Air conditioning installation in Bolney

It depends on the number of units, the length of the pipe run and how easy the walls are to work on. We explain how long your job is likely to take once we have seen the space.

A single-room installation usually needs one hole through the wall for the pipes, cable and drain, plus fixings for the units. Dust from drilling is contained and cleared away, and the pipework outside is covered with trunking for a neat finish.

It needs a solid fixing, room for air to move around it and access for servicing, and it should be placed so its noise does not bother anyone. The pipe run back to the indoor unit also needs to be practical.

Yes. A multi-split system connects two or more indoor units to one outdoor unit, so each room has its own controls while only one unit sits outside.

Modern split systems are far more efficient than portable units, and a correctly sized unit with clean filters uses less. Running costs depend on the model, how often it runs and your electricity tariff.

Often, yes, but you will need the freeholder's or landlord's agreement before any work on outside walls, and the building may have its own rules about where units can go.

Usually high on a wall where the air can spread across the room without blowing straight onto a bed, sofa or desk. An outside wall is easiest, because the pipes can go straight through to the outdoor unit.

Each model has a maximum pipe length and height difference set by the manufacturer. Shorter runs are simpler, neater and more efficient, so the units are usually placed as close as the house allows.

Where the indoor unit is on an outside wall, the pipes go straight through and only the outdoor run shows, covered by trunking. Longer runs can sometimes go through a loft, a cupboard or a ceiling void, which is worth discussing on the survey.

No. Floor-standing consoles suit rooms with low walls or loft rooms, ceiling cassettes suit larger open spaces, and ducted systems hide almost everything except the grilles. Wall-mounted split units are the most common choice for homes.

Many houses in England can fit an outdoor unit under permitted development rights, without a planning application, as long as the unit meets set conditions on size, position and noise. Listed buildings, conservation areas and flats are treated differently, so check with your council before you book.

Work that affects the character of a listed building, such as fixing a unit to an outside wall or drilling through it, usually needs listed building consent. Speak to your council's conservation officer before any work is planned.

In a conservation area, an outdoor unit on a wall or roof that faces a road is more likely to need planning permission. A position at the back or side of the house, out of view from the street, is often the simpler route.

Outdoor units make a low hum from the fan and compressor while they run. Placing the unit away from a neighbour's windows, bedrooms and patio, and on a solid fixing with anti-vibration mounts, keeps that to a minimum.