# Carshalton Air Conditioning > Carshalton Air Conditioning is a local trading website operated by WDI Group (Surrey) Ltd. We design and install air conditioning and air-to-air heat pump systems for homes and small commercial premises in Carshalton, Sutton, Wallington and the surrounding SM, KT and SW postcodes of Surrey and south London. ## Business facts - Trading name: Carshalton Air Conditioning - Operating company: WDI Group (Surrey) Ltd (https://www.wdigroupltd.co.uk) - Companies House number: 15560511 - VAT number: 495855036 - F-Gas / REFCOM registration: REFCOM REF1021486 - Address: SBC House, Restmor Way, Wallington, Surrey, SM6 7AH - Telephone: 020 3727 2578 - Email: info@wdigroupltd.co.uk - WhatsApp: https://wa.me/442037272578 - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wdi_group_ltd/ - Website: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk - Services: air conditioning installation, multi-split systems, air-to-air heat pumps, servicing and maintenance, commercial air conditioning - Free on-site surveys and written quotations; no published price list because cost depends on room size, capacity, pipe runs and electrical work - Domestic installations for customers who qualify are supplied at the reduced/zero VAT rate that applies to energy-saving materials in residential property where HMRC conditions are met; commercial work is standard-rated - Book a survey: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/book-a-survey - Request a quote: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/request-a-quote ## Areas covered - SM1: Sutton, Sutton town centre, Rose Hill - SM2: Belmont, South Sutton - SM3: Cheam, North Cheam, Stonecot Hill - SM4: Morden, Morden Park - SM5: Carshalton, Carshalton Beeches, Carshalton-on-the-Hill, The Wrythe - SM6: Wallington, Beddington, Hackbridge - SM7: Banstead, Woodmansterne, Nork - KT3 / KT4: New Malden, Worcester Park - KT6 / KT9: Surbiton, Chessington - KT17 / KT18 / KT19: Ewell, Epsom, Stoneleigh - CR / Nearby: Purley, Coulsdon, Croydon, Mitcham - Also covered: Kingston upon Thames, Leatherhead --- # Services ## Bedroom Air Conditioning Installation in Carshalton URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/services Category: Domestic Bedrooms are the rooms people most often ask us about, particularly south and west facing rooms that hold heat well into the evening. A wall mounted air conditioning system cools the room quickly, then holds a steady temperature overnight without the noise or draught of a portable unit. Every bedroom is different, so we look at window size and orientation, ceiling height, insulation and where the outdoor unit can sensibly go before recommending anything. ### Comfortable sleeping temperatures Modern inverter systems adjust their output continuously rather than switching hard on and off, so once the room reaches the temperature you have set the system runs gently in the background. That steady operation is what makes the difference at night. Most indoor units include a sleep or quiet mode that reduces fan speed and slowly adjusts the set temperature through the night. We will show you how these settings work at handover. - Low fan speeds for night-time running - Airflow directed away from the bed where the room layout allows - Timer and scheduling so the room is cool before bedtime - Heating mode for cold mornings and shoulder seasons ### Positioning the indoor and outdoor units Indoor units are usually fitted high on a wall where air can circulate freely, ideally on an external or party wall to keep the pipe run short and tidy. Outdoor units are normally mounted on a wall bracket, on the ground on anti-vibration feet, or on a flat roof. We plan pipe routes and condensate drainage at survey stage so that trunking is kept discreet and, where possible, hidden in loft space or a cupboard. Q: Are bedroom air conditioning systems noisy? A: Indoor units are designed to run quietly at low fan speeds, and manufacturers publish sound levels for each model. We will discuss the published figures for the units we recommend, and consider the position of the outdoor unit in relation to your own and neighbouring bedroom windows. Q: Can one system cover two bedrooms? A: A single indoor unit only controls the room it is installed in. To cover two bedrooms you would normally use a multi-split system: one outdoor unit connected to an indoor unit in each room, each with its own control. ## Living Room Air Conditioning in Carshalton URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/services Category: Domestic Living rooms tend to be the largest heat gain in a house: big windows, televisions and several people in the room at once. Air conditioning gives you fast cooling on hot days and a useful second heat source through the colder months. Because lounges are often knocked through to a kitchen or dining area, sizing matters. We measure the whole connected space rather than a single room. ### Sizing for open-plan spaces An undersized unit will run flat out and never quite reach temperature; an oversized unit cycles and controls humidity poorly. We work from room dimensions, glazing, orientation and how the space is used to arrive at a sensible capacity. Where a room is very long or has an awkward shape, two smaller indoor units can give better distribution than one large one. ### Discreet installation Wall mounted units remain the most practical and cost-effective choice for most living rooms. Where a more discreet finish is wanted, we can discuss alternative indoor unit styles at survey and explain what each option means for building work and cost. - Careful choice of wall to keep pipework short - Trunking colour matched where it is visible - Condensate routed to an existing drain or via a pump Q: Will air conditioning heat my living room in winter? A: Yes. These systems are air-to-air heat pumps and run in heating mode as well as cooling. Many households use them for quick warmth in the morning or evening alongside their existing central heating. ## Loft Conversion Air Conditioning in Carshalton URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/services Category: Domestic Loft conversions are frequently the hottest rooms in the house. They sit directly beneath the roof, often have Velux glazing and gain heat all day, so a room that is perfectly comfortable in April can be unusable in July. Air conditioning is usually the most practical fix, and loft rooms are often straightforward to install in because the outdoor unit can be mounted at the rear and pipework kept short. ### Why loft rooms overheat Heat rises through the house, roof surfaces absorb solar gain through the day and release it into the evening, and roof windows add direct sunlight. Insulation slows heat loss in winter but also slows heat escaping in summer. Blinds, ventilation and fans all help a little. Air conditioning is the only option that actively removes heat from the room. ### Installation considerations in a loft Sloping ceilings limit where an indoor unit can sit, so we look for a section of full-height wall with clear airflow. Condensate needs a fall to a suitable drain, or a small condensate pump where gravity drainage is not possible. Pipework often runs down an external wall in trunking or through an existing service void. We agree the route with you at survey rather than deciding on the day. - Wall space assessment under sloping ceilings - Condensate drainage or pump planning - Outdoor unit position and access for future servicing - Electrical supply check and dedicated circuit where required Q: Can air conditioning be added after the loft conversion is finished? A: Yes, most of our loft installations are retrofits into finished rooms. Pipework is usually run externally in neat trunking where there is no accessible internal route. Q: Does a loft room need a bigger unit? A: Not automatically, but loft rooms often have higher heat gain than their floor area suggests. Sizing is confirmed at survey rather than from floor area alone. ## Garden Room Air Conditioning in Carshalton URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/services Category: Domestic Garden rooms are used all year: as offices, studios, gyms and treatment rooms. They are also small, well glazed and lightly built, which means they heat up quickly in summer and cool down quickly in winter. A single wall mounted system usually handles both problems, giving cooling in summer and efficient heating in winter without needing a separate heater. ### One system for heating and cooling Because these are air-to-air heat pumps, the same unit that cools the room in August warms it in January. For a garden room with no gas supply, that often makes air conditioning the most sensible year-round solution. ### Practical points for outbuildings The outdoor unit is usually mounted on the outside of the garden room itself, which keeps pipe runs very short. The main things to confirm at survey are the electrical supply feeding the building and whether it has capacity for the system. Where the building is supplied by an existing armoured cable, we check the circuit rating and protective devices before quoting. - Electrical supply and circuit capacity check - Short pipe runs and tidy external finish - Condensate discharge to a suitable point outside - Consideration of noise towards neighbouring boundaries Q: Do I need planning permission for a garden room system? A: Outdoor units on domestic properties are often permitted development when conditions on size, siting and noise are met, but this is not guaranteed and rules differ for flats, listed buildings and conservation areas. We recommend checking with the local planning authority if there is any doubt. ## Home Office Air Conditioning in Carshalton URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/services Category: Domestic Working from home in a small spare room with a laptop, monitors and a closed door is uncomfortable by mid-afternoon in summer. Air conditioning keeps the room at a workable temperature and, importantly for video calls, does it quietly. In winter the same system heats a single room quickly without warming the whole house. ### Heat from equipment matters Computers, monitors and lighting all add heat to a small room. We take equipment load into account when sizing, alongside glazing and orientation. ### Quiet running for calls Fan speed is the main driver of indoor noise. A correctly sized system spends most of its time at low fan speed, which is what keeps a home office quiet during meetings. Manufacturer sound data is discussed as part of our recommendation. Q: Is it cheaper to heat one room this way than run central heating? A: Heating a single room with a heat pump is often more efficient than heating the whole house, but the actual cost depends on your tariff, insulation and how long the system runs. We avoid quoting savings figures we cannot stand behind. ## Conservatory Air Conditioning in Carshalton URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/services Category: Domestic A conservatory is the clearest example of solar gain in a domestic property: large glazed areas, often a glass or polycarbonate roof, and very little thermal mass. Many are too hot from late spring and too cold from October. Air conditioning can make the space usable for more of the year, though results depend heavily on the glazing and roof construction. ### Being realistic about glazed rooms We will tell you honestly at survey what a system can achieve in your conservatory. A modern tiled or insulated roof with good glazing responds very well. An older polycarbonate roof in full afternoon sun is harder work, and blinds or roof film alongside the system may be worth considering. Sizing is based on the glazed area and orientation rather than floor area alone. - Glazing type, roof construction and orientation assessed - Realistic expectations set before you commit - Heating mode extends usable months in autumn and spring Q: Will air conditioning make my conservatory comfortable in a heatwave? A: It will significantly reduce the temperature compared with no system, but a heavily glazed room in direct sun is demanding. Correct sizing and shading both make a real difference, which is why we survey before quoting. ## Kitchen and Open-Plan Air Conditioning in Carshalton URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/services Category: Domestic Kitchen extensions combine cooking heat, bi-fold doors and roof lanterns, which is a demanding combination in summer. Open-plan layouts also mean the air conditioning has to serve a much bigger volume than a single room. We size for the connected space and look at where airflow can reach without being blocked by island units or structural openings. ### Sizing and unit placement Large open-plan areas often work better with two indoor units on a multi-split system than one very large unit, because air is distributed more evenly and each area can be controlled separately. We plan positions around cabinetry, glazing and the practical route for pipework and condensate. Q: Can air conditioning remove cooking smells? A: No. These systems recirculate and condition room air; they are not a substitute for extraction. You still need a good cooker hood or extract ventilation. ## Multi-Room Air Conditioning Systems in Carshalton URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/services Category: Domestic A multi-split system connects several indoor units to a single outdoor unit, so you can air condition two, three or more rooms without covering an external wall in condensers. Each indoor unit has its own controller, so bedrooms, a home office and a living room can all run at different temperatures or be switched off entirely. ### Single-split or multi-split? A single-split (one indoor unit, one outdoor unit) is usually the simplest and most cost-effective choice for one room. Multi-splits make sense when several rooms need cooling and outdoor space is limited or you would prefer only one condenser. There are trade-offs. Multi-splits share one outdoor unit, so its capacity is shared across the rooms in use, and pipe runs are longer and more involved. We explain the practical differences for your property in the written quotation. - One outdoor unit serving multiple rooms - Independent control in each room - Planned pipe routes and trunking before work starts - Phased installation possible where budget requires it Q: Can rooms heat and cool at the same time on a multi-split? A: On most domestic multi-split systems all indoor units must run in the same mode at any one time. Systems that allow simultaneous heating and cooling exist but are a different class of equipment; we will tell you if that is relevant to your project. ## Office Air Conditioning Installation in Carshalton URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/services Category: Commercial Office cooling has to account for people, computers, lighting and glazing, all of which change through the day. An office that is comfortable at 9am can be uncomfortable by mid afternoon on the south side of the building. We survey the space, ask about occupancy and working hours, and design around how the office is actually used. ### What we assess on a commercial survey Heat load is the starting point, but the practical questions matter just as much: where can the outdoor unit go, who owns the external wall, what does the lease say, and when can we work without disrupting staff. - Occupancy levels and desk layout - IT and equipment heat load - Glazing, orientation and solar gain - Operating hours and zoning requirements - Landlord consent and access for future maintenance ### Working around your business Where disruption is a concern we can plan installation in stages or outside core hours. This is agreed in writing before work starts so there are no surprises. Q: Do we need landlord permission? A: Usually yes for leased premises, particularly where an outdoor unit is fixed to the building or a core drill passes through the structure. We can provide the technical details your landlord or managing agent is likely to ask for. ## Shop and Retail Air Conditioning in Carshalton URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/services Category: Commercial Retail units have their own challenges: doors open onto the street, shop-front glazing gains heat all day, and lighting adds load. Comfortable premises keep customers browsing for longer and make life easier for staff. We look at the whole shop floor, including back-of-house areas and stockrooms where required. ### Design points for retail units Unit placement needs to avoid blowing directly at the till, changing rooms or seated customers. In listed or conservation area high streets, the position of the outdoor unit needs particular care and may require consent. - Shopfront glazing and open-door heat loss considered - Discreet indoor unit positions above display areas - Outdoor unit siting agreed with landlord where required - Installation timed around trading hours where possible Q: Can you install outside trading hours? A: In many cases yes. Tell us your trading pattern at survey and we will set out the options and any cost implications in the written quotation. ## Restaurant and Café Air Conditioning in Carshalton URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/services Category: Commercial Hospitality spaces are high occupancy and high heat: kitchens, coffee machines, display fridges and a full dining room all add up. Air conditioning is aimed at the dining and customer areas rather than replacing kitchen ventilation. We work alongside your existing extract and make-up air arrangements rather than against them. ### Comfort without draughts on diners Airflow direction matters more here than almost anywhere else. Units are positioned so conditioned air mixes through the room rather than blowing straight onto tables. Noise is also a consideration in a small dining room, so we discuss indoor unit sound levels as part of the recommendation. Q: Will this cool the kitchen too? A: Commercial kitchens are a specialist ventilation problem and are normally addressed with extract and make-up air systems. We can look at staff areas and pass-through zones, and will be clear about what falls outside the scope of a comfort cooling installation. ## Salon and Clinic Air Conditioning in Carshalton URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/services Category: Commercial Salons and clinics need a comfortable environment for clients who are sitting still for long periods, and for staff who are on their feet all day. Hairdryers, treatment equipment and lighting all add heat. Treatment rooms in particular benefit from individual control, which usually points towards a multi-split arrangement. ### Room-by-room control A busy salon floor and a quiet treatment room rarely want the same temperature. Separate indoor units with their own controls let you set each space appropriately. We position units so air is not blowing directly onto a treatment couch or styling chair. Q: Are the systems quiet enough for treatment rooms? A: Correctly sized units spend most of their time at low fan speed, which is normally acceptable in a treatment room. We will share the manufacturer's published sound data for the specific models proposed. ## Server and Comms Room Air Conditioning in Carshalton URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/services Category: Commercial Server and comms rooms need cooling all year, including in winter, because the heat load comes from equipment rather than the weather. That changes both the equipment selection and how the system is set up. We discuss the equipment load, the room's location within the building and how important continuity of cooling is to your operation. ### Different requirements to comfort cooling Comfort systems are designed around people; equipment rooms are designed around continuous heat rejection and low ambient operation. Where cooling is business critical, some organisations choose a resilient arrangement with more than one system. We will set out what is appropriate for the size and criticality of your room rather than applying a domestic solution to a technical space. - Equipment heat load and future expansion - Year-round and low ambient operation - Resilience options where downtime is costly - Access for maintenance without disturbing racks Q: Can a standard wall mounted unit cool a small comms room? A: Sometimes, provided the model is suitable for year-round operation at low outdoor temperatures and the heat load is modest. Suitability is confirmed at survey; we will not fit a system that is not rated for the duty. ## Gym and Studio Air Conditioning in Carshalton URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/services Category: Commercial Gyms and studios generate a lot of heat and moisture from people rather than equipment, and they need more air movement than a typical room to stay comfortable. This applies to garage conversions and home gyms as much as to commercial studios. ### Sizing for activity, not floor area A small studio with ten people working out has a much higher load than the same room used as an office. We size on realistic peak occupancy and class schedules. Unit positioning is planned so that airflow reaches the training area without blowing directly on people lifting. Q: Can you air condition a garage gym? A: Yes, provided the electrical supply is suitable and there is a sensible outdoor unit position. Insulation levels in garages vary enormously, so this is assessed at survey. ## Golf Simulator Room Air Conditioning in Carshalton URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/services Category: Domestic Simulator rooms are usually converted garages, garden buildings or outbuildings with high ceilings, projectors and launch monitors, all of which add heat while you are actively swinging a club. Comfort matters, but so does keeping electronics within sensible operating temperatures. ### Practical considerations Indoor units must be positioned clear of the hitting area and the projector's throw. High ceilings change airflow patterns, so unit position is planned around the room, not just the wall with the shortest pipe run. Heating matters too: an unheated outbuilding in January is unusable, and the same system covers both seasons. Q: Will the unit be in the way of the screen? A: We plan around the hitting bay, screen and projector position at survey so the indoor unit is clear of the swing path and the projected image. --- # Areas covered ## Air Conditioning Installation in Carshalton URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/areas/air-conditioning-carshalton Postcodes: SM5 Carshalton is our home patch. The SM5 area runs from the ponds and the High Street out towards Carshalton Beeches, The Wrythe and the Wrythe Lane estates, and the housing stock is genuinely mixed: Victorian and Edwardian terraces near the village, large numbers of 1930s semis, post-war housing around Wrythe Green, and a steady stream of loft conversions and rear extensions added over the last twenty years. That mix is why we survey every property rather than quoting from a floor plan. A 1930s semi with a converted loft and a south-facing rear extension needs a very different approach to a Victorian terrace with a narrow side return and no obvious place for an outdoor unit. ### The rooms Carshalton customers ask about most Loft conversions come up most often. Carshalton has a lot of 1930s semis and detached houses where the loft has been turned into a bedroom or office, and these rooms sit directly under the roof with Velux glazing. They are comfortable for much of the year and then become unusable during a warm spell. Rear extensions and kitchen-diners are the second most common enquiry. Bi-fold doors and roof lanterns look excellent and gain a great deal of heat, particularly on properties with south or west facing gardens. Garden rooms used as offices, studios and gyms are the third: they are small, lightly built and need heating in winter as much as cooling in summer. - Loft bedrooms and loft home offices - Kitchen extensions with bi-folds and roof lanterns - Garden offices, studios and garden gyms - South and west facing bedrooms - Shops, salons and small offices around the High Street and Wrythe Lane ### Outdoor units on Carshalton properties Where the outdoor unit goes is usually the deciding factor in how straightforward an installation will be. On a typical semi, a rear elevation position at ground level on anti-vibration feet, or a wall bracket at first floor level, keeps pipework short and out of sight from the street. Terraced properties near the village often have no rear access, so the pipe route may need to pass through a loft or run in trunking down an internal corner. Flats and maisonettes bring freeholder or managing agent consent into the picture. Parts of Carshalton also fall within conservation areas, so a front elevation position is generally something to avoid; we will flag it at survey if we think you should check with the local planning authority. ### Commercial work in Carshalton Alongside domestic installations we work in small commercial premises: independent shops, salons and barbers, treatment rooms and clinics, small offices and light industrial units on the estates towards Hackbridge and Beddington. Commercial surveys look at occupancy, equipment heat, trading hours and where we can work without disrupting your customers. Landlord consent is nearly always relevant on leased premises, and we can supply the technical details a managing agent will ask for. ### How we work locally Because we are based just down the road in Wallington, getting to Carshalton for a survey, an installation day or a follow-up visit is straightforward. Survey appointments are arranged directly with you, and you will receive a written quotation setting out the units proposed, the indoor and outdoor positions, the pipe route, condensate arrangements and any electrical work needed. We are REFCOM F-Gas registered and fully insured, and Carshalton Air Conditioning is operated by WDI Group (Surrey) Ltd, an established plumbing, heating and air conditioning company. You are dealing with the same team throughout, from survey to commissioning and handover. - Free home and business surveys across SM5 - Advice on unit positioning before you commit - Written quotations with the system and scope set out clearly - Neat pipework, trunking and condensate planning - Commissioning records and handover on completion Q: Do you charge for a survey in Carshalton? A: No. Home and business surveys in Carshalton are free and carry no obligation. We would rather see the property than guess, because unit sizing and pipe routes are what determine both the cost and the result. Q: Can you install air conditioning in a Carshalton conservation area? A: Often yes, but the position of the outdoor unit needs careful thought and additional consent may be required, particularly on front elevations or listed buildings. We will identify the constraints at survey and recommend you confirm the position with the local planning authority where there is any doubt. Q: How long does a typical Carshalton installation take? A: A straightforward single-room installation is usually completed in a day. Multi-room systems, long pipe runs or installations needing additional electrical work take longer, and the expected duration is stated in your written quotation. Q: Which parts of Carshalton do you cover? A: All of SM5 including the village, Carshalton Beeches, Carshalton-on-the-Hill and The Wrythe, plus the surrounding SM and nearby KT districts. ## Air Conditioning Installation in Carshalton Beeches URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/areas/air-conditioning-carshalton-beeches Postcodes: SM5 Carshalton Beeches has a distinctive housing stock: substantial inter-war detached and semi-detached houses on wide, tree-lined roads, a good number of larger 1930s properties with generous gardens, and several roads of 1960s and 1970s houses. Many have been extended and re-roofed, and loft conversions are common. Larger properties often mean multi-room enquiries rather than a single unit, so planning where one outdoor unit can serve several rooms is a big part of what we do here. ### Multi-room systems in larger houses In a four or five bedroom house, homeowners frequently want cooling in two or three bedrooms plus a loft room or study. Rather than fitting several outdoor units across the rear elevation, a multi-split serving all of those rooms from one condenser is usually neater and easier to site. We plan the pipe routes at survey, using loft voids and cupboards where possible so that visible trunking is kept to a minimum. Each indoor unit has its own control, so unused rooms are simply switched off. - One outdoor unit serving several bedrooms and a study - Loft void pipe routing where an internal route exists - Phased installation where you want to spread the work ### Loft conversions and top-floor bedrooms The larger inter-war houses in Carshalton Beeches convert well into loft bedrooms and en-suites, but those rooms take the full effect of the roof through the summer. Sloping ceilings limit where an indoor unit can go, so finding a section of full height wall with clear airflow is the first thing we look for. Condensate is the second: where there is no gravity route to a drain, a small condensate pump is used, and we will tell you if one is needed before you accept the quotation rather than on the day. ### Garden rooms, studios and home gyms Larger gardens in this part of Carshalton mean plenty of garden offices, studios and gyms. These buildings are quick to heat up and quick to cool down, and air conditioning solves both because the same unit heats in winter and cools in summer. The main thing to confirm is the electrical supply to the building. We check the existing circuit, its rating and protection before quoting, and include any electrical work needed in the written quotation. ### Local service from Wallington Carshalton Air Conditioning is operated by WDI Group (Surrey) Ltd, based at SBC House in Wallington, a short drive from Carshalton Beeches. Surveys are free, quotations are written, and we are REFCOM F-Gas registered and fully insured. You will be told what system is proposed, why it has been sized that way, where the units will sit, how the pipework will run and what happens to the condensate before any work is booked. Q: Can one outdoor unit cover three bedrooms in Carshalton Beeches? A: Frequently yes, using a multi-split system with an indoor unit in each room. The outdoor unit must be sized for the combined load, and the practical limits for your property are confirmed at survey. Q: Will the outdoor unit be visible from the road? A: We aim to site outdoor units on rear or side elevations wherever the pipe route allows, and we will discuss the options with you before quoting. Q: Do you install in the 1930s houses with pebble-dashed elevations? A: Yes. Fixings and bracketry are selected to suit the wall construction, and we discuss the finish where trunking is visible. ## Air Conditioning Installation in Sutton URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/areas/air-conditioning-sutton Postcodes: SM1, SM2 Sutton spans SM1 and SM2 and has a broader mix of property types than most of the surrounding areas: town centre flats and apartment blocks, Victorian and Edwardian terraces off the High Street, inter-war semis further out towards Belmont and Cheam, and a substantial amount of commercial space including offices above shops. That means we handle a wide range of work in Sutton, from a single bedroom unit in a top-floor flat to multi-room systems in larger houses and comfort cooling in offices and retail units. ### Flats and apartments Flats are the enquiry type that needs the most planning. Top-floor flats often overheat badly in summer, but the outdoor unit has to go somewhere that is both practical and permitted. Balconies, flat roofs and rear elevations are all possible depending on the building. Leasehold consent is nearly always required, and we can provide the technical information the freeholder or managing agent will ask for: unit dimensions, weight, fixing details, published sound data and the proposed position. - Balcony and flat roof outdoor unit positions - Managing agent and freeholder documentation - Condensate routing where no external drain exists - Consideration of noise towards neighbouring windows ### Houses across SM1 and SM2 In the terraces close to the town centre the challenge is usually access and pipe routing rather than sizing. Further out, the inter-war semis and detached houses towards Belmont and Cheam bring the familiar combination of loft conversions, rear extensions and south-facing bedrooms. We size on room dimensions, glazing, orientation and use rather than a rule of thumb, and set the sizing out in the written quotation so you can see the reasoning. ### Commercial premises in Sutton Sutton has a large amount of small commercial space, and we regularly quote for offices, retail units, salons, treatment rooms and small studios. The questions are consistent: how many people, what equipment, what hours, where can the condenser go and what does the lease permit. Where trading hours make daytime work difficult we can discuss staged or out-of-hours installation and confirm the arrangement in the quotation. ### Why customers use us in Sutton Carshalton Air Conditioning is a trading website operated by WDI Group (Surrey) Ltd, based in Wallington and only a few minutes from Sutton. We are REFCOM F-Gas registered and fully insured, and we carry out domestic and commercial installations with the same team throughout. Surveys are free, quotations are written and detailed, and we will give you an honest view of what is practical in your property, including telling you when a proposed position will not work well. Q: Can air conditioning be installed in a Sutton flat? A: Usually yes, subject to a workable outdoor unit position and consent from the freeholder or managing agent. We survey first and provide the technical details needed for the consent application. Q: Do you cover both SM1 and SM2? A: Yes, along with SM3 Cheam, SM4 Morden, SM5 Carshalton, SM6 Wallington and SM7 Banstead, plus nearby KT districts. Q: Can you cool an office above a shop? A: Often yes. The practical issues are the outdoor unit position, the route for pipework through the building and landlord consent. All three are assessed at the site survey. ## Air Conditioning Installation in Wallington URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/areas/air-conditioning-wallington Postcodes: SM6 Wallington is where WDI Group (Surrey) Ltd is based, at SBC House on Restmor Way. SM6 covers Wallington itself along with Beddington and Hackbridge, and includes both established residential streets and a significant amount of light industrial and commercial space along the Restmor Way and Beddington corridor. Being based here means short travel times for surveys, installations and any follow-up visits. ### Domestic installations in SM6 Wallington's residential streets include Edwardian and inter-war housing, 1930s semis, and later infill development. Loft conversions and rear extensions are common, and both bring the same summer overheating pattern we see across the borough. Bedrooms remain the most requested room, followed by loft rooms, garden offices and open-plan kitchen extensions. Multi-split systems are popular where two or three rooms are involved and only one outdoor unit position is available. - Bedrooms and loft rooms - Garden offices and studios - Open-plan kitchen and dining extensions - Multi-room systems from a single condenser ### Commercial and light industrial premises The commercial units around Restmor Way, Beddington and Hackbridge cover trade counters, workshops, small offices, studios and storage. Requirements vary widely, so a site visit is essential: a first floor office with full height glazing is a very different job to a workshop mezzanine. We look at occupancy, equipment heat, operating hours, unit siting and maintenance access, then set out the recommendation and scope in writing. ### Beddington and Hackbridge Beddington and Hackbridge include newer residential development alongside older housing, and the newer, well insulated homes are often the ones that overheat most noticeably in summer because they retain heat so effectively. In new-build and recently converted properties we pay particular attention to where pipework can be routed without disturbing finishes, and to the position of the outdoor unit in relation to neighbouring windows and boundaries. ### Local, accountable and F-Gas registered Carshalton Air Conditioning is a local trading website operated by WDI Group (Surrey) Ltd. Our registered address is SBC House, Restmor Way, Wallington, Surrey, SM6 7AH, and our REFCOM F-Gas registration is REF1021486. The office is a working business address rather than a public showroom, so visits are by arrangement. Surveys across SM6 are free, and quotations set out the units, positions, pipe route, condensate arrangements and any electrical work required. Q: Are you actually based in Wallington? A: Yes. WDI Group (Surrey) Ltd operates from SBC House, Restmor Way, Wallington, SM6 7AH. It is a business address rather than a showroom, so please arrange any visit in advance. Q: Do you cover Beddington and Hackbridge? A: Yes, both fall within SM6 and are a few minutes from our base. We work in domestic and commercial properties across the whole district. Q: Can you quote for a workshop or trade unit? A: Yes. Industrial and workshop spaces need a site visit because heat loads, ceiling heights and mounting positions vary so much between units. ## Air Conditioning Installation in South Sutton URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/areas/air-conditioning-south-sutton Postcodes: SM2 South Sutton covers the SM2 streets running up from Sutton station towards Belmont and the Downs, and it is one of the busiest parts of our patch for bedroom cooling. The housing is a mix of large Edwardian and inter-war villas on the hill roads, 1930s semis, purpose-built flats near the station and a growing number of converted houses split into two or three units. The hill position means many properties get long hours of afternoon and evening sun, and the bigger detached houses often have three or four bedrooms that all warm up at the same time. That pushes a lot of South Sutton enquiries towards multi-split systems rather than a single unit. ### What we install most in SM2 Bedrooms are the leading request, particularly first and second floor rooms under a warm roof. Home offices are second, since a room used all day needs steady temperature rather than an occasional blast of cooling, and modern inverter systems are very good at holding a set point quietly. The large villa properties frequently have converted lofts and rear extensions, both of which behave like separate buildings thermally and are best surveyed as their own zones. - First and second floor bedrooms - Loft conversions and en-suites - Home offices and studies - Rear extensions with large glazing - Converted flats and maisonettes ### Outdoor units and consent in South Sutton On houses we normally site the condenser at ground level on the rear or side elevation, on anti-vibration feet with a short pipe run to the room above. Where garden space is tight a first floor wall bracket is often better, and we check the wall construction before recommending it. Converted and purpose-built flats need freeholder or managing agent consent. We supply the dimensions, weight, fixing detail and published sound data so the application can be made properly rather than refused on missing information. ### Heating as well as cooling Every system we install is an air-to-air heat pump, so it heats efficiently in winter as well as cooling in summer. In a home office or loft room that would otherwise need an electric heater, the running cost difference over a winter is significant. Because heat pump installations in existing homes qualify for the 0% VAT relief on domestic energy-saving materials, the domestic quotations we issue are VAT free where the criteria are met. We confirm that on your written quotation. Q: Do you cover all of SM2? A: Yes. South Sutton, Belmont and the surrounding SM2 roads are all within our normal working area, and surveys are free. Q: Can you cool three bedrooms from one outdoor unit? A: Usually yes, with a multi-split system sized for the combined load. Each room keeps its own indoor unit and its own control, so unused rooms are simply switched off. Q: Is air conditioning noisy for neighbours? A: Modern outdoor units are quiet, but position matters on closely spaced houses. At survey we look at boundary distances and neighbouring windows before recommending a position. ## Air Conditioning Installation in Belmont URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/areas/air-conditioning-belmont Postcodes: SM2 Belmont sits on higher ground at the southern edge of Sutton, between the station, Belmont Rise and the open land towards Banstead Downs. It is largely a residential district of 1930s semis and detached houses, later cul-de-sac development, and a number of substantial properties with generous plots. Exposed hillside positions and large south-facing rear gardens are the two features that come up again and again on Belmont surveys, and both point towards rooms that gain heat quickly during the afternoon. ### Typical Belmont installations The most common job here is a single wall-mounted unit in a main bedroom, often followed later by a second unit in a loft room or study once the household has seen how the first one performs. Garden rooms are the other regular request. Belmont plots are often deep enough for a garden office or gym, and those buildings need heating in winter as much as cooling in summer, which is exactly what an air-to-air heat pump provides. - Main bedrooms and children's bedrooms - Loft conversions with Velux glazing - Garden offices, gyms and studios - Kitchen extensions with roof lanterns - Conservatories used year round ### Pipe routes on Belmont houses On a standard semi we can normally take the refrigerant pipework straight through the external wall behind the indoor unit and drop it in slim white trunking to the condenser, or route it internally through a cupboard or loft void where one exists. Condensate is planned at the same time. Where gravity drainage is not available we fit a discreet condensate pump, and we tell you at quotation stage rather than on installation day. ### Working locally from Wallington Belmont is around ten minutes from our base at SBC House in Wallington, so surveys, installations and any follow-up visits are straightforward to arrange. Carshalton Air Conditioning is operated by WDI Group (Surrey) Ltd. We are REFCOM F-Gas registered under REF1021486 and fully insured, and every domestic job is handed over with commissioning records and a walkthrough of the controls. Q: How much does a single bedroom system cost in Belmont? A: Cost depends on the unit size, the pipe run and any electrical work needed, which is why we survey rather than quote blind. Domestic installations are quoted VAT free where the 0% relief on energy-saving materials applies. Q: Can you install in a garden room without mains power? A: The building needs a suitable electrical supply first. We check the existing circuit at survey and include any electrical work required in the written quotation. Q: How long does installation take? A: A single-room installation is usually a one-day job. Multi-room systems and longer pipe routes take longer, and the expected duration is stated on your quotation. ## Air Conditioning Installation in Cheam URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/areas/air-conditioning-cheam Postcodes: SM3 Cheam has some of the largest and most individual housing in the borough: substantial inter-war detached houses around Cheam Village and the Nonsuch side, mock-Tudor and Arts and Crafts properties, 1930s semis on the roads towards North Cheam, and a compact but busy village high street of independent shops, cafés and salons. That gives us a steady mix of large domestic multi-room projects and small commercial comfort-cooling work within a few hundred metres of each other. ### Larger homes and multi-room systems In a four or five bedroom Cheam house the brief is rarely a single unit. More often it is two or three bedrooms plus a study or loft room, and sometimes a large open-plan kitchen-diner as well. We plan those as one system where possible so that a single well-placed condenser serves several indoor units, keeping the rear elevation tidy. Where the property is likely to be extended later, we size with that in mind and say so in writing. - Multi-split systems for several bedrooms - Loft conversions and top-floor suites - Open-plan kitchen extensions and orangeries - Home offices, snugs and gyms - Shops, salons and treatment rooms in Cheam Village ### Period and character properties Many Cheam houses have tile-hung, rendered or timbered elevations where fixings and trunking need thought. We select bracketry to suit the construction and discuss visible finishes before quoting rather than assuming. Where a property sits in a conservation area, or is listed, the outdoor unit position becomes a planning question as well as a technical one. We will flag that at survey and recommend you confirm with the local planning authority where there is any doubt. ### Commercial work in Cheam Village Independent retailers, hairdressers, barbers, beauty and treatment rooms and small offices above shops all come to us for comfort cooling. The considerations are consistent: customer comfort, equipment heat, trading hours and landlord consent. Where daytime disruption is a problem we will discuss staged or out-of-hours working and confirm the arrangement in the quotation. Q: Do you install in listed or conservation area properties in Cheam? A: Often yes, but the outdoor unit position needs careful thought and additional consent may be required. We identify the constraints at survey and advise you to confirm with the planning authority where necessary. Q: Can you cool a large open-plan kitchen extension? A: Yes. Large glazed extensions need sizing on glazing area and orientation rather than floor area alone, and sometimes two indoor units placed for even airflow rather than one large one. Q: Do you work in shops on Cheam High Street? A: Yes. We regularly quote for retail units, salons and small offices, and can provide the technical details a landlord or managing agent will ask for. ## Air Conditioning Installation in North Cheam URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/areas/air-conditioning-north-cheam Postcodes: SM3 North Cheam runs along the A24 and Malden Road, with dense inter-war semi-detached housing behind the main roads, blocks of flats and maisonettes, and a long parade of shops, takeaways, salons and small offices at the crossroads. The 1930s semis here are consistent in layout, which means we already know the likely pipe routes and outdoor unit positions before we arrive, but we still survey every property because loft conversions and extensions change the picture completely. ### The standard North Cheam semi A typical three-bedroom semi has two decent bedrooms at the front and rear, a smaller third bedroom, and often a converted loft above. The rear bedroom and the loft room are the two rooms that most often need cooling. In most cases we can site one condenser at the rear on anti-vibration feet and run pipework up the rear elevation in trunking, or internally where a cupboard or loft void gives us a clean route. - Rear and front bedrooms - Converted lofts used as bedrooms or offices - Kitchen and dining extensions - Flats and maisonettes above the shopping parade - Retail units, takeaways and salons on Malden Road ### Flats, maisonettes and consent Maisonettes above shops and purpose-built blocks make up a good share of North Cheam housing. These need a workable outdoor unit position — flat roof, balcony or rear elevation — and consent from the freeholder or managing agent. We provide the technical pack needed for the consent application: unit dimensions and weight, fixing method, sound data and the proposed position marked up. ### Traffic-side rooms and closed windows Properties fronting the A24 and Malden Road have a specific problem: opening windows on a warm night brings in traffic noise and dust. Air conditioning solves that because the room can be cooled with the windows shut. Filtration in modern indoor units also helps in roadside properties, and filters are simple for you to clean between annual services. Q: Can I cool a bedroom facing the main road with the windows closed? A: Yes, that is one of the most common reasons people on the A24 and Malden Road call us. The system cools and filters the room with the windows shut. Q: Do you install in maisonettes above shops? A: Yes, subject to a workable condenser position and landlord or freeholder consent, which we help you evidence. Q: Is a domestic installation VAT free? A: Air-to-air heat pump installations in existing residential properties qualify for 0% VAT under the energy-saving materials relief. We confirm the position on your written quotation. ## Air Conditioning Installation in Stonecot Hill URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/areas/air-conditioning-stonecot-hill Postcodes: SM3 Stonecot Hill sits between North Cheam and Morden along the A24, an almost entirely inter-war residential district of semi-detached and short terraced houses with long rear gardens, plus later infill and a small parade of local shops. The gardens are the useful feature here: there is nearly always a sensible place for an outdoor unit away from windows and boundaries, which keeps installations tidy and neighbours happy. ### What we are asked for at Stonecot Hill Bedroom cooling leads, followed by loft conversions and garden buildings. The long plots mean garden offices and gyms are common, and those buildings swing between too cold and too hot without a heat pump. Kitchen extensions with bi-fold doors are the other frequent enquiry — excellent rooms for most of the year and unusable on a hot afternoon without cooling. - Bedrooms and loft rooms - Garden offices, gyms and studios - Rear kitchen extensions with bi-folds - Home offices in converted garages - Small offices and units on the A24 ### Running costs and efficiency A modern inverter split system uses far less electricity than most people expect. Once the room is at temperature the compressor throttles back rather than cycling on and off, so a typical bedroom unit costs pennies per hour to hold a comfortable temperature overnight. The same equipment in heating mode is usually cheaper to run than electric panel heaters and, in a single well-used room, often cheaper than firing the whole gas central heating system. ### Survey, quotation, installation We survey free, size on room dimensions, glazing, orientation and use, and then issue a written quotation setting out the units, indoor and outdoor positions, pipe route, condensate arrangements and any electrical work. On the day we protect floors and furniture, install, pressure test, evacuate and commission the system, then hand over with the paperwork and a run through of the controls. Q: How much does air conditioning cost to run overnight? A: A typical bedroom unit holding a set temperature draws a fraction of its rated input once the room is cool, so most households find overnight running costs are measured in pennies per hour rather than pounds. Q: Can one system heat and cool a garden office? A: Yes. Air-to-air heat pumps heat efficiently in winter and cool in summer, which is why they suit garden buildings so well. Q: Do you cover the whole of SM3? A: Yes — Cheam, North Cheam and Stonecot Hill, along with the surrounding SM and KT districts. ## Air Conditioning Installation in Morden URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/areas/air-conditioning-morden Postcodes: SM4 Morden covers a broad SM4 area around the town centre, the Northern line terminus and the St Helier estate edges, with inter-war semis, cottage-style estate housing, purpose-built flats and a significant amount of office and retail space around Morden town centre and Crown Lane. The variety means we do everything here from a single bedroom unit in a small terrace to comfort cooling in offices and treatment rooms. ### Domestic work across SM4 Bedrooms and loft rooms are the mainstay. Estate housing tends to be compact, so unit sizing matters more than people think — an oversized unit in a small bedroom cycles, dehumidifies poorly and feels less comfortable than a correctly sized one. Extensions and converted garages used as offices are the next most common. Both are usually straightforward, provided the electrical supply is adequate. - Bedrooms in terraces and semis - Loft conversions and box rooms - Converted garages and home offices - Rear extensions and kitchen-diners - Flats, subject to freeholder consent ### Offices and commercial premises in Morden Morden town centre has a good amount of office space, plus shops, clinics and salons. Server rooms and comms cupboards also come up regularly, and those need a system specified for continuous duty rather than occasional comfort cooling. For offices we look at occupancy, IT and equipment heat, glazing, operating hours, condenser position and maintenance access before recommending anything. ### Why use WDI Group (Surrey) Ltd Carshalton Air Conditioning is operated by WDI Group (Surrey) Ltd, an established plumbing, heating and air conditioning company based at SBC House in Wallington, about fifteen minutes from Morden. We are REFCOM F-Gas registered (REF1021486), fully insured, and the same team surveys, installs and commissions your system. Q: Do you install air conditioning in flats in Morden? A: Yes, where a practical outdoor unit position exists and the freeholder or managing agent consents. We provide the technical information needed for that application. Q: Can you cool a server or comms room? A: Yes. Those need a system specified for continuous operation and, where downtime matters, consideration of redundancy. We cover this at survey. Q: Is the survey really free? A: Yes, home and business surveys across SM4 are free and carry no obligation. ## Air Conditioning Installation in Lower Morden URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/areas/air-conditioning-lower-morden Postcodes: SM4 Lower Morden is a quieter, largely residential corner of SM4 running towards Motspur Park and Worcester Park, with wide roads of 1930s semis, some detached housing, later closes and generous gardens backing onto playing fields and open land. Properties here are typically well proportioned with loft space that converts easily, which is why so many Lower Morden enquiries involve a top-floor room that becomes unusable in summer. ### Loft rooms and upper floors A converted loft sits directly beneath the roof, often with Velux glazing and sloping ceilings, and it will always be the hottest room in the house. Sizing has to account for the roof gain, not just the floor area. The practical constraints are finding a section of full-height wall for the indoor unit with clear airflow into the room, and getting condensate away — a small pump handles it where there is no gravity route. - Loft bedrooms, en-suites and offices - Main and rear bedrooms - Garden offices and gyms - Kitchen extensions and orangeries - Multi-split systems for two or three rooms ### Neat installations on quiet roads Because Lower Morden roads are quiet and houses are spaced, we take particular care with condenser positioning relative to neighbouring windows and boundaries, and use anti-vibration mounting as standard. Pipe routes are planned to minimise visible trunking, using loft voids, cupboards and rear elevations wherever the layout allows. ### What your quotation covers Every written quotation sets out the units proposed and why they have been sized that way, the indoor and outdoor positions, the pipe route, condensate arrangements, electrical work and the expected duration on site. Domestic heat pump installations in existing homes are quoted VAT free under the 0% energy-saving materials relief where the criteria are met. Q: Will air conditioning work in a loft with sloping ceilings? A: Yes, provided there is a suitable section of wall for the indoor unit with clear airflow. We confirm the position at survey before quoting. Q: Do I need a condensate pump? A: Only where there is no gravity route to a suitable drainage point. If one is needed we say so on the quotation, not on installation day. Q: How far in advance do you book? A: Lead times vary with the season — summer is busiest. We give you a realistic date when we issue the quotation. ## Air Conditioning Installation in Morden Park URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/areas/air-conditioning-morden-park Postcodes: SM4 Morden Park lies west of Morden town centre around the park itself and Epsom Road, with inter-war and post-war residential streets, a good number of semis and terraces, later closes, and pockets of flats. It is a compact area to work in and only a short drive from our Wallington base, so surveys and follow-up visits are easy to arrange around your schedule. ### Common installations here Single-room bedroom systems make up most of the domestic work, with loft conversions and garden offices close behind. Where two or three rooms are involved, a multi-split from one condenser keeps the outside of the property tidy. We also see conservatories and sunrooms that the household has effectively stopped using in summer, and a properly sized unit brings those rooms back into use year round. - Bedrooms and nurseries - Loft rooms and studies - Conservatories and sunrooms - Garden offices and studios - Kitchen extensions ### Sizing done properly We size on room dimensions, glazing area and orientation, insulation, occupancy and how the room is used — not on a rule of thumb per square metre. An undersized unit runs flat out and never quite gets there; an oversized one short-cycles and feels clammy. The sizing logic is set out in your quotation so you can see the reasoning rather than just a model number. ### Aftercare and servicing Systems need an annual clean and check to hold their efficiency and to keep manufacturer warranties valid. Filters are simple for you to rinse between visits, and we show you how at handover. As a local company we handle service visits and any warranty work ourselves rather than passing you to a third party. Q: Do you offer servicing as well as installation? A: Yes. We recommend an annual service to maintain efficiency and warranty cover, and we carry out those visits ourselves. Q: Can a conservatory be air conditioned? A: Yes, though sizing needs care because of the glazing. We assess orientation, glass type and shading at survey. Q: Which brands do you install? A: We install leading manufacturers' equipment, including Mitsubishi, and recommend the right unit for the room rather than a single default brand. ## Air Conditioning Installation in Beddington URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/areas/air-conditioning-beddington Postcodes: SM6 Beddington sits in SM6 between Wallington and Croydon and has two distinct halves: established residential streets around Beddington Park and Croydon Road, and a large commercial and light industrial corridor of trade counters, workshops, warehouses and small offices. We are based a few minutes away at SBC House on Restmor Way, so Beddington is effectively local work for us — the same team can survey, install and return for service visits without long travel. ### Homes in Beddington Residential work is the familiar mix: bedrooms, loft conversions, rear extensions and garden offices. Newer development in the area tends to be well insulated, which is excellent in winter but means summer heat stays in the building. In new-build and recently converted homes we pay close attention to routing pipework without disturbing finishes, and to condenser position relative to boundaries and neighbouring windows. - Bedrooms and loft rooms - New-build and recently converted homes - Garden offices and studios - Kitchen and dining extensions - Flats subject to freeholder consent ### Commercial and industrial units The trade and industrial units around Beddington Lane and the Croydon Road corridor cover workshops, storage, trade counters, small offices and studios. Requirements vary hugely, so a site visit is essential rather than optional. We look at ceiling heights, mounting positions, equipment and process heat, occupancy, operating hours, three-phase availability and maintenance access, then set the recommendation out in writing. ### Landlord and lease considerations Most commercial premises are leased, and almost every lease requires landlord consent for external plant. We supply the technical details a landlord or managing agent asks for so the approval process is not held up. Where trading or production hours make daytime installation difficult, we can discuss staged or out-of-hours working. Q: Do you quote for workshops and trade units? A: Yes. Industrial spaces need a site visit because heat loads, ceiling heights and mounting positions vary so much between units. Q: How quickly can you get to Beddington? A: We are based on Restmor Way in Wallington, only a few minutes away, which makes surveys and service visits easy to arrange. Q: Can you provide documentation for our landlord? A: Yes — unit dimensions and weights, fixing details, sound data and the proposed position, plus our F-Gas registration and insurance details. ## Air Conditioning Installation in Hackbridge URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/areas/air-conditioning-hackbridge Postcodes: SM6 Hackbridge has changed more than most of our area over the past twenty years. Alongside older housing near the station and the Wandle, there is significant newer development, including highly insulated and low-energy homes and a number of apartment blocks. Well-insulated modern homes are, counter-intuitively, some of the most likely to overheat. They hold heat superbly in winter and then keep hold of it through a summer heatwave, which is exactly when an air-to-air heat pump earns its keep. ### New-build and low-energy homes In modern homes the priorities are a clean pipe route that does not disturb finishes, a condenser position that respects boundaries and neighbouring windows, and equipment that runs quietly at low load overnight. Where a property has mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, we take that into account rather than working against it, and size the cooling for the rooms that actually need it. - Bedrooms in well-insulated modern homes - Top-floor flats and apartments - Home offices and studies - Garden rooms and studios - Older housing near the station and the Wandle ### Apartments and consent Apartment installations depend on a permitted outdoor unit position — typically a balcony, flat roof or designated plant area — and on managing agent or freeholder approval. We prepare the technical information for that application, including sound data, which is normally the point a managing agent focuses on. ### Efficient heating as well as cooling Because the same unit heats, many Hackbridge households use their system as the primary heat source for a home office or bedroom in shoulder seasons rather than running whole-house heating for one room. Air-to-air heat pumps deliver several units of heat for each unit of electricity, so running costs compare well with direct electric heating. Q: Why does my new-build overheat? A: High insulation and airtightness keep heat in, which is ideal in winter and a problem in summer, especially in south and west facing rooms. Cooling is usually the practical answer. Q: Can I install in a Hackbridge apartment? A: Usually yes, subject to a permitted outdoor unit position and managing agent consent. We survey first and supply the details needed for approval. Q: Will the system be quiet enough for a bedroom? A: Modern indoor units run very quietly at low fan speeds, and we size so that the system can hold temperature without running flat out overnight. ## Air Conditioning Installation in Banstead URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/areas/air-conditioning-banstead Postcodes: SM7 Banstead, along with Nork and Woodmansterne, sits on higher ground south of Sutton with large detached and semi-detached houses, generous plots, 1930s and post-war development and a village high street of independent shops and businesses. Property sizes here mean multi-room systems are the norm rather than the exception, and garden buildings — offices, gyms, studios and annexes — are very common. ### Multi-room systems in larger homes A typical Banstead brief is cooling in the principal bedroom and two others, plus a study or loft room. Serving those from a single well-placed condenser is nearly always neater than fitting multiple outdoor units around the property. Where budgets or disruption are a concern we can phase the work, installing the pipework infrastructure and priority rooms first, then adding indoor units later, provided the system is designed for it from the start. - Principal bedrooms and guest suites - Loft conversions and second-floor rooms - Studies and home offices - Garden rooms, gyms and annexes - Orangeries and large glazed extensions ### Discreet installation on prominent properties On larger houses we plan pipe routes through lofts, cupboards and service voids so visible trunking is kept to an absolute minimum, and we site condensers where planting or outbuildings screen them naturally. Where a property is in a conservation area or is listed, the outdoor unit position needs additional thought and possibly consent. We will raise this at survey. ### Local business and commercial premises Banstead High Street has a strong independent trade — shops, cafés, salons, dental and treatment practices, and small offices. Comfort cooling in these premises is as much about customer experience as staff comfort. Clinical and treatment settings often have specific temperature requirements, and we specify accordingly rather than fitting a domestic-grade solution. Q: How many rooms can one outdoor unit serve? A: Commonly up to four or five indoor units depending on the model and the combined load. We confirm the practical limit for your property at survey. Q: Can the installation be phased? A: Yes, provided the system is designed for the full scope from the outset. We set out what is installed at each stage in the quotation. Q: Do you cover Nork and Woodmansterne? A: Yes, both are within SM7 and part of our normal working area, along with the surrounding SM and KT districts. ## Air Conditioning Installation in Worcester Park URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/areas/air-conditioning-worcester-park Postcodes: KT4 Worcester Park spans KT4 around the station, Central Road and the residential streets running towards Old Malden and North Cheam. It is largely inter-war and post-war housing, with a busy local high street of shops, restaurants, salons and small offices, plus newer apartment development near the station. Loft conversions and rear extensions are extremely common here, and both create rooms that need cooling far more than the original house did. ### Extensions and loft conversions A rear extension with bi-fold doors or a roof lantern gains a very large amount of solar heat. Sizing has to be based on the glazing and orientation, and in wide open-plan spaces two smaller indoor units often give better airflow than one large one. Loft conversions sit under the roof and heat up first. We look for a full-height wall section with clear airflow, and plan condensate removal at the same time. - Loft bedrooms and en-suites - Open-plan kitchen extensions - Bedrooms facing south and west - Home offices and garden rooms - Shops, salons and offices on Central Road ### Flats and apartments near the station Newer apartment blocks around Worcester Park station are well insulated and can get very warm in top-floor units. Installation depends on a permitted condenser position and managing agent consent. We provide the technical pack for the consent application, including sound data and fixing detail, which is what agents usually query. ### Commercial premises on Central Road Restaurants, cafés, salons, barbers, clinics and small offices along Central Road all benefit from comfort cooling, and in food premises kitchen heat makes it close to essential for staff. We assess occupancy, equipment heat, trading hours, condenser position and landlord consent, then quote with the scope set out clearly. Q: Can you cool an open-plan kitchen extension? A: Yes. Large glazed spaces are sized on glazing and orientation, and sometimes served by two indoor units for even airflow rather than a single large one. Q: Do you work in restaurants and cafés? A: Yes. Front-of-house comfort cooling is common, and we plan installation around your trading hours where possible. Q: Do you cover the whole of KT4? A: Yes, Worcester Park and Old Malden, along with neighbouring KT and SM districts. ## Air Conditioning Installation in Old Malden URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/areas/air-conditioning-old-malden Postcodes: KT4 Old Malden occupies the quieter part of KT4 around Malden Manor, Church Road and the Hogsmill, with a mix of older cottages near the church, extensive 1930s semi-detached housing, and later post-war closes and estates. Plots here are generally good sized with rear gardens, which usually gives us a sensible, unobtrusive place for the outdoor unit. ### What Old Malden households ask for Bedroom cooling dominates, particularly rooms with west-facing windows that stay warm well into the evening. Loft conversions and converted garages used as offices are next. Where a household wants more than one room covered, we generally recommend a multi-split so that only one condenser is needed and the rear elevation stays uncluttered. - West-facing and top-floor bedrooms - Loft conversions - Converted garages and home offices - Garden rooms and studios - Rear extensions and kitchen-diners ### Older cottages and character properties The older properties near the church need a more careful approach: solid walls, restricted internal routes and a strong preference for keeping the front elevation clear of visible equipment. We survey these thoroughly and will tell you honestly if a particular room is difficult to serve neatly, rather than committing you to an installation you will not be happy with. ### Clear pricing and paperwork Quotations set out the equipment, positions, pipe route, condensate arrangements, electrical work and duration. Domestic heat pump installations in existing homes are quoted VAT free where the 0% energy-saving materials relief applies. On completion you receive commissioning records, warranty details and a handover covering controls, filter cleaning and servicing intervals. Q: Can you install in an older solid-wall property? A: Yes. Core drilling, fixings and pipe routing are selected to suit the construction, and we discuss any visible trunking with you before quoting. Q: Is planning permission needed? A: Most domestic installations fall under permitted development, but conservation areas, listed buildings and flats have additional considerations. We flag anything relevant at survey. Q: How disruptive is installation day? A: We protect floors and furniture, work in one area at a time and clear up on completion. A single-room installation is normally finished within a day. ## Air Conditioning Installation in New Malden URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/areas/air-conditioning-new-malden Postcodes: KT3 New Malden in KT3 combines large Victorian and Edwardian villas, extensive inter-war housing, modern apartment development and one of the busiest independent restaurant and retail high streets in the area. That gives us a genuinely mixed workload: substantial multi-room domestic systems in the larger houses, single-room installations in flats, and commercial comfort cooling in restaurants, shops and offices. ### Period villas and family houses The larger Victorian and Edwardian houses have high ceilings and big rooms, which means sizing on volume rather than floor area, and they often have several bedrooms plus a loft conversion to consider. Internal pipe routing through cupboards, service voids and lofts keeps these properties looking as they should, and we plan those routes properly at survey rather than defaulting to external trunking. - Large period bedrooms with high ceilings - Loft conversions and second-floor rooms - Home offices and studies - Modern flats and apartments - Restaurants, shops and offices on the High Street ### Restaurants and commercial premises New Malden's restaurant trade generates a lot of kitchen and dining-room heat, and comfort cooling has a direct effect on how long customers stay and how staff cope through a service. We assess covers, kitchen heat, extract arrangements, condenser position and landlord consent, and can plan installation around trading hours where daytime work is not practical. ### Apartments and managing agents Modern blocks in New Malden usually have specified plant positions and clear rules on external equipment. We work within those and provide the technical documentation the managing agent will require. Where an outdoor unit genuinely cannot be sited, we will say so rather than proposing something that will be refused. Q: Do you install air conditioning in restaurants? A: Yes. Front-of-house comfort cooling is common work for us, and installation can often be scheduled around service hours. Q: Can you cool a large period bedroom? A: Yes, though high-ceilinged rooms are sized on volume and glazing rather than floor area, which is why we survey rather than quote from a plan. Q: Do you cover Motspur Park and Coombe as well? A: Yes, we work across KT3 and the surrounding KT and SM districts. ## Air Conditioning Installation in Motspur Park URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/areas/air-conditioning-motspur-park Postcodes: KT3 Motspur Park sits in KT3 between New Malden, Worcester Park and Raynes Park, a settled residential district of inter-war semis and terraces, later closes, and a small parade of shops near the station. Houses here are generally consistent in layout with rear gardens, which makes installations predictable to plan and tidy to finish. ### Typical work in Motspur Park Bedrooms and loft rooms lead the enquiries, followed by garden offices and rear extensions. Many households start with one bedroom and return later for a second room once they see how the first performs. Where more than one room is planned from the outset, a multi-split from a single condenser is usually the better route both visually and practically. - Main and rear bedrooms - Loft conversions - Garden offices and gyms - Kitchen extensions - Small shops and offices near the station ### Quiet running for close-set houses On semis and terraces the condenser is often within a few metres of a neighbouring boundary, so position, mounting and unit selection all matter. We use anti-vibration mounting as standard, consider published sound data when selecting equipment, and avoid positions that direct discharge air straight at a neighbouring window. ### From survey to handover Free survey, written quotation, agreed installation date, then a tidy installation with floors and furniture protected. Systems are pressure tested, evacuated and commissioned properly before handover. You receive commissioning records, warranty paperwork and a walkthrough of the controls and filter cleaning. Q: Will my neighbours hear the outdoor unit? A: Modern units are quiet, and careful positioning plus anti-vibration mounting keeps noise low. We assess boundary distances and neighbouring windows at survey. Q: Can I add a second room later? A: Yes. If you tell us at survey that you may expand, we can design the system so a later addition is straightforward. Q: Do you charge for the survey? A: No. Surveys across KT3 are free and carry no obligation. ## Air Conditioning Installation in Chessington URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/areas/air-conditioning-chessington Postcodes: KT9 Chessington covers KT9 from the residential streets around Chessington North and South stations out towards Hook and the industrial estate at Chessington. Housing is mostly post-war and inter-war semi-detached and detached, with generous gardens and a lot of extended and converted properties. There is also a substantial business park and light industrial area, so alongside domestic work we quote regularly for offices, workshops and trade units here. ### Domestic installations in KT9 Bedrooms, loft conversions and garden buildings make up the bulk of domestic work. Larger gardens mean garden offices and gyms are very common, and those buildings need both heating and cooling to be usable year round. Extensions and converted garages are the other regular request, and both usually need their electrical supply checked before anything is specified. - Bedrooms and loft rooms - Garden offices, studios and gyms - Converted garages - Kitchen and dining extensions - Conservatories brought back into use ### Business park and industrial units Chessington's commercial units range from small serviced offices to workshops and warehousing. Specification depends on ceiling height, equipment heat, occupancy, operating hours and whether three-phase power is available. Maintenance access is designed in from the start — plant that cannot be reached safely does not get serviced, and unserviced plant fails early. ### Slightly further out, same standard of service Chessington is at the western edge of our regular coverage, but we work there routinely and treat it no differently: free survey, written quotation, our own team on site and our own aftercare. Carshalton Air Conditioning is operated by WDI Group (Surrey) Ltd, REFCOM F-Gas registered under REF1021486 and fully insured. Q: Do you really cover Chessington? A: Yes. KT9 is within our normal working area and we carry out both domestic and commercial installations there. Q: Can you cool a workshop or warehouse space? A: Sometimes, but large open industrial volumes need realistic expectations and a site visit. We will tell you honestly what is achievable and what it will cost to run. Q: Do you install in garden gyms? A: Yes, and it is one of the most common requests. The same unit heats in winter and cools in summer, provided the building has a suitable electrical supply. ## Air Conditioning Installation in Tolworth URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/areas/air-conditioning-tolworth Postcodes: KT5 Tolworth in KT5 runs along the Broadway and the A3 corridor, with inter-war and post-war residential streets behind, blocks of flats, the landmark Tolworth Tower office building and a spread of retail and commercial premises. Proximity to the A3 is a defining feature for many properties: opening windows on a warm night is not an attractive option, which makes cooling with the windows closed genuinely valuable rather than a luxury. ### Homes near the A3 and the Broadway Bedrooms facing the main roads are our most frequent Tolworth enquiry. A correctly sized system lets the room be cooled and filtered with the windows shut, which deals with noise and dust at the same time as heat. Behind the main roads it is the familiar pattern: loft conversions, rear extensions and garden offices, all of which run warmer than the original house. - Bedrooms facing the A3 and Broadway - Loft conversions and studies - Flats and maisonettes - Rear extensions and kitchen-diners - Retail units and offices on the Broadway ### Flats and apartment blocks Tolworth has a good number of purpose-built blocks. Installations depend on a workable and permitted outdoor unit position — balcony, flat roof or rear elevation — plus freeholder or managing agent consent. We prepare the technical information required for that application so it is not delayed for missing detail. ### Offices and retail Office suites, retail units, salons and treatment rooms around the Broadway all come to us for comfort cooling. Occupancy, IT and equipment heat, glazing, trading hours and lease conditions drive the specification. We set the recommendation out in writing, including expected running characteristics and maintenance requirements, so you can compare quotations properly. Q: Can air conditioning help with A3 traffic noise? A: Indirectly, yes — because you can cool the room with the windows closed, so the noise and dust stay outside. Q: Do you install in Tolworth flats? A: Yes, subject to a permitted outdoor unit position and freeholder or managing agent consent, for which we supply the technical details. Q: How far does your coverage extend? A: We cover the SM postcodes and the surrounding KT districts including KT5 Tolworth, KT9 Chessington and KT3 New Malden. --- # Advice guides ## How Much Does Air Conditioning Installation Cost in Carshalton? URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/advice/air-conditioning-installation-cost-carshalton Category: Costs and running | Published: 2026-07-14 | Updated: 2026-07-14 The honest answer is that price depends on a handful of specific things about your property. Here is what a surveyor is actually pricing when they quote. ### The short answer There is no single price for air conditioning installation, and any website quoting one figure for every home is guessing. The cost of your installation is driven by the number of rooms, the capacity of the units, how far the pipework has to travel, where the outdoor unit can go, whether condensate can drain by gravity, and what electrical work is needed. We do not publish example prices on this website because a figure taken out of context is misleading. What we can do is explain exactly what a surveyor is assessing, so that when you compare written quotations you know what you are comparing. ### How many rooms, and how many units The single biggest factor is how many indoor units you need. One indoor unit controls one room. If you want cooling in two bedrooms and a loft office, that is three indoor units, whether they run from three separate outdoor units or one shared condenser on a multi-split system. A single-split installation (one indoor, one outdoor) is the simplest and lowest cost per room. Multi-splits reduce the number of outdoor units but add pipework, refrigerant volume and labour, so the saving is not always as large as people expect. ### Capacity and correct sizing Capacity is quoted in kilowatts, and larger units cost more. But sizing is not simply a matter of buying the biggest unit that will fit. An oversized system short-cycles, controls humidity poorly and can be noisier in use; an undersized one runs continuously and never reaches the temperature you set. A proper survey establishes room dimensions, glazing area and orientation, insulation, ceiling height, occupancy and equipment heat. That is why we survey rather than quote from a room name. ### Pipe runs, routes and making good Refrigerant pipework connects the indoor and outdoor units, and its length and route make a real difference to labour. A bedroom on an external wall with the condenser directly outside is a short, simple run. A loft room with the condenser at ground level at the front of the house is not. Where pipework is run internally, there may be lifting of floorboards, boxing in or redecoration to consider. Where it runs externally, trunking is used, and the quality of that trunking work is one of the clearest differences between a careful installer and a rushed one. - Distance between indoor and outdoor unit - Number of bends and floor levels crossed - Internal routing through voids, or external trunking - Access equipment where working at height is needed ### Condensate and electrical work Cooling produces condensate, which has to be taken away. If there is a gravity route to a suitable external drain, this is straightforward. If not, a small condensate pump is added, which increases cost slightly and needs a power supply. Electrically, systems normally need a suitably rated supply and isolation. Some installations can use a nearby existing circuit; others need a new dedicated circuit from the consumer unit, which is a bigger job. This is checked at survey so it appears in the quotation rather than as a surprise later. ### Comparing quotations sensibly When you have two or three quotations, compare the scope rather than the headline number. Check the make, model and capacity of each unit, the stated indoor and outdoor positions, whether trunking and making good are included, whether electrical work is included, and whether commissioning and handover documentation are provided. Also check that the installer is F-Gas registered. Handling refrigerant requires certification; WDI Group (Surrey) Ltd is REFCOM registered under REF1021486. Q: Why will you not give a price over the phone? A: We can talk through the options and what typically drives cost, but a figure given without seeing the property is not a quotation. A free survey gives you a written price you can rely on. Q: Is a multi-split cheaper than separate systems? A: Sometimes, but not always. It uses one outdoor unit instead of several, which can help where space is tight, but pipework and labour increase. We price both options where it is a genuine choice. ## Is Home Air Conditioning Expensive to Run? URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/advice/is-home-air-conditioning-expensive-to-run Category: Costs and running | Published: 2026-07-16 | Updated: 2026-07-16 Running cost depends on how much heat the system has to move, not on the size of the unit on the wall. Here is how to think about it sensibly. ### Why running cost is not fixed A modern inverter air conditioning system does not draw a constant amount of electricity. It works hardest when it first pulls a warm room down to temperature, then throttles back and uses considerably less power to hold that temperature. That means the honest answer to 'what will it cost to run' is: it depends on how much heat has to be removed, how long the system runs, and what you pay per unit of electricity. ### The factors that actually matter Some of these you control day to day, and some are fixed by the building. - Set temperature: a smaller difference between outdoor and indoor temperature means less work - Run time: two hours before bed costs far less than all-day operation - Room heat gain: glazing, orientation and shading are the biggest drivers - Insulation and air tightness - Correct sizing: an oversized or undersized system both run inefficiently - Your electricity tariff, including any time-of-use rates ### Running in heating mode In heating mode the system works as an air-to-air heat pump, moving heat from outside into the room rather than generating it with an element. That is why heat pumps can deliver several units of heat for each unit of electricity used, with efficiency varying by outdoor temperature and the model fitted. For heating one room quickly, many households find this useful alongside their existing central heating. We avoid quoting savings percentages, because the honest comparison depends on your gas price, electricity price, insulation and how you use the room. ### Practical ways to keep running costs down Reducing the heat that reaches the room in the first place is the most effective step, and it costs nothing to close blinds on a south-facing window during the day. - Use blinds or external shading during the hottest part of the day - Set a sensible temperature rather than the lowest available - Use timers so the room is cooled before it becomes uncomfortable - Keep doors closed so the system is not trying to cool the whole house - Keep filters clean; a blocked filter reduces airflow and efficiency ### Reading efficiency figures Manufacturers publish SEER (seasonal cooling efficiency) and SCOP (seasonal heating efficiency) figures, along with energy labels. These are measured under standard conditions and are useful for comparing models like for like, but they are not a prediction of your bill. We will share the published figures for the specific models we recommend so you can compare them yourself. Q: Is it cheaper than a portable air conditioner? A: A fixed split system is generally significantly more efficient than a portable unit, because portables reject heat through a hose and often draw warm air back into the room. The exact difference depends on both products. Q: Can solar panels run air conditioning? A: Solar generation can offset some daytime consumption, and cooling demand often peaks when the sun is strongest. Whether it covers the load depends on your array size, inverter, battery and what else in the house is running. ## Can Air Conditioning Heat Your Home in Winter? URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/advice/can-air-conditioning-heat-your-home-in-winter Category: How it works | Published: 2026-07-18 | Updated: 2026-07-18 Yes. A reverse-cycle system is an air-to-air heat pump, and heating is often the mode people end up using most. Here is what to expect. ### The direct answer Yes. Almost every wall mounted split system we install is a reverse-cycle unit, which means it can move heat in both directions. In summer it takes heat out of the room and rejects it outside; in winter it does the opposite, extracting heat from outdoor air and delivering it into the room. This is why these systems are correctly described as air-to-air heat pumps. ### How heating mode works There is usable heat in outdoor air even when it feels cold. The refrigeration cycle concentrates that heat and releases it indoors through the indoor unit's heat exchanger, with the fan distributing warm air into the room. Because heat is being moved rather than created, the output is typically several times the electrical input. Efficiency falls as the outdoor temperature drops, and most systems will occasionally run a short defrost cycle in cold, damp weather, which is normal operation rather than a fault. ### Where winter heating suits best Air conditioning heating is at its most useful where you want fast, controllable warmth in a single room. - Garden rooms and outbuildings with no gas supply - Loft conversions that are slow to warm through - Home offices used during the day when the rest of the house is unheated - Conservatories in spring and autumn - Bedrooms on cold mornings ### What it will not do It is not a replacement for a central heating system in most homes, and it does not provide hot water. Warm air heating also feels different to radiators: it warms the air quickly rather than warming surfaces, so the room responds faster but can feel less 'even' at first. We would not describe air conditioning as free heating or claim guaranteed savings against your boiler. What we can say is that it is an efficient way to heat individual rooms, and it comes as part of a system you were already installing for summer cooling. ### Getting the most from heating mode Set the temperature you actually want rather than the maximum, use a horizontal or downward airflow setting so warm air is not trapped at ceiling level, and keep filters clean. We cover all of this at handover. Q: Does it still work when it is close to freezing? A: Yes, though capacity and efficiency reduce as outdoor temperatures fall. Manufacturers publish operating ranges and low-temperature performance data for each model, and we take that into account when the system will be used for winter heating. Q: Is an air conditioning unit the same as an air source heat pump? A: Both are heat pumps. An air-to-air system heats the air in a room; an air source heat pump for central heating warms water for radiators and cylinders. They serve different purposes. ## What Size Air Conditioner Do I Need for My Room? URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/advice/what-size-air-conditioner-do-i-need Category: Choosing a system | Published: 2026-07-20 | Updated: 2026-07-20 Capacity is about heat gain, not floor area. Here is what a surveyor measures and why two identical-looking rooms can need different systems. ### What capacity actually means Air conditioning capacity is expressed in kilowatts, and it describes how much heat the system can move per hour. Domestic wall mounted units commonly range from around 2kW for a small bedroom up to 5kW or more for a large open-plan space. The aim is to match capacity to the room's peak heat gain, with a sensible margin, and no more. ### What a surveyor assesses Two rooms with the same floor area can need different capacities. A north-facing bedroom with one small window is a very different proposition to a south-facing loft room with two roof windows. - Room dimensions including ceiling height, giving volume rather than area - Glazing area, glazing type and orientation - Shading from trees, blinds, overhangs or neighbouring buildings - Insulation levels, roof construction and whether the room is above or below other rooms - Number of people typically in the room - Heat from computers, televisions, lighting and equipment - Whether the space is open to adjoining rooms or hallways ### Why bigger is not better An oversized system reaches the set temperature quickly and then stops, so it spends its time cycling rather than running steadily. That reduces dehumidification, can make the room feel clammy, and often makes the unit more noticeable because it runs at higher fan speeds in short bursts. An undersized system never catches up on the hottest days. Correct sizing is where comfort actually comes from. ### Online calculators and rules of thumb A rule of thumb based on room volume gives a rough starting point and is useful for budgeting. It cannot account for a glazed roof, a poorly insulated flat roof above, or a rack of computer equipment in the corner. If you use our quotation form to give us room dimensions and details, any capacity we mention beforehand is a guide only. Final system sizing and installation requirements are confirmed following a survey. ### Sizing multi-room systems On a multi-split system, each indoor unit is sized for its own room, and the outdoor unit is sized for the realistic combined load rather than the simple sum of every indoor unit at full output. How many rooms you expect to run at once matters, so we ask. Q: Can I just tell you the room size over the phone? A: It helps us have a useful conversation, but we will not commit to a capacity on that basis. Glazing, orientation and construction change the answer significantly. Q: Should I allow for future extensions? A: Tell us at survey if you plan to knock through or extend. It can change both the sizing and the sensible position for the outdoor unit. ## Is Air Conditioning VAT Free in Domestic Properties? URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/advice/is-air-conditioning-vat-free-in-domestic-properties Category: VAT and savings | Published: 2026-07-20 | Updated: 2026-07-20 Modern air conditioning is a heat pump. Where it is installed in a qualifying residential property in Great Britain, the installation can currently be zero rated for VAT. ### The relief in plain English HMRC applies a temporary zero rate of VAT to the installation of certain energy saving materials in residential accommodation in Great Britain. Air source heat pumps are on that list, and a modern air conditioning system is an air source heat pump: it moves heat rather than burning fuel, and reversible units deliver heating as well as cooling. Where the relief applies, the whole supply — equipment and labour installed together by the same contractor — is zero rated. That is a genuine saving of 20% against a standard rated installation, not a discount we are choosing to give. ### Who qualifies The relief is aimed at residential accommodation: houses, flats, maisonettes and similar dwellings, including a garden room or annexe used as part of the home. The installation has to be supplied and fitted by the same contractor; buying a unit online and paying someone to fit it separately does not attract the relief on the equipment. Commercial premises — shops, offices, salons, server rooms, restaurants — are standard rated at 20%. Mixed-use buildings are assessed on the part of the building being served. - Houses, flats and maisonettes used as private dwellings - Supply and installation together, by the same contractor - Heating-capable (reversible) air source heat pump equipment - Great Britain — different rules apply in Northern Ireland ### Cooling-only systems are treated differently The relief exists because heat pumps are an energy saving heating technology. A cooling-only unit is not a heating appliance, and does not sit within the relief. In practice this rarely matters domestically, because almost every system we install in a home is reversible and delivers heating in winter. If you have been quoted for a cooling-only system in a home, that is worth questioning on both comfort and VAT grounds. ### How we handle VAT on your quotation Our written quotations state the VAT treatment explicitly, so you are never guessing what the final figure is. Where we apply the zero rate, the quotation says so and records why the installation qualifies. We are part of WDI Group (Surrey) Ltd, VAT registration 495855036, and we account for every installation properly. If your project does not qualify, we will tell you before you commit rather than after. ### It is a time-limited relief The zero rate is a temporary measure with a published end date, after which the reduced rate is scheduled to return. Policy can change at any Budget, so the treatment that applies is the one in force on the date of supply. If VAT treatment materially affects your decision, it is worth getting the survey booked rather than waiting a year and hoping. Q: Does 0% VAT apply to servicing and repairs? A: No. The relief covers the installation of qualifying energy saving materials. Ongoing servicing, maintenance and repair work is standard rated. Q: Do I have to apply for the relief? A: No. There is no form and no claim. Where the installation qualifies, we invoice it at 0% VAT and keep the evidence on file. Q: Is this the same as a government grant? A: No. Grant schemes such as the Boiler Upgrade Scheme cover different technologies. The VAT zero rate is simply a change to the rate of tax charged on the work. ## Zero-Rated VAT on Air Source Heat Pumps, Explained URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/advice/zero-rated-vat-air-source-heat-pumps-explained Category: VAT and savings | Published: 2026-07-20 | Updated: 2026-07-20 The zero rate covers more than the box on the wall — but not everything. Here is where the boundary sits and what to look for on a quote. ### What the zero rate covers Where an installation qualifies, the zero rate applies to the heat pump equipment and to the labour of installing it. It also covers ancillary supplies that are a necessary part of that installation — the brackets, refrigerant pipework, condensate route, controls and the making good that goes with it. That is why the relief is worth having: it is not 20% off a small parts bill, it is 20% off the installed project. ### What it does not cover Work that is not part of the heat pump installation stays at its normal rate. A separate rewire, a new consumer unit specified for reasons beyond the installation, decorating carried out by a third party, or scaffolding hired directly by you are all outside the relief. Equipment supplied on its own, without installation, is standard rated. So is any subsequent service visit. - Supply-only equipment with no installation - Servicing, maintenance and repairs after handover - Unrelated electrical or building works - Commercial premises of any kind ### How it should appear on a quotation A compliant quotation shows the net figure, the VAT rate applied, the VAT amount and the total. If a quote simply shows one number with no VAT line at all, ask for it in writing before you compare it with anyone else's. Beware of comparing a zero-rated quote against a standard-rated quote without noticing. A 20% difference between two prices can be tax treatment rather than value. ### The paperwork we keep We record the property type, the equipment specification and the heating capability of the system on file, because the zero rate must be evidenced if HMRC ever asks. You get a copy of the invoice showing the treatment applied. Doing this properly protects you as well as us: an installer who applies the relief carelessly can leave a customer facing a corrected invoice later. Q: Can you zero rate a system in my home office at the bottom of the garden? A: Usually yes, where the outbuilding is part of the residential curtilage and used as part of the dwelling. If you trade from it as a separate business premises, we will look at it more carefully. Q: What about a rental property I own? A: Residential accommodation includes let dwellings. The relief follows the use of the building, not who owns it. ## How Much Does Air Conditioning Cost to Run Per Hour? URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/advice/how-much-does-air-conditioning-cost-to-run-per-hour Category: Costs and running | Published: 2026-07-20 | Updated: 2026-07-20 The number on the box is output, not consumption. Once you understand the difference, running costs stop looking frightening. ### Output kilowatts are not consumption kilowatts A 3.5kW air conditioning unit does not use 3.5kW of electricity. That figure is the heating or cooling it delivers into the room. Because a heat pump moves heat rather than creating it, it typically delivers three to five units of heating or cooling for every unit of electricity it draws. So the same 3.5kW unit might be drawing somewhere around 0.7kW to 1.1kW at steady state, and considerably less once the room has reached temperature. ### A worked example Take a bedroom unit drawing an average of 0.6kW over an evening, at a unit rate of 25p per kWh. That is roughly 15p an hour. Run it for four hours before bed on a hot night and you are at around 60p. Use your own tariff rate to redo the sum — unit rates move, and the point of the method is that it stays valid when prices change. - Cost per hour = average power drawn (kW) × your unit rate (p/kWh) - Average draw is well below the rated output on an inverter system - A whole-house figure is the sum of the units actually running ### Duty cycle is what really decides the bill An inverter system ramps hard to pull a room down to temperature, then throttles back to a low modulating output to hold it there. Most of the running time is spent in that low state, which is why measured costs are usually far lower than a back-of-envelope calculation based on full output. Well-insulated rooms, closed doors, drawn blinds during the day and a sensible set point all shorten the hard-work phase. ### In heating mode the sums are even better Running in heating, an air-to-air heat pump typically produces three to four kilowatts of heat per kilowatt of electricity in British conditions. Compared with a direct electric heater at one for one, it is a fraction of the cost for the same warmth. For heating one or two rooms in shoulder season, it is often cheaper to run the air conditioning than to fire the whole gas system for the house. Q: How can I measure it exactly in my own home? A: Read your smart meter or in-home display with everything else off, run the unit for an hour, and read again. That gives you the real figure for your property and your tariff. Q: Does leaving it on all day cost more than switching it on and off? A: Usually a steady low set point costs less than repeatedly letting a room heat up and dragging it back down, because the compressor spends less time at full output. ## Air Conditioning vs Gas Central Heating: Running Cost Compared URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/advice/air-conditioning-running-costs-vs-gas-central-heating Category: Costs and running | Published: 2026-07-20 | Updated: 2026-07-20 Gas is cheaper per unit. Heat pumps deliver several units of heat per unit of energy. Which wins depends on how many rooms you are heating. ### Start with the unit rates Gas costs materially less per kilowatt hour than electricity in the UK. If both appliances turned one unit of energy into one unit of heat, gas would win every time and there would be nothing to discuss. They do not. A gas boiler is at best a little over 90% efficient. An air-to-air heat pump commonly returns 300–400% because it is moving heat, not making it. ### Where the crossover sits Once you apply those efficiencies, the two technologies land close together on cost per unit of delivered heat, with the heat pump often ahead on milder days when it runs at its most efficient. The decisive factor is usually not the tariff, it is coverage. Heating one room with a heat pump beats heating a whole house with a boiler to warm the same one room. ### Shoulder season is the heat pump's home ground In October, and again in March, most households want warmth in the living room in the evening and nothing else. An air conditioning unit delivers that in minutes at low output and low cost, without bringing a hot water cylinder and eleven radiators along for the ride. Many customers tell us the first winter changes how they use their central heating rather than replacing it. ### We do not claim it replaces your boiler An air-to-air system heats air in the rooms where units are installed. It does not heat your hot water, and it does not warm rooms with no unit in them. On the coldest days a whole-house system still has a job to do. Treat it as targeted heating and cooling that reduces how hard the rest of the house has to work, not as a like-for-like boiler swap. Q: Will it cut my gas bill? A: Most customers see reduced gas use in spring and autumn, when they heat one or two rooms with the heat pump rather than firing the boiler for the whole property. Q: Does it work when it is freezing outside? A: Yes. Modern units produce useful heat well below zero, though efficiency falls as outdoor temperature drops. ## Air Conditioning Electricity Usage, Explained in kWh URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/advice/air-conditioning-electricity-usage-explained Category: Costs and running | Published: 2026-07-20 | Updated: 2026-07-20 If you can read a kWh figure you can budget for air conditioning accurately. Here is how the consumption actually stacks up. ### Typical draw by unit size As a broad guide, a 2.5kW bedroom unit tends to average somewhere around 0.4–0.7kW in use, a 3.5kW living room unit around 0.6–1.0kW, and a 5.0kW unit serving a large open-plan space around 0.9–1.5kW. Those are averages across a session, not peak figures. Every property is different. Solar gain, insulation, glazing and how often doors are opened all shift the numbers. ### Turning that into daily and monthly figures Multiply average draw by hours used to get kWh per day. A bedroom unit at 0.5kW for five hours is 2.5kWh — roughly the same as a couple of loads of washing. Across a British summer, most households use air conditioning heavily for a handful of weeks, not continuously, which is why annual costs are usually modest. ### The settings that move the number most Set point is the biggest lever. Every degree lower in cooling costs more, and 23–24°C is comfortable for most people once humidity is under control. Fan speed on auto lets the unit find its efficient point rather than sitting at maximum. Closing internal doors keeps the unit working on one room rather than trying to condition the hallway and stairs as well. - Set 23–24°C in cooling rather than 18°C - Use auto fan and let the inverter modulate - Close doors, and blinds on sun-facing glass - Clean the filters — a blocked filter costs real money ### If you have solar panels Cooling demand peaks when the sun is strongest, which is exactly when a solar array is generating. Households with PV often run cooling at close to no marginal cost through the middle of the day. Pre-cooling the house on generation and coasting into the evening is a genuinely effective strategy. Q: Will it trip my electrics? A: Not on a correctly designed installation. We assess the consumer unit and provide a dedicated circuit where the specification requires one. Q: Does standby use much? A: A few watts. It is not a meaningful part of the bill, and it keeps the controls and any crankcase protection alive. ## The Cheapest Way to Run Air Conditioning at Home URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/advice/cheapest-way-to-run-air-conditioning Category: Costs and running | Published: 2026-07-20 | Updated: 2026-07-20 Most households could cut their cooling bill by a third without noticing the difference in comfort. Here is how. ### Get the set point right Cooling to 18°C on a 30°C day is expensive and often uncomfortable — you end up cold in one room and hot everywhere else. Set 23–24°C and let the unit hold it. Once humidity drops, that feels considerably cooler than the same temperature outdoors. In heating, the same logic applies in reverse: 20–21°C held steadily beats blasting 26°C for twenty minutes. ### Run steady rather than in bursts Inverter systems are cheapest when they are modulating gently. Turning the unit off for two hours and then dragging the room back down forces the compressor to full output, which is the expensive part of the cycle. If you will be back within a couple of hours, leaving it running at a modest set point usually costs less. ### Help the building do some of the work Close blinds and curtains on sun-facing windows before the room heats up, not after. Keep doors closed so the unit conditions the space it was sized for. Ventilate at night when the outside air is cooler than inside. These are free, and they shorten the time the compressor spends working hard. - Shade south and west glass during the day - Close internal doors to the conditioned room - Purge heat overnight with open windows when it is cooler outside - Keep the outdoor unit clear of plants, bins and fencing ### Clean filters and a serviced system A clogged filter chokes airflow, so the unit runs longer for the same result. Rinsing the filters monthly in season takes five minutes and is the highest-return maintenance job there is. An annual service keeps refrigerant charge, coil condition and drainage right, all of which affect efficiency as well as reliability. ### Match it to your tariff If you are on a time-of-use tariff or have solar, pre-cool during cheap or self-generated hours and let the building coast through expensive periods. Timers and scheduling on the controller make this automatic. This one change can outweigh every other tip on this list. Q: Is a smart controller worth it? A: If you will actually use scheduling and geolocation, yes. If you set it once and forget it, the built-in timer does most of the job. Q: Does dry mode save money? A: In humid weather it can, because removing moisture makes a room feel cooler without dropping the temperature as far. ## SEER and SCOP Ratings Explained URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/advice/seer-and-scop-ratings-explained Category: Costs and running | Published: 2026-07-20 | Updated: 2026-07-20 Two acronyms decide most of your running cost. Once you can read them, comparing quotes becomes straightforward. ### What the acronyms mean SEER is Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio — cooling output divided by electrical input across a representative season. SCOP is Seasonal Coefficient of Performance, the same idea for heating. EER and COP are the non-seasonal versions, measured at a single test condition. Seasonal figures are more useful because they reflect part-load running, which is how the unit actually spends its life. ### What good looks like A SEER of 6 means six units of cooling per unit of electricity. Quality domestic units commonly sit between 6.0 and 8.5. SCOP figures around 4.0 to 5.2 are typical for the same equipment in heating. Energy labels bundle these into A to A+++ bands. Two units in the same band can still differ, so look at the underlying number. - SEER 6.0+ is a solid domestic system - SEER 7.5+ is at the efficient end of the market - SCOP 4.0+ means genuinely cheap heating ### Comparing quotes fairly Efficiency figures are quoted per model and per capacity, so a 2.5kW unit and a 5.0kW unit from the same range will not match. Compare like for like: same capacity, same series, same test standard. A cheaper quote using a lower-efficiency range can cost more over ten years than the difference on the invoice. ### Installation quality changes the real figure Lab ratings assume correct refrigerant charge, clean coils, sensible pipe runs and unobstructed airflow. A well-specified unit installed badly will never reach its label. That is why we care about pipe length, outdoor unit position, brazing under nitrogen, evacuation and commissioning readings — they are the difference between a rating and a result. Q: Which matters more, SEER or SCOP? A: In a British home, SCOP usually matters more, because most systems end up doing more hours of heating than cooling across the year. Q: Do the ratings appear on my quotation? A: Yes. We list model numbers and their published efficiency figures so you can check them independently. ## Air Conditioning vs Fans and Portable Units URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/advice/air-conditioning-vs-fans-and-portable-units Category: Costs and running | Published: 2026-07-20 | Updated: 2026-07-20 A portable unit is cheaper to buy and much more expensive to live with. Here is the honest comparison. ### Fans move air, they do not cool it A fan makes you feel cooler by moving air across your skin. It adds a small amount of heat to the room, because the motor is doing work. On a 30°C night, a fan blows warm air at you. They are cheap and useful, but they cannot lower the temperature or remove humidity. ### Why portables struggle A single-hose portable unit vents hot air out of the window, which pulls replacement air into the room from the rest of the house — including hot air from outside through every gap. A meaningful share of the cooling is undone as fast as it is produced. They also put the compressor inside the room with you, which is why they are so much noisier than a split system, and they typically have poor efficiency ratings. - Compressor noise inside the living space - Window seal kits that undermine security and looks - Condensate tanks to empty in humid weather - Efficiency well below a fixed split system ### What a fixed split system does differently The compressor and heat rejection sit outside. Indoors you get a quiet fan coil, precise temperature control, dehumidification and — crucially — heating in winter from the same equipment. It costs more up front and needs a proper installation, but it is the only option that genuinely conditions a room rather than fighting it. ### The long-run sums Households often buy two or three portables over a few years, at a few hundred pounds each, while still sleeping badly. That money is gone, and adds nothing to the property. A fixed system lasts well over a decade with servicing, heats as well as cools, and is far cheaper per hour of comfort delivered. Q: Are portables ever the right answer? A: For a short-term rental where you cannot install anything fixed, or occasional use in a spare room, they have a place. Q: Is a fixed unit noisy for neighbours? A: Correctly positioned, modern outdoor units are quiet. Position and mounting are the things that matter, and we assess both at survey. ## Does Air Conditioning Add Value to Your Home? URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/advice/does-air-conditioning-add-value-to-your-home Category: Costs and running | Published: 2026-07-20 | Updated: 2026-07-20 British summers have changed, and so has what buyers look for. Here is what air conditioning does to a property's appeal. ### What the market is doing Air conditioning in UK homes has moved from unusual to increasingly expected in loft conversions, top-floor flats, home offices and large glazed extensions. Buyers viewing in July notice the difference immediately. It is rarely the reason someone buys a house, but it is often the reason one house feels better than the one they saw that morning. ### The efficiency angle Because the system is a heat pump, it is a low-carbon heating source as well as cooling. That reads well against an EPC and against buyers who are thinking about future running costs. Reversible systems are increasingly described as a heating upgrade rather than a luxury, which is a fairer description. ### Installation quality is what protects value Untidy trunking across a front elevation, a condenser sitting on a patio in the middle of the garden, or cabling routed across brickwork will put buyers off. A discreet installation with concealed pipework and a sensibly located outdoor unit does the opposite. Keep the paperwork: commissioning records, F-Gas details, warranty registration and service history all reassure a surveyor. - Discreet outdoor unit position agreed at survey - Concealed or neatly boxed pipework - Warranty registered and service records kept - Electrical certification retained with the property file Q: Will it affect my EPC? A: It can be recorded as a secondary heating source. The effect varies by assessor and property, so treat any gain as a bonus rather than the reason to install. Q: Do I need to tell my insurer? A: It is sensible to inform them of any significant fixed installation. Most treat it as a normal home improvement. ## The Air Conditioning Installation Process: What to Expect URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/advice/air-conditioning-installation-process-what-to-expect Category: Installation | Published: 2026-07-21 | Updated: 2026-07-21 Knowing what happens on the day removes most of the anxiety. Here is the full sequence, stage by stage. ### Stage one: the survey We visit, measure the rooms, look at glazing and orientation, find a route for pipework and condensate, check the consumer unit and agree where the outdoor unit can go. This is where the design decisions are made and where problems get found before they cost money. You get a written specification listing the equipment, capacities, routes, electrical works, VAT treatment and price. ### Stage two: preparation We agree a date, order equipment and confirm anything that needs your action first — clearing access to the loft, moving furniture away from walls, or arranging permissions in a leasehold flat. Dust sheets and floor protection come with us. We ask for parking near the property where possible, because there is heavy kit to carry. ### Stage three: first fix Core drilling through the external wall, running refrigerant pipework and condensate, and pulling in the interconnecting cable. This is the noisiest and dustiest part, and it is usually done within the first few hours. Pipework is run inside voids, ceilings or neat external trunking depending on what we agreed at survey. ### Stage four: units, vacuum and commissioning Indoor units go onto their backplates, the outdoor unit is mounted on brackets or a ground stand, and the system is pressure tested and evacuated to remove moisture and air before refrigerant is released. We then run the system in both cooling and heating, take commissioning readings, check condensate drainage and hand over the controls with a demonstration. - Pressure test and vacuum before charging — never skipped - Electrical work certified - Commissioning readings recorded - Warranty registered on your behalf ### After handover You get the manuals, the commissioning record and the electrical certificate. We explain filter cleaning and set a reminder for the first annual service. If anything is not right in the first weeks, we come back. Snagging is part of the job, not an argument. Q: Do I need to be home the whole day? A: Someone needs to be there to give access and to be present for the handover. You do not need to watch every stage. Q: How much mess is there? A: Core drilling makes dust. We sheet up, use extraction where we can and clean up before we leave. ## How Long Does Air Conditioning Installation Take? URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/advice/how-long-does-air-conditioning-installation-take Category: Installation | Published: 2026-07-21 | Updated: 2026-07-21 Most single-room installations are a one-day job. Here is what changes that, and how to plan around it. ### Single-split systems One indoor unit and one outdoor unit, with a short straightforward pipe run, is typically a single day on site including commissioning and handover. If the outdoor unit is at ground level directly behind the indoor unit, it can be quicker than that. ### Multi-room and multi-split systems Two to three indoor units usually take one to two days. Four or more, or a multi-split running from one condenser with long pipe routes, is commonly two to three days. Where pipework is concealed within a renovation, we often attend twice: first fix before plastering, second fix when decoration is complete. - 1 room: typically 1 day - 2–3 rooms: typically 1–2 days - 4+ rooms or concealed routes: typically 2–3 days, sometimes split visits ### What makes a job take longer Long or awkward pipe runs, solid masonry, listed or period fabric, scaffolding or access equipment, condensate that will not drain by gravity and therefore needs a pump, and electrical upgrades all add time. Flats add logistics: lifts, permissions, restricted working hours and shared external walls. ### Planning your week around it Book the survey early — lead time to the installation date is usually longer than the installation itself, particularly in May and June when demand spikes. Installing in autumn or winter often means faster availability and gives you the heating benefit immediately. Q: Can you do it while I am at work? A: We need access and someone present for handover, but many customers arrange access in the morning and return for the demonstration. Q: How far ahead should I book? A: Book the survey as soon as you are considering it. Peak-season installation slots fill weeks ahead. ## Do I Need Planning Permission for Air Conditioning? URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/advice/do-i-need-planning-permission-for-air-conditioning Category: Planning and property | Published: 2026-07-21 | Updated: 2026-07-21 Many domestic installations do not need permission. The exceptions matter, and they are easy to check before you commit. ### Permitted development in outline For many houses, an air source heat pump outdoor unit can be installed under permitted development rights, subject to conditions on siting, size, noise and distance from boundaries. The unit must be used solely for heating or cooling the dwelling and be removed when no longer needed. Rules are set nationally but interpreted locally, and permitted development rights can be removed by an Article 4 direction. ### When you should expect to apply Flats and maisonettes are treated differently from houses, and generally do not enjoy the same rights for external plant. Listed buildings need listed building consent for external alterations. Conservation areas restrict units on elevations fronting a highway. If your property has had permitted development rights removed — common on newer estates through planning conditions — you will need an application regardless of the technology. - Flats and maisonettes - Listed buildings and their curtilage - Conservation areas, particularly street-facing elevations - Properties with an Article 4 direction or restrictive planning condition ### Noise conditions Permitted development conditions include noise limits assessed at neighbouring habitable rooms. Sensible siting, anti-vibration mounts and choosing quality equipment normally keep an installation comfortably inside them. We assess the likely noise position at survey and will tell you if a proposed location looks marginal. ### Sutton and Surrey specifics Properties in Carshalton, Carshalton Beeches, Sutton and Wallington sit under the London Borough of Sutton for planning purposes, and parts of the area include conservation designations around the ponds and older village core. Admin note: we do not give planning decisions. We advise on siting and provide the technical details you need; confirmation always comes from the local planning authority. Q: Can you apply on my behalf? A: We can supply the technical information, specification and noise data an application needs. The application itself is made by the property owner or their agent. Q: What about a leasehold flat? A: You will usually need freeholder or management company consent in addition to any planning requirement. Start that conversation early. ## Where to Put the Outdoor Unit URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/advice/where-to-put-the-outdoor-unit Category: Installation | Published: 2026-07-21 | Updated: 2026-07-21 The outdoor unit position affects noise, efficiency, cost and how the installation looks for the next fifteen years. ### Airflow comes first The outdoor unit rejects heat in summer and absorbs it in winter. It needs clear air in front of the fan and behind the coil. Boxed into a tight alley, behind a solid fence or under decking, it recirculates its own discharge air and efficiency collapses. Manufacturers publish minimum clearances. We design to them, not to whatever will fit. ### Noise and neighbours Keep the unit away from bedroom windows — yours and next door's. Avoid mounting on a lightweight timber structure that can amplify vibration, and use anti-vibration mounts as standard. Side returns and rear elevations are usually better than a boundary wall shared with a neighbour's patio. - Clear space in front of the fan discharge - Away from bedroom windows and seating areas - Anti-vibration mounts on brackets or a ground stand - Not enclosed by solid screening on all sides ### Pipe run length costs money and performance Every extra metre of refrigerant pipe adds material, labour, refrigerant volume and a small performance penalty. Positioning the condenser near the indoor units keeps the job neat and efficient. Where a long run is unavoidable, we design for it properly rather than pretending it makes no difference. ### Looks and access Ground stands are easier to service than high-level brackets and avoid working at height on every visit. Wall brackets keep the unit off the ground where flooding, leaves or pets are a concern. Slatted screening is fine provided airflow is maintained. Fully enclosing a condenser is not. Q: Can it go on a flat roof? A: Often yes, with proper mounting feet, weight distribution and safe access for servicing. We assess the structure at survey. Q: Can the outdoor unit be at the front of the house? A: Technically yes, but in conservation areas street-facing plant is restricted, and it rarely looks good. We try hard to find an alternative. ## Multi-Split vs Single-Split Air Conditioning URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/advice/multi-split-vs-single-split-air-conditioning Category: Installation | Published: 2026-07-21 | Updated: 2026-07-21 One condenser for the whole house sounds obviously better. It is not always the right call — here is why. ### The difference A single-split is one indoor unit paired with one outdoor unit. A multi-split connects two to five indoor units to a single larger outdoor unit, with pipework branching to each room. Both use the same underlying technology; the difference is how the outdoor capacity is shared. ### The case for multi-split One outdoor unit instead of four is a big win where wall space, garden space or aesthetics are constrained — terraced houses, small courtyards, flats with a single permitted plant location. It also reduces the number of external penetrations and can look considerably tidier. ### The case for separate single-splits Separate systems are independent. If one develops a fault, the other rooms carry on working. They also allow different room types to be matched with better-suited equipment, and they often run more efficiently at part load because each condenser is sized for its own room. Where there is space for two discreet condensers, this is frequently the better engineering answer. - Redundancy — a fault does not take out the whole house - Better part-load efficiency in many scenarios - Simpler faultfinding and cheaper repairs - Often lower installed cost for two rooms ### What it does to cost For two rooms, two single-splits are usually similar or cheaper than a multi-split. From three rooms upward, multi-split often becomes the more economic and better-looking option. The honest answer depends on your building. We price both where both are viable so you can choose with the numbers in front of you. Q: Can a multi-split heat one room and cool another at the same time? A: Standard multi-splits cannot — all indoor units run in the same mode. Systems that can do both simultaneously are a different, more expensive class of equipment. Q: Can I add rooms later? A: Only if the outdoor unit was sized and piped for it. Tell us your future plans at survey and we will design with headroom. ## Ducted vs Wall-Mounted Air Conditioning URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/advice/ducted-vs-wall-mounted-air-conditioning Category: Installation | Published: 2026-07-21 | Updated: 2026-07-21 The indoor unit type you choose affects appearance, cost, servicing and how much building work is involved. ### Wall-mounted units The default for good reason: lowest cost, easiest installation, best efficiency per pound, simple filter access and quiet operation. Modern units are slim and unobtrusive in white or matte finishes. The trade-off is that you can see it. For most people, high on a wall above head height, that is a non-issue. ### Ducted systems The fan coil hides in a ceiling void, loft or bulkhead, and air is delivered through slim grilles. Nothing visible except the grilles, which is why they suit renovations, loft conversions and high-specification interiors. They cost more, need a void of adequate depth, need proper duct design to stay quiet, and require designed access for servicing. Retrofitting into a finished house is often impractical. - Best appearance — grilles only - Needs ceiling or loft void and duct routes - Higher cost and more building work - Service access must be planned in, not improvised ### Ceiling cassettes Cassettes sit flush in a suspended ceiling and blow in multiple directions. Common in offices, salons and shops, occasionally used domestically where there is a suitable ceiling void. Excellent air distribution in square rooms, but they need real void depth. ### Floor-standing and low-wall units Useful under windows and in rooms where high wall space is limited, and they suit heating-led use because warm air is delivered low in the room. They take up floor space and can be obstructed by furniture, so position needs thought. Q: Which is quietest indoors? A: A well-designed ducted system, because the fan coil is remote from the room. A good wall unit on low fan is close behind. Q: Can I mix types on one system? A: Yes. Multi-split systems commonly mix wall units in bedrooms with a ducted or floor unit elsewhere. ## R32 Refrigerant and F-Gas Regulations, Explained URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/advice/r32-refrigerant-and-f-gas-explained Category: Technical | Published: 2026-07-21 | Updated: 2026-07-21 Refrigerant choice and F-Gas compliance are the parts of an installation you cannot see — and the parts that matter most legally. ### What R32 is R32 is the refrigerant used in most current domestic split systems. It replaced R410A because it has roughly a third of the global warming potential and is a single-component refrigerant, which makes charging and servicing simpler and more accurate. It is mildly flammable, classified A2L, which is why charge quantities are matched to room volume and why installation must follow the manufacturer's design rules. ### What F-Gas requires Anyone installing, servicing or decommissioning equipment containing fluorinated refrigerants must hold the relevant F-Gas qualification, and the company must hold the appropriate registration. Refrigerant must be recovered, not vented, and records kept. This is a legal requirement, not a badge. Asking to see it is entirely reasonable and any competent installer will show you. - Engineer qualification for handling refrigerant - Company registration for the work carried out - Recovery of refrigerant at decommissioning - Records of charge quantity and commissioning ### Is it safe at home? Yes, when installed correctly. Manufacturers publish minimum room areas for a given refrigerant charge, and we check them as part of design. A properly brazed, pressure-tested and evacuated system should never lose charge in normal use. The risks come from bad installation — undersized rooms, poor joints, no pressure test — not from the refrigerant itself. ### What comes next Regulation continues to push global warming potential down, and lower-GWP refrigerants such as R290 are appearing in some products. R32 equipment installed today remains fully supported and serviceable for its working life. We will always tell you which refrigerant a proposed system uses and how much of it the installation holds. Q: Does refrigerant need topping up regularly? A: No. A sealed system should not lose refrigerant. Repeated top-ups indicate a leak that must be found and fixed. Q: Can I get R410A equipment serviced? A: Yes, existing R410A systems can still be maintained, though refrigerant availability and cost are gradually increasing. ## Air Conditioning Servicing and Maintenance Guide URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/advice/air-conditioning-servicing-and-maintenance-guide Category: Maintenance | Published: 2026-07-21 | Updated: 2026-07-21 Filters monthly, a proper service annually. That is the whole maintenance regime — and it protects both efficiency and warranty. ### What you should do yourself Slide out the indoor filters, rinse them in lukewarm water, dry fully and refit. Monthly during heavy use is ideal. Wipe the fascia, and keep furniture and curtains clear of the air discharge. Outside, keep the condenser clear of leaves, weeds, bins and garden furniture, and brush the coil fins gently if they are dusty. - Rinse filters monthly in season - Keep 300mm+ clear around the outdoor unit - Watch for water marks below the indoor unit - Note any new noises early ### What an annual service includes Deep clean of the indoor coil and blower, filter clean or replacement, condensate tray and drain flush, electrical connection checks, refrigerant pressures and superheat, and outdoor coil clean. The engineer should record operating pressures and temperatures. If you get no readings, you did not get a service. ### Why it pays for itself A fouled coil or blocked filter can add double-digit percentages to running cost, and blocked condensate is the single most common cause of water damage from an indoor unit. Most manufacturers also require documented annual servicing to keep the extended warranty valid, so a missed service can turn a covered repair into a bill. ### Commercial systems need more Shops, salons, offices and server rooms run far more hours than a home, and F-Gas leak checking obligations apply above certain charge sizes. Twice-yearly visits are common. We plan commercial maintenance around your trading hours so nothing shuts down at the wrong time. Q: How often should a home system be serviced? A: Annually. Before summer is ideal, though autumn works well if you use it mainly for heating. Q: Do you service systems you did not install? A: Yes, provided the installation is safe and accessible. We will report honestly on anything we find. ## Common Air Conditioning Problems and What They Mean URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/advice/common-air-conditioning-problems-and-what-they-mean Category: Maintenance | Published: 2026-07-21 | Updated: 2026-07-21 Most call-outs come down to six symptoms. Knowing what each one means helps you describe the fault and avoid unnecessary visits. ### It runs but does not cool Usually airflow or refrigerant. Check the filters first — a blocked filter is the most common cause by a wide margin. Then check the outdoor unit is not obstructed and the fan is spinning. If both are fine, suspect low refrigerant from a leak, which needs an engineer with recovery equipment and leak detection, not a top-up. ### Water dripping from the indoor unit Almost always condensate drainage: a blocked drain, a slipped or sagging drain line, a failed condensate pump or a tray full of biological growth. Turn the unit off to stop making more water and get it looked at promptly — this is the fault that damages plaster and flooring. ### Musty or sour smells Biological growth on the coil or in the drain tray. A deep clean at service usually resolves it. Running the unit in fan mode for a few minutes after cooling helps dry the coil and prevents recurrence. A burning smell is different — turn it off and call us. ### Ice, noises and error codes Ice on the pipework indicates restricted airflow or low refrigerant. Rattles are often loose panels or brackets; grinding or screeching points at a fan bearing or compressor and should be investigated immediately. Error codes are manufacturer specific — photograph the display and tell us the code, it usually shortens diagnosis considerably. - Ice on pipes → airflow or charge problem - Rattle → loose panel, bracket or debris - Grinding → mechanical, stop using it - Code on display → note it before resetting ### When to stop and call someone Any burning smell, tripping breaker, visible damage, oily residue around pipework or grinding noise means switch off and call. Refrigerant work and electrical work are not DIY. Filters, obstructions and remote batteries are fair game. Everything past that needs an F-Gas qualified engineer. Q: Why does my unit smell when I first switch it on for summer? A: Dust and moisture settled over winter. If it does not clear within an hour of running, book a clean. Q: Is a tripping breaker urgent? A: Yes. Leave the circuit off and call. Repeated resets on a faulting circuit are dangerous. ## Air Conditioning Noise and Your Neighbours URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/advice/air-conditioning-noise-and-your-neighbours Category: Planning and property | Published: 2026-07-21 | Updated: 2026-07-21 Noise complaints almost always come from siting decisions, not from the equipment. Get the position right and the problem never arises. ### What the numbers actually are A modern domestic indoor unit runs around 19–25 dB(A) on low fan — quieter than a fridge and below most conversation. Outdoor units typically sit in the high 40s to low 50s dB(A) at one metre, dropping quickly with distance. At a neighbouring boundary several metres away, a well-sited unit is usually barely distinguishable from background noise. ### Permitted development noise conditions Permitted development for air source heat pumps includes a noise condition assessed at the nearest neighbouring habitable room. Manufacturers publish sound power data for exactly this purpose. We use that data at survey to sanity-check a proposed position before anyone commits. ### Practical ways to keep it quiet Mount on anti-vibration feet or bracket pads. Avoid lightweight timber structures. Keep the discharge pointing away from boundaries and windows. Allow clearance so the fan is not fighting an obstruction. Night mode or quiet mode on the controller reduces compressor and fan speed overnight for a small efficiency trade-off — worth it in tight terraces. - Anti-vibration mounts as standard - Discharge directed away from boundaries - Acoustic screening that still allows airflow - Night/quiet mode enabled for overnight running ### Talk to the neighbours first A two-minute conversation before installation prevents most disputes. People object to surprises far more than to equipment. If a neighbour has concerns, we are happy for you to share the manufacturer's noise data and the proposed position. Q: Can I box the unit in to hide the noise? A: Only with a screen that allows free airflow. Sealing a condenser into a box damages performance and can make noise worse. Q: Are cheap units noisier? A: Generally yes. Sound data is published, and the difference between budget and premium ranges is audible. ## Bedroom Air Conditioning for Better Sleep URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/advice/bedroom-air-conditioning-for-better-sleep Category: Rooms and property types | Published: 2026-07-22 | Updated: 2026-07-22 Bedrooms are the most common reason people finally install air conditioning. Getting them right is mostly about noise and sizing. ### The temperature that actually helps Sleep research consistently points to a bedroom somewhere around 16–19°C, with humidity under control. In a British heatwave a first-floor bedroom can sit at 27–28°C all night, which is why sleep collapses. You do not need arctic cooling. Bringing a room from 28°C to 21°C, with the humidity dropped, transforms how it feels. ### Noise is the deciding factor A bedroom unit needs to be quiet at low fan, because that is where it will spend the night. Look for published sound pressure figures in the low twenties dB(A) and use the unit's night or quiet mode. Position matters too: avoid blowing directly onto the bed, and keep the outdoor unit away from bedroom windows — including next door's. - Low-fan sound pressure around 19–23 dB(A) - Night mode with automatic set-point drift - Airflow directed along the ceiling, not at the bed - Outdoor unit away from any bedroom window ### Do not oversize a bedroom An oversized unit in a small bedroom cools fast, stops, and cycles — which means noise changes constantly and humidity is barely touched. A correctly sized unit runs gently and steadily, which is exactly what you want overnight. Most standard double bedrooms are served well by a 2.0–2.5kW unit; large rooms with big south-facing glazing may need more. ### Winter use The same unit heats. Bedrooms that are cold in winter — loft rooms, extensions over garages, rooms at the end of a radiator circuit — get a fast, controllable heat source without firing the whole house. Because it is a heat pump, running it for an hour before bed is cheap. Q: Will it dry my throat out overnight? A: Not at sensible set points. Excessive cooling and airflow aimed straight at the bed are what cause that, and both are avoidable. Q: Can it run on a timer to shut off after I fall asleep? A: Yes. Sleep timers and scheduled set-point drift are standard on the units we install. ## Home Office Air Conditioning: Working From Home Comfortably URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/advice/home-office-air-conditioning Category: Rooms and property types | Published: 2026-07-22 | Updated: 2026-07-22 A home office is a small room with people, screens and glazing in it. That combination overheats faster than anywhere else in the house. ### Small room, large heat load Two monitors, a laptop, a docking station and a person add up to several hundred watts of continuous heat in a room that might be nine square metres. Add a south-facing window and the room is unusable by lunchtime in July. That is why home offices often need proportionally more cooling capacity than a bedroom of the same size. ### It is a year-round problem The same room is often freezing at 8am in January, because the central heating is programmed around a household that used to be out all day. A reversible unit fixes both ends of the year with one piece of equipment. Heating one room to work in, instead of the whole house, is where the running cost argument becomes obvious. ### Garden rooms and outbuildings Garden offices are lightweight, heavily glazed and thermally quick — hot in summer, cold in winter. They are one of the best applications for a small split system, and the pipe run to a condenser on the outside of the building is usually short and simple. The electrical supply to the building needs checking; we assess it at survey. - Check supply capacity to the outbuilding first - Short pipe runs keep cost down - Small 2.0–2.5kW units are usually enough - Quiet operation matters for video calls ### Video calls and background noise Microphones pick up fan noise that you stop noticing. A quality indoor unit on low fan is inaudible on a call; a portable air conditioner in the same room is not. This alone is why many home workers switch from portables to a fixed system. Q: Can I claim it as a business expense? A: That is a question for your accountant. Note that VAT treatment depends on whether the space is residential accommodation — we set out the treatment on the quotation. Q: Will it cope with a rack of IT equipment? A: Tell us the equipment load at survey. Server and comms rooms are a different design problem and we handle those on the commercial side. ## Air Conditioning for Loft Conversions URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/advice/air-conditioning-for-loft-conversions Category: Rooms and property types | Published: 2026-07-22 | Updated: 2026-07-22 Loft rooms are the hottest space in almost every house. They are also the easiest to fix if you plan the installation at the right moment. ### Why lofts overheat Heat rises through the house, the roof absorbs direct sun all day, and insulation between rafters is often thinner than a floor build-up would allow. Rooflights add solar gain directly overhead where shading is hardest. The result is a room that sits several degrees above the rest of the house and stays hot long after sunset, because the roof structure has stored the day's heat. ### What works up there Wall-mounted units on the gable or dwarf wall are the usual answer and work well. Where sloping ceilings limit wall space, a low-wall or floor-standing unit under a window is a good alternative. If the conversion is still on paper, a ducted unit in a bulkhead or eaves cupboard gives the cleanest result — but only if it is designed in early. - Wall unit on the gable or dwarf wall — simplest - Floor/low-wall unit where wall space is tight - Ducted in a bulkhead — plan during the build - Outdoor unit usually at ground level with a riser ### Install during the conversion if you can First fixing pipework and condensate before plasterboard means no visible trunking, no chasing later and a much tidier job. Even if you fit the units a year later, having the pipework in place saves money and disruption. Tell your builder early. Retrofitting into a finished loft is entirely doable, but the routes are more constrained. ### Condensate from a loft Getting condensate away by gravity from the top of the house needs a route with continuous fall. Where that is not available, we fit a condensate pump — quiet, reliable, but it must be accessible for servicing. We work this out at survey rather than discovering it on installation day. ### Winter benefit Loft rooms are often cold in winter for the same reasons they are hot in summer. A reversible unit heats the space quickly without extending the central heating circuit up another floor. For a converted loft used as a bedroom or office, this is the strongest case for air conditioning in the entire house. Q: Can the outdoor unit go on the roof? A: Sometimes, but ground level or a rear wall bracket is usually better for noise, servicing access and planning. Q: Do rooflight blinds help? A: Yes, meaningfully — external blinds most of all. They reduce the load the system has to handle. ## Air Conditioning in Flats and Leasehold Properties URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/advice/air-conditioning-in-flats-and-leasehold-properties Category: Rooms and property types | Published: 2026-07-22 | Updated: 2026-07-22 Flats are the trickiest domestic installations — not technically, but because of consent and outdoor unit location. ### Start with consent, not equipment In a leasehold flat, the external walls, roof and balcony structure usually belong to the freeholder. Fixing anything to them, or penetrating them, needs written consent — typically a licence for alterations. Get that conversation started before you get quotes. It is the long pole in the timeline, and no installer can shortcut it. - Written freeholder or management company consent - Check the lease for alteration and nuisance clauses - Planning permission is more likely to be needed than for a house - Building insurance and any block noise policy ### Where the outdoor unit can go Balconies, dedicated plant areas, flat roofs with access, or a bracket on a rear elevation are the common options. Whatever the location, it needs airflow, safe servicing access and acceptable noise at neighbouring windows. Ground-floor flats can sometimes use a small ground stand in a private outdoor area with the freeholder's agreement. ### When external plant is banned outright Some leases and some new-build management schemes prohibit external units entirely. Options then narrow to comfort cooling that does not need a condenser outside — which in practice means compromise on performance and, often, portable equipment. We will tell you honestly if we do not think a compliant installation is possible, rather than selling you something that causes a dispute. ### Practical installation issues in blocks Lift bookings, permitted working hours, parking for the van, protection of communal areas and waste removal all need arranging. We handle the logistics but need a few details from you or the managing agent. Concrete structures need core drilling with the right kit, and structural elements must not be drilled without approval. Q: Will the freeholder usually say yes? A: Many do, particularly with a clear proposal showing the unit position, noise data and making good. A vague request is more likely to be refused. Q: Does 0% VAT apply in a flat? A: Flats are residential accommodation, so a qualifying heat pump installation can be zero rated in the same way as a house. ## Air Conditioning for Period and Victorian Homes URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/advice/air-conditioning-for-period-and-victorian-homes Category: Rooms and property types | Published: 2026-07-22 | Updated: 2026-07-22 Period homes in Carshalton and Sutton can absolutely have air conditioning. It just needs a route plan that respects the building. ### Working with the fabric Solid brick walls, lath and plaster, suspended timber floors and ornate cornicing all shape where pipework can sensibly run. The good news is that period houses usually have plenty of route options: floor voids, chimney breasts, cupboards and rear elevations. We plan routes to avoid cutting into decorative plasterwork or original joinery wherever there is an alternative. ### Conservation areas and listed buildings Parts of Carshalton, particularly around the ponds and older village core, sit within conservation areas. Street-facing external plant is restricted, and listed buildings need consent for external alterations. A rear or side elevation position almost always solves it. We identify the constraint at survey rather than after the fact. - Rear and side elevations for outdoor units - Listed building consent for any external alteration - Conservation area restrictions on street frontages - Colour-matched trunking where external runs are unavoidable ### Keeping it discreet inside High wall mounting above picture rails, units chosen in the least obtrusive finish, and pipework concealed in floor voids from a first-floor room keep the intervention minimal. Where a room has no acceptable wall position, a floor-standing unit in an alcove or a ducted unit in a cupboard can work. ### Why period homes benefit Solid walls with limited insulation swing hot and cold. Single-glazed sash windows and large south-facing bays create strong solar gain. A heat pump handles both directions, and in winter it warms rooms that radiators struggle with. Because these houses often have poorly heated top floors, the heating side is frequently valued more than the cooling. Q: Will you drill through original brickwork? A: Only where necessary and always with the smallest sensible core, neatly sleeved and made good. We agree every penetration with you first. Q: Can pipework be run externally? A: Yes, in colour-matched trunking, though on a period frontage we will push hard for an internal or rear route instead. ## Air Conditioning in Carshalton: A Local Guide URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/advice/air-conditioning-carshalton-a-local-guide Category: Local area | Published: 2026-07-22 | Updated: 2026-07-22 Carshalton's housing stock ranges from Victorian cottages to 1930s semis and modern flats. Each brings its own installation considerations. ### The local housing stock Carshalton and Carshalton Beeches are dominated by inter-war semis and 1930s detached houses, with Victorian terraces closer to the village and pockets of newer flats around the station and High Street. Inter-war semis are ideal for air conditioning: accessible side returns for the outdoor unit, generous loft space for pipe routing and bedrooms that get uncomfortably hot on the south side. ### What we install most around here The most common domestic job locally is two or three bedrooms plus a loft office or converted attic. Second is a single unit in a rear extension or open-plan kitchen-diner with bifold doors, which are hot rooms by design. On the commercial side we cover salons, shops, offices and treatment rooms along the High Street and around Wallington and Sutton town centres. - Loft conversions and top-floor bedrooms - Glazed rear extensions and kitchen-diners - Home offices and garden rooms - Small commercial units and salons ### Local planning context Planning is administered by the London Borough of Sutton. Conservation areas around Carshalton village and the ponds add restrictions on street-facing plant, and some newer developments carry conditions removing permitted development rights. Admin note: always confirm the position for your specific address with the local planning authority. We provide the technical data for any application. ### Why a local installer matters We know the housing types, the typical pipe routes, the parking and access constraints on narrow roads, and we are close enough to return quickly for service or a warranty call. Carshalton Air Conditioning is the local air conditioning arm of WDI Group (Surrey) Ltd, company number 15560511, so you get a local team backed by an established Surrey contractor. Q: Which areas do you cover? A: Carshalton, Carshalton Beeches, Sutton, Wallington and the surrounding Surrey and south London boroughs. Ask if you are just outside. Q: How quickly can you survey? A: Usually within a few days locally, and often sooner outside the May to July peak. ## Choosing an Air Conditioning Installer in Sutton and Wallington URL: https://carshaltonairconditioning.co.uk/advice/choosing-an-air-conditioning-installer-in-sutton-and-wallington Category: Local area | Published: 2026-07-22 | Updated: 2026-07-22 Anyone can sell you a box on a wall. Here is how to work out who will still be answering the phone in five years. ### Credentials to check F-Gas qualification for the engineers and company registration for handling refrigerant are legal requirements. Public liability insurance and competence for the electrical work are equally non-negotiable. Ask for the company number and check it. Ours is 15560511, WDI Group (Surrey) Ltd, VAT registration 495855036. - F-Gas qualified engineers and registered company - Public liability insurance in date - Electrical work certified - Registered company with a traceable trading history ### Insist on a written specification A proper quotation lists the exact model numbers and capacities, indoor unit positions, outdoor unit position, pipe routes and lengths, electrical works, making good, commissioning, warranty terms and VAT treatment. If a quote is one line and a price, you cannot compare it with anything, and you have no protection when scope is disputed later. ### Red flags Prices quoted over the phone without seeing the property. Pressure to decide today. Large cash deposits. No mention of pressure testing or vacuum. Vague warranty language. No named engineer or address. Also be wary of a quote that is 20% below every other one — check whether it is VAT treatment, cheaper equipment or work that has been left out. ### Warranty and aftercare Manufacturer warranties commonly run five to seven years when the equipment is installed by an approved installer, registered on time and serviced annually. Ask who registers it and who you call if something fails. Aftercare is where local matters most. A firm forty miles away will not be there quickly in August. Q: Should I get three quotes? A: Two or three is sensible, provided you compare specifications rather than only the totals. Q: Do you charge for surveys? A: Survey and quotation arrangements are set out when you book. Use the survey form and we will confirm everything in writing before we attend.