The UK is in the middle of another heatwave, and as record-breaking June temperatures lead to sleepless nights in the sticky heat, households across the country are asking if it is finally time to take the plunge and invest in air conditioning.
While air conditioning units are common in most American homes, households in Britain stick to fans and open windows to keep themselves cool. But with this June reaching record-high temperatures, it could be a worthwhile purchase. An estimated four million homes in the UK now have air conditioning – nearly 1.9 million of those built-in units – double the figure from three years ago. In the US, as many as 90 per cent of homes and commercial buildings have built in AC units.
According to installation data from home cooling specialists BOXT, demand for residential air conditioning installations rose by 495 per cent in May alone, and they are on track to sell as many units by the end of June as they did during the whole of 2025, with many customers using their next-day installation service.
Adam Knight, a lead engineer at BOXT with over 17 years of industry experience, says, “We’re seeing a sharp rise in demand, and it’s a trend we expect to continue. More people are recognising that air conditioning is no longer just a luxury, and that it’s a smart, long-term investment in comfort and wellbeing, especially as UK summers become hotter and more unpredictable.”
Knight says recent research from BOXT shows that over a quarter of Brits (28 per cent) are spending more than £300 each summer on short-term cooling gimmicks like neck fans, misting sprays and slushie machines, but these don’t actually cool the room. “That’s driving more homeowners to look for permanent, effective solutions that offer year-round comfort, better sleep, and improved air quality, and fitted AC does exactly that,” says Knight.
Here, Knight explains how the most common home air conditioning systems work, the likely costs, and how much you will have to fork out to keep it running.
The most common air conditioning system for UK homes
The most common air conditioner you’ve probably seen in a domestic setting is the wall-mounted split system.
It cools the air by passing it between an indoor and an outdoor unit, connected by a pipe that runs through the wall. Air from the hot room is drawn into the wall-mounted unit indoors and travels over pipes filled with a cold refrigerant.
The pipes cool the air, and the excess heat is emitted through the outdoor unit. The cold air is then released into the room, cooling down the space.
The precise control of this AC unit means you can cool or heat only the room you need without wasting money by directing air to areas not in use; however, you’ll need to pay for a unit and installation for each room you want to cool.
Knight says customers often choose modern split systems, such as the Bosch Climate range. These units can cool in the summer and heat in the winter, offering year-round value from a single installation.
What’s needed for installation?
To install air conditioning, you generally need:
Space for an indoor wall-mounted unit – the Bosch 3200i, for example, is compact (802mm wide, 295mm tall, and 200mm deep), while the outdoor unit is roughly the size of a small suitcase. This unit typically costs £1900-£2500, fully installed. An external area for the outdoor unit A route for pipework between units Access to a suitable power supplyThe indoor unit is installed in your home, usually on a wall where airflow is most effective, and is practical for everyday use. Placement is chosen to balance performance with a neat, unobtrusive finish.
The outdoor unit is then installed at a suitable location outside the property. This allows it to safely release heat from your home while maintaining good airflow around the unit.
Once both units are in place, installers connect the refrigerant pipework and electrical wiring between them and to the mains electrical supply. These connections allow heat to be transferred from inside your home to the outdoor unit.
Finally, the system is fully tested. Your installer will check that all connections are sealed, the refrigerant is flowing correctly, and the system is heating and cooling as expected before everything is signed off.
How much does it cost to install permanent air conditioning?
One of the main prohibitive factors for air conditioning is the initial cost. This varies depending on several factors, including the size of your property, the number of rooms you’d like to cool, the type of system being installed and how complex the installation is.
A straightforward single-split system for one room is usually the cheapest permanent option, with current UK estimates commonly ranging from £1,500 to £3,500, including installation, but this depends on many factors, including the type of system, the size of the space, and the ease of installation.
Most people will opt for air conditioning in multiple rooms with high use, such as living rooms and bedrooms, only switching the unit on when the room is in use to cut down costs.
Knight says, “Some households might find the upfront cost of installing AC a challenge, though it’s becoming much more accessible. At BOXT, the cost of installing a fitted unit in one room starts at £2,199 and includes professional installation. We also offer payment plans to help spread the cost.”
What are the main challenges when installing air conditioning in British homes?
Knight says one major challenge can be suitability for certain types of homes. “While air conditioning can technically be installed in most property types, installations in listed buildings or conservation areas can be more complex and often require additional approvals or significant alterations. Some jobs also require scaffolding, which may add thousands of pounds to the installation cost and increase the time the job takes. UK homes aren’t as naturally equipped for prolonged or regular heatwaves, and the layout and construction of each home can impact what kind of unit is suitable.”
Do I need planning permission?
In most standard domestic cases, you do not need planning permission to install air conditioning, as it typically falls under Permitted Development. However, this applies to houses; if you live in a flat, a listed building, or a conservation area, you will almost always need permission.
You do, however, need permission from the freeholder of the building or land, as installing air conditioning requires units to be fitted to your indoor and outdoor walls.
How much will it cost to run?
Running costs depend on the unit’s efficiency, electricity prices, room size, and how often you use the system.
An average “built-in” AC unit uses £42.43 worth of energy per week, according to calculations by comparison website Uswitch. For a portable system, it is £15.71 a week. This assumes the cooling system is used for nine hours every day, that the household does not have a fixed-rate tariff, and that it is charged according to Ofgem’s energy price cap.
Of course, the actual amount you need to spend to run the system will vary depending on the unit you have. Knight says some high-efficiency systems can cost as little as 27p to 30p per hour to run. If used overnight during a heatwave, that could amount to just over £2 per night.
You should also service your cooling system at least once a year, for £70-£120 each time. If an engineer finds that any parts need replacing, the cost can run into hundreds of pounds.
Hence then, the article about the step by step guide to getting air con fitted at home and what it could cost was published today ( ) and is available on inews ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( The step-by-step guide to getting air con fitted at home – and what it could cost )
Also on site :