The truth about getting air con at home – and how much it costs

As the week-long heatwave looks set to continue, the rush for air con is on.
A staggering 80pc of homes in the UK experience overheating each summer according to a recent study – and cracking a window or enlisting a desk fan no longer cuts it.
The use of air con has risen seven-fold in the last decade, according to a paper published in Energy Research & Social Science this month. The full-time cooling units once dismissed as 'too American' are now becoming an increasingly common fixture in UK homes.
'Hybrid working means that more people are spending time at home during the warmest hours of the day,' says Ben Gallizzi, the energy expert at Uswitch.com, 'and with temperatures soaring this week, many of us will be looking enviously at friends and family who have invested in air con units.'
Gallizzi says that air con use has jumped by 90pc in the last two years due to record hot summers, with the Met Office this week warning that the prospect of temperatures exceeding 40°C have become 20 times more likely than in the 1960s. '
If this continues,' says Gallizzi, 'the increase in air-conditioned homes likely will, too.'
If you're thinking of joining the air con boom, which type should you pick? And how might your wallet – and the planet – be affected?
Telegraph Money takes you through what you need to know:
Should you get portable or fitted unit?
For renters or those who want a quick, icy blast, free-standing portable air conditioners are likely the best bet.
'However, they will only cool the air in the room they're in and won't circulate it anywhere else in the house,' says Natalie Hitchins, of Which?.
'Due to condensation, water droplets collect, so you'll need to manually remove the water from the tank every so often and clean the filter at the same time.'
Those wanting to go the whole hog will need to choose between getting HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) units mounted to the wall (known as wall-split air conditioners), or ceilings (called ceiling cassettes). Both are fitted with an indoor and external unit.
HVACs circulate refrigerant through the units mounted indoors and fitted to the exterior of the property, which absorb the heat from the air inside, and then release it outdoors. They do not pump cold air into the home.
How much does a unit cost?
'For a fitted unit, prices start at around £1,500,' explains Joe Stein, of AllStar Electrical & Air Conditioning, with costs rising to around £5,000, depending on the size of the room and sleekness of the unit (concealed ones demand a premium).
What are the running costs of air con?
The weekly running costs depend on a number of factors including unit size and power, and the ambient temperature of the room the unit is in, Stein says.
'It could be £1.50 per night [when used for eight hours at a time during the summer],' he adds.
'If you have taken the plunge with air conditioning, don't forget that it's easy to build up a hefty electricity bill,' Gallizzi advises.
Portable air conditioning units typically use 1 kilowatt (kW) of power, which means they will cost 27p an hour in electricity. Built-in units, meanwhile, 'can be even more energy-intensive, with a 2.7kW unit costing you 73p an hour to run'.
Gallizzi adds that power ratings of fitted units should always be checked prior to installation in order to understand what the running costs will be.
'If you're looking for a short-term fix during a heatwave, a desktop fan is far less energy-hungry – using less than 1p an hour – and can be bought for as little as £10.'
How does it differ from a heat pump?
Heat pumps can also cool rooms, and are thought to be more efficient than air conditioning. Air conditioners need to be paired with a furnace in order to heat as well as cool and, thus, typically involve higher running costs than pumps (though they are cheaper to install initially).
In terms of environmental costs, Stein says that the A+++ rated HVACs are 'energy-efficient compared to the old AC units'.
However, a policy brief from the University of Exeter last year was less optimistic, saying that continued mass take-up of cooling systems would continue to increase 'direct and indirect carbon emissions, creating new challenges within energy systems and leading to growing inequalities within society'.
It is hoped that smart technology, such as phone apps that can remotely control home units and turn them off from wherever the homeowner is when they are not in use, can minimise excess emissions. Ditto a growing range of greener options, such as solar-powered units and the development of eco-friendlier refrigerants used within them.
How noisy are they?
'Fixed air conditioners are quieter and usually more efficient than portable models,' Hitchins says. However, no modern model should be loud enough to disturb the neighbours.
At worst, Stein adds – i.e. if the outdoor part of the unit is next to a neighbour's open window – 'it would be the same level as street noise'.
Can I use air con to heat up my home in winter?
Air con units needn't only be a summer saviour. They both cool and heat a room and typically reach the required temperature more quickly than radiators (which rely on boilers), meaning less energy is used in the process.
There is also heat loss and wasted energy associated with sending heated water long distances through pipes, which may make air con more useful in winter, too.
Is it too late to get air con this summer?
No, units can typically be fitted in a matter of weeks, depending on your location and the size of the job. Contractors will typically carry out a site visit first (for a mounted unit) to assess the type of HVAC required, before returning a second time to get it fitted.

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