{"id":749,"date":"2017-06-08T10:30:34","date_gmt":"2017-06-08T09:30:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.quotatis.co.uk\/advice\/?post_type=project_page&p=749"},"modified":"2020-10-05T13:56:59","modified_gmt":"2020-10-05T12:56:59","slug":"air-con","status":"publish","type":"project_page","link":"https:\/\/www.local-quotes.co.uk\/advice\/guide\/air-conditioning\/air-con\/","title":{"rendered":"Air Con"},"content":{"rendered":"

Air conditioning is common in offices and shops, but more and more people are getting air con units for their homes. At the height of summer, air conditioning can be a welcome addition to your home.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Air conditioning is common in offices and shops, but more and more people are getting air con units for their homes. At the height of summer, air conditioning can be a welcome addition to your home.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":753,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":[],"tags":[],"tax_works":[44],"class_list":["post-749","project_page","type-project_page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tax_works-air-conditioning"],"acf":{"testimonials":false,"inspirations":false,"faq":[761,762,763,764],"quote_link":"https:\/\/www.quotatis.co.uk\/quotes.html?keyword=air-conditioning-systems&sqn=115897&spn=810","project_page_element_title":"Types of Air Conditioning Systems","project_page_elements":[{"element_label":"Single Unit","link_to_element_post":{"ID":754,"post_author":"5","post_date":"2017-06-08 14:00:20","post_date_gmt":"2017-06-08 13:00:20","post_content":"If you like the idea of having air conditioning in the summer but don't want to spend money on a fixed system, a single unit air conditioner might be for you.\r\n\r\nSingle unit air conditioners are portable units that allow you to cool a single room. You'll need to vent the unit through a window or door, so you can move the unit from room to room as and when you need to.\r\n\r\nLike anything, there are advantages and disadvantages to single unit air conditioners. Find out whether the benefits outweigh the costs below.\r\n

Benefits of a single unit air conditioner<\/h2>\r\n

Cheap solution<\/h3>\r\nA single unit air conditioner is a cheap solution to cool your home. These units cost far less than a fixed split-unit system.\r\n

Easy to install<\/h3>\r\nIt's very rare that there will be any installation required for a single unit air conditioner. All you'll need to do is vent the hot air out through a hose which you'll have to put out of a window or door.\r\n

Portable<\/h3>\r\nThe system is not fixed to a wall or connected via the mains. That means you can move a single unit air conditioner around to whichever room you need to cool. Systems tend to have handles to make them easy to carry.\r\n

Drawbacks of single unit air conditioners<\/h2>\r\n

Could be a security risk<\/h3>\r\nYou'll need to have a window or door open to vent the hose through, which could open your home up to unwanted visitors. Make sure you bring the hose in and shut and lock the door or window before you leave the house.\r\n

Not as efficient as fixed systems<\/h3>\r\nSingle unit air conditioners are not as efficient as split-unit systems. This is because portable air conditioners get hot and leak hot air back into the room, meaning they use more electricity to cool the space.\r\n

Can be heavy<\/h3>\r\nSome models of single unit air conditioners can be heavy, so you'll need to make sure the system you choose is manageable for you. Ensure that the handles are easy for you to grip so you don't drop it when you move the unit.\r\n\r\nSo if you don't want to spend much on air conditioning, a single unit air conditioner may be for you. Click 'Start my Project<\/a>' on the Air Con page to make an enquiry for air conditioning and be matched with up to 4 local air con companies.","post_title":"Why a Single Unit Air Conditioner Could be Best for you","post_excerpt":"Single unit air conditioners are portable air conditioners that you plug in to the mains and vent the hot air through a hose that you put out of a window. They are a cheaper alternative to split units.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"single-unit-air-conditioner-best","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-29 17:20:14","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 17:20:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.quotatis.co.uk\/advice\/?post_type=project_page_element&p=754","menu_order":0,"post_type":"project_page_element","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}},{"element_label":"Split Unit","link_to_element_post":{"ID":757,"post_author":"5","post_date":"2017-06-08 15:45:00","post_date_gmt":"2017-06-08 14:45:00","post_content":"Split unit air conditioners are air conditioning systems that are fixed to a wall in your home. They are known as split units because they are made up of an outdoor unit and an indoor unit that work together to cool a room in your home.\r\n\r\nLots of people choose split unit air conditioners over portable ones because they're quieter and more powerful. But they're not for everyone - read on to find out the benefits and drawbacks.\r\n

Pros<\/h2>\r\n

More secure than single unit air con<\/h3>\r\nUnlike single unit air conditioning, you don't have to leave a window open to vent hot air through a hose. That makes a split unit system more secure. The outdoor unit contains a compressor, condenser coil and expansion coil to remove heat, so there's no need to have a window open.\r\n

Quieter and more efficient<\/h3>\r\nGenerally, split unit air conditioners are quieter than portable units because part of the system is outside. They're also more efficient because you don't have to let some of the cool air out of the window. Single unit air conditioners also emit heat, so they use more electricity to cool the room down.\r\n

More powerful than portable units<\/h3>\r\nSince split units are larger and are wired up to your mains electricity, they are usually more powerful than single unit systems. This is particularly good if you have one room that gets very hot.\r\n

Cons<\/h2>\r\n

More expensive<\/h3>\r\nSplit unit air conditioners are generally more expensive than single units. You'll have to weigh up whether the costs are worth the benefits.\r\n

Installation is difficult<\/h3>\r\nBecause you need to have a unit installed on an outside wall, you'll probably need to hire a professional to do it. You can try to do it yourself, but it can be tricky.\r\n\r\nThere are more benefits to split unit air conditioners than there are disadvantages, but you'll have to decide whether you really want to spend more money on a split unit than a single unit when our summers are so changeable. To get some free, no-obligation prices, fill in our form by clicking 'Start my Project<\/a>' on the Air Con page.","post_title":"Split Unit Air Conditioners: The Pros and Cons","post_excerpt":"Split unit air conditioners are fixed to a wall in a room in your home with another unit that is fixed outside on the opposite side of the wall. They are more powerful and quieter than portable systems.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"split-unit-air-conditioners-pros-cons","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-29 17:18:06","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 17:18:06","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.quotatis.co.uk\/advice\/?post_type=project_page_element&p=757","menu_order":0,"post_type":"project_page_element","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}},{"element_label":"Central","link_to_element_post":{"ID":765,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2017-06-09 16:34:28","post_date_gmt":"2017-06-09 15:34:28","post_content":"Central air conditioning can be a great addition to your home, especially if you get uncomfortable easily in warm temperatures. You can set it on a thermostat so your system will come on whenever your home gets above a certain temperature, keeping it nice and cool for you.\r\n\r\nCentral air con systems have both outside and inside components. They have a large compressor unit, which often looks like a big metal cabinet and needs to be installed outside. You\u2019ll also need ducting on the inside of your property to distribute the cold air around your home.\r\n\r\nCentral air conditioning has some great benefits but it also has some downsides. We\u2019ve made a list of both to help you decide whether to install it in your home.\r\n\r\n

Benefits of central air conditioning<\/h3>\r\n\r\n

Keeps your whole home comfortable<\/h5>\r\nCentral air conditioning systems are designed to cool your entire home. This is different to portable and split unit air conditioning systems that only cover one room. If you want to cool the whole of your property, it\u2019s far more effective to install a central air conditioning system than put a single unit in every single room.\r\n\r\n
Cleans the air<\/h5>\r\nAnother advantage to central air conditioning is that it keeps the air in your home clean. When it draws warmer air out of a room it filters and cleans it. This air is then cooled and fed back into the room. Sophisticated air filters can remove tiny pollutants as well as dust.\r\n\r\n
Quieter than other types of air con<\/h5>\r\nAnother benefit to central air conditioning is that it\u2019s quieter than other types of air con. Because central heating compressor units, which are the noisy parts, are installed outside, central air con makes very little noise inside. This is opposed to portable air con units, which can be quite loud.\r\n\r\n

Drawbacks of central air conditioning<\/h3>\r\n\r\n

Higher energy bills<\/h5>\r\nThe main drawback to central air conditioning is that it\u2019s expensive to run. It will significantly increase your energy bills, especially if you have a large home or set it to a particularly cool temperature. It\u2019s definitely worth working out whether you can afford to run a central air conditioning system before you go ahead and install one.\r\n\r\n
Expensive to install<\/h5>\r\nCentral air con is also expensive to install. If you already have a duct system in your home then it won\u2019t be too bad, but if you have to get lots of ducting installed this can really rack up.\r\n\r\n
Requires maintenance<\/h5>\r\nPeople also get put off central air conditioning because it requires maintenance. The ducting requires professional cleaning at least once a year to prevent mould and mildew growth. \r\n\r\nSo central air conditioning has both good and bad points. It can be great at keeping your home air clean and cool but is often very expensive in the long run.\r\n\r\nTo find someone to give you a quote for fitting central air conditioning, select \u2018Start my project\u2019 on the Air Con page. Put your details into our online form and we\u2019ll put you in touch with up to 4 local air con installers.","post_title":"How Central Air Conditioning Could Transform Your Home","post_excerpt":"While other air conditioning systems cool individual rooms, central air conditioning cools your whole house. This is great if you have lots of rooms in your home that you use during the day and want to keep them all cool.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"central-air-conditioning-transform-home","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-10-29 17:13:05","post_modified_gmt":"2019-10-29 17:13:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.quotatis.co.uk\/advice\/?post_type=project_page_element&p=765","menu_order":0,"post_type":"project_page_element","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}}],"standard_and_laws":[{"standard_and_laws_link":{"ID":768,"post_author":"10","post_date":"2017-06-12 09:34:24","post_date_gmt":"2017-06-12 08:34:24","post_content":"Air conditioning units use fluorinated greenhouse gases, or F gases. The EU regulates the use of these gases in stationary air conditioning systems. The regulations state that people who work with F gases must hold appropriate certifications. \r\n\r\nThere is a range of different certification bodies that operate in the UK. The company must have certification as well as the employees who work with F gases.\r\n\r\n

Why are these regulations in place?<\/h3>\r\nThe regulations are in place to control F gases and make sure they don't become dangerous. This is because F gases could damage the ozone layer if they leak into the atmosphere. However, F gases are safe if they are properly contained. The regulations make sure that handlers store F gases properly and don't let them leak.\r\n\r\n

Regulations on installation<\/h3>\r\nAll air conditioning installers must hold F gas certification. It\u2019s illegal to install F gas air conditioning without holding an F gas certification.\r\n\r\nTo comply with regulations, both the company and its employees must have certification. A company's certification must cover all the activities they carry out. There are different certifications that cover maintenance, installation and leakage checking. There are different bodies which offer certification. Refcom<\/a>, Bureau Veritas<\/a> and the F Gas Register<\/a> offer Government approved certification.\r\n\r\nCompanies that have certification must make sure their employees have F gas training. A range of organisations provide training, but the qualifications themselves are the same. These qualifications are City and Guilds 2079 and the Construction Industry Training Board J01.\r\n\r\nIf you\u2019re looking for an air conditioning installer, choose one with F gas certification. This will give you peace of mind that their work helps to preserve the environment.\r\n\r\n

Regulations after installation<\/h3>\r\nRegulations also apply to air conditioning units after installation. This means that air conditioning unit users are responsible for them. Their responsibilities cover: