The 6-stage installation process
- 1
Free site survey (30–45 min)
An F-Gas engineer visits the property, measures each room (L × W × H), assesses insulation, glazing and solar gain, and identifies the shortest viable pipe route from indoor to outdoor unit. They'll also check the consumer unit for spare circuit capacity and confirm the outdoor unit position complies with permitted-development limits.
- 2
System design & written quote
Within one working day you receive a fixed written quote listing model numbers, cooling/heating capacity in kW, SEER and SCOP ratings, pipe-run length, electrical works, commissioning and VAT — all itemised. We won't quote a system before we've physically surveyed the property.
- 3
Delivery and pre-install checks
Units are delivered to us 48 hours before installation so we can pressure-check the coils and confirm there's no shipping damage. On the day, we arrive with dust sheets, floor protection and a HEPA vacuum — your carpets stay clean.
- 4
Installation day (typically 6–9 hours)
Wall bracket for the outdoor unit is fixed and levelled, a 65 mm core-drill takes the pipe run through the external wall (sealed with fire-rated intumescent mastic), refrigerant lines are brazed under nitrogen purge, condensate drain is routed to a soakaway or waste, and the indoor head is mounted, levelled and connected.
- 5
F-Gas commissioning & pressure test
Under UK F-Gas Regulation 517/2014 the system is vacuumed to 500 microns for at least 30 minutes, held to confirm zero leakage, then charged to the manufacturer's spec. We issue a signed F-Gas record and, for systems over 5 tCO₂e, register the equipment on the F-Gas national database.
- 6
Handover, training & warranty
You get a full walk-through: remote control functions, Wi-Fi app pairing, filter cleaning (a 60-second job every 6 weeks) and what to do if the fault light flashes. Warranty is registered with the manufacturer that day — typically 5 years parts and labour, extendable to 7 years on Daikin and Mitsubishi Electric.
Do I need planning permission?
For most houses in England, no. Domestic air conditioning falls under Permitted Development Class G (as amended in 2011) provided the outdoor unit is at least 1 metre from any property boundary, has a volume under 0.6 m³, isn't mounted on a chimney, wall or roof-slope facing a highway, and isn't on the principal elevation.
Flats, conservation areas, National Parks, AONBs and listed buildings are not covered by permitted development and always need an application. Approval usually takes 6–8 weeks and costs £206 for a householder application. Our engineers will flag if you need it during the free survey.
Why F-Gas certification matters
F-Gas (Fluorinated Greenhouse Gas) regulation is UK law, not a trade badge. Only engineers certified under BS EN 13313 by a body such as REFCOM or Bureau Veritas can legally handle refrigerant. Choosing an uncertified installer is a false economy:
- Warranty void. Manufacturers won't honour parts or labour if the commissioning wasn't signed off by a certified engineer.
- Insurance risk. A refrigerant leak causing property damage isn't covered by home insurance if the install wasn't compliant.
- Legal fines. Handling F-gas without certification carries a personal fine up to £200,000 and criminal liability.
- Building Regs. Part L compliance requires the SEER/SCOP figures on the F-Gas record. No record = no compliance.
Always ask to see the engineer's F-Gas card before work starts. It carries a photograph, expiry date and their unique registration number — check the number against the REFCOM public register in 30 seconds.
What you should do before we arrive
- Clear a 1.5 m working zone around the indoor and outdoor unit positions.
- Cover soft furnishings you don't want dust on — we bring sheets, but pre-covering saves 15 minutes.
- Confirm on-street parking is available. If your street is CPZ, arrange a visitor permit or scratch card.
- Have a decision-maker on site to sign the commissioning record.
After the install: your first 90 days
Modern inverter units are extremely reliable but the first three months are when small commissioning issues (a slightly noisy fan bearing, a Wi-Fi handshake glitch) show up. You have unlimited callouts within the first 90 days as standard, and we set a reminder for your first free filter-clean at week 8. From year 1 onwards, an annual service costs £90–£140 and is required to keep the manufacturer warranty active.
Frequently asked
- Will it be noisy?
- Modern indoor units run at 19–24 dB on low fan — quieter than a whisper. Outdoor units are 45–52 dB at 1 m, similar to a fridge; they must be under 42 dB at the neighbour's window under permitted development.
- Can it heat as well as cool?
- Yes. Every unit we install is a reverse-cycle heat pump, delivering heating with a COP of 4–5. Below −7°C outdoor temperature efficiency drops off, but modern units still heat effectively down to −15°C.
- What refrigerant do you use?
- All new installs use R-32, which has one-third the global warming potential of the older R-410A and is more energy-efficient. R-32 is mildly flammable, which is why installer certification matters.
- How disruptive is core-drilling?
- One 65 mm hole per pipe run, done with a dust-suppression drill. Total noise: about 90 seconds. We seal both faces with intumescent mastic that meets Building Regs Part B fire compliance.
Book your free site survey
Pick a slot online — most surveys are booked within 48 hours. No obligation, no sales pressure, and a fixed written quote emailed the next working day.
