unit).

What work is involved in servicing my air conditioning unit?

There are too many companies that are willing to come to site for an hour and take you money to bang the filters out, brush the leaves off the outdoor coil and to give the units a quick wipe over. This is more common than you might think! At Lenham Air we carry out a thorough service and health check of your systems and give you accurate reports and recommendations based on our findings. Here are some of the things that we do as part of every air conditioning service:

• Visually check indoor units
• Remove, clean and disinfect indoor unit air filters
• Chemically clean and disinfect indoor unit coils
• Check and clean indoor unit drip trays, condensate drains and pumps
• Thoroughly clean indoor unit casings, louvres and trunking
• Check indoor fan operation at all speeds
• Check indoor louvre operation
• Check and tighten electrical connections at indoor units
• Check indoor unit operation in all modes and record cooling and heating air on and off temperatures
• Visually check outdoor units
• Chemically clean and pressure wash outdoor coils
• Clean outdoor unit casings and trunking
• Check operation of all outdoor unit components; Compressor, fans, expansion devices, reversing valves, pressure switches and transducers, thermistors, PCBs
• Check and tighten electrical connections at outdoor units
• Check and record heating and cooling air on and off temperatures
• Check and record compressor running amps
• Check and record global system running data
• Carry out non-invasive refrigerant leak checks and record results
• Complete and provide full PDF reports and certificates along with any recommendations

Other companies have given me cheaper quotes, can you match their offer?

When looking at multiple quotes for the same project, it is essential to fully understand what you are getting from each supplier and to make sure that you are not comparing apples with oranges. Some other installers are willing to supply inferior equipment and to make compromises on the installation quality so that they can give a cheaper quote and win more work. At Lenham Air we only recommend and supply premium brand equipment with a proven track record and that we have total confidence in. In much the same way as the car market, there is a huge difference between a German made mercedez-benz car (or Japanese made Mitsubishi Electric or Daikin air conditioning system) and a Korean made Hyundai (or a Chinese made ElectriQ or Midea air conditioning system). All of these cars will get you from A to B, in the same way that the inferior air conditioning products will cool or heat your property, but you have to be aware of what you are getting for your money, the reliability of the system and whether you are actually getting what you want. Although we never compete directly on price alone, we are confident that in all cases we do provide the best value for money when it comes to the equipment that we supply as well as the quality of our work and our customer service.