How much does air conditioning cost to run in UK homes?
Due to the increasing interest in air conditioning in the UK, some people might have questions about how much it costs to run.
Most UK homes do not have air conditioning (Image: Getty Images)
Checkatrade member and air conditioning expert Matthew Powell has provided some answers about what people can expect.
How much does air conditioning cost to install?
If you're looking to install air conditioning, taking the size of the room you want to keep cool is crucial.
BTU (British thermal unit) is the measurement used to calculate the size of the air conditioning unit needed for a space.
The main factor that determines this is room size, taking into account factors such as ceiling height, windows and doors.
Matthew explains: "A 12000 BTU system is usually suitable for an average-sized bedroom.
"The average cost of a 12000 BTU wall-mounted unit is £750. Installation costs for a wall-mounted unit tend to average around £1,150.
"Larger spaces may require a ducted system, which has a fan attached to the exterior of the property.
"Costs for these are slightly higher - around £990-£1,450 per unit with labour costs around £1,460-£2,100 per unit."
How much does air conditioning cost to run in UK homes?
A modern, professionally installed 12,000 BTU unit for a bedroom will typically cost between 30p and 50p per hour to run on a cooling setting, depending on your energy tariff.
Matthew adds: "It's crucial that the unit is correctly sized for the room by a professional; an undersized unit will run constantly and be inefficient, while an oversized one will cool the room too quickly and switch off, leading to poor humidity control."
Should you get air conditioning?
The big question now for many is whether you should get air conditioning in the first place, which may come down to your tolerance for heatwave temperatures.
Recommended reading:
Matthew shares that there could be long-term benefits if you look to sell your home in the future.
He explains: "Research amongst estate agents shows that they would expect a home with air con to fetch £4,925 more if sold in summer versus winter. So if you do get air conditioning installed, selling your home in summer could help pay back some of the costs.
"In addition, many modern air conditioning units are actually reversible heat pumps. This means they can provide highly efficient heating during the winter, as well as cooling in the summer. This may make the cost more justifiable for some."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
North Wales Live
an hour ago
- North Wales Live
Shoppers rush to snap up 'excellent' 7ft paddling pool for £4.75 in heatwave
With the warm weather returning across most of the country, shoppers are on the hunt for ways to keep everyone cool and, for many, a paddling pool is at the top of the list. While summer holidays often see expenses skyrocket, bargain hunters have spotted a way to secure a highly-rated option ideal for families and even pets at a fraction of its usual price. Bestway's 7ft inflatable paddling pool usually costs £20 at Argos but thanks to a smart deal stack shoppers can grab one for 76% off the regular price, taking the final cost to less than £5. The money-saving website TopCashback offers a £15 free bonus to anyone who registers as a new member plus cashback on qualifying purchases at thousands of British online retailers including Argos. By signing up and then purchasing the paddling pool shoppers can effectively get it for £4.75 once the bonus and cashback are paid. With temperatures expected to reach up to 31 degrees Celsius in parts of the country this weekend and longer range forecasts suggesting more to come through the month, shoppers are being tempted by deals on everything from budget ice cream makers and cooling blankets to a £35 air conditioning unit to tackle the temperatures. However, especially if you have children to entertain during the summer holidays, paddling pools are a popular method to keep everyone cool as the mercury rises and many shoppers have been rushing to snap up some of the best deals. Amazon has slashed the price of a round 6ft Intex paddling pool by 37%, bringing it down to £16.29. This can be delivered tomorrow for those who have Amazon Prime delivery, reports Nottinghamshire Live. Meanwhile, all Argos paddling pools can be click and collected within an hour of purchase, not just the family-friendly Bestway option available with the £5 deal, but others including the brand's current number one best seller, the 9ft Ocean Lagoon pool which is currently half price at £15. Returning to the Bestway pool, which can effectively be bagged for £4.75, shoppers have praised it as being 'perfect' for warm weather, boasting a capacity of 400 litres and taking around five minutes to inflate and deflate thanks to two interlocking quick-release air valves. As well as being suitable for families, some reviewers have even posted photos of their pets enjoying a dip alongside their reviews. The pool comes with a repair kit, although it does not include an air pump. On the Argos website, the pool has a rating of 4.6 stars out of five based on 873 reviews, with 91% of shoppers stating they would recommend it to a friend. Reviewers commend it for its size, ease of setup and value for money. However, some shoppers question its durability. One five star reviewer described the pool as 'excellent value for money' even at the full £20 price, adding: "This is probably the best thing I have ever bought. Big enough for both my kids and their toys. Even had repair patches with it but I have not needed them yet." A second shopper described it as 'great,' adding: "I bought this at the last heatwave and it was worth every penny. My two godchildren spent two whole days in it and had so much fun - gave their mum a well earned break. I would definitely recommend this - I got the 7ft one and it was plenty big enough with a four and eight year old in it together." The pool wasn't just popular with children, with another shopper adding: "It's such a good size, good for kids when the weather is hot and also good to sunbathe in." Another customer praised the price, even without the Top Cashback bonus: "The price was very competitive as pools are usually cheaper at places like Home Bargains. I also like that I could collect it straight away." However, not all customers were entirely satisfied, with some noting that it was marginally smaller than the 7ft described in the product name, with the actual inflated dimensions measuring 6ft 11 by 52 inches by 18 inches (or 2.11m by 1.32m by 46cm). One customer commented: "Bought a month ago. Used once so far by my 4 year old grandson. He enjoyed it. The only thing I would say is that the sides are very chunky so the actual inside of the pool is smaller than I thought it would be." Here's how to snag a paddling pool for just £4.75 with TopCashback:. Firstly, sign up as a new member at TopCashback for free via this link. Then, search for Argos on the site, click through and purchase the pool as normal. The £15 cashback bonus will be triggered when shoppers spend £15 or more on any item - including the paddling pool or anything else on the site, whether it's in the sale or at full price. It will appear in the TopCashback 'Earnings page' within seven days of your purchase.
The Herald Scotland
4 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Ultimate guide to P&O Cruises' Britannia often seen in Southampton
Britannia, which run by P&O Cruises, was initially launched in 2015 and has become a common sight in the city's port. It has sailings that reach out across the world, including to the USA, Canada, Australia, the Caribbean, the Norwegian fjords and much more. Here's all you need to know about the history of the ship, its facts and figures, its cruise destinations and much more. Britannia journeys out to destinations around Europe quite frequiently (Image: P&O Cruises) The history of P&O Britannia Britannia was ordered back in 2011 and was built by Fincantieri in Monfalcone, Italy. P&O added: "Launched by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2015 she offers a luxurious, distinctly British way to explore the world and a diverse array of dining and entertainment options for all ages." Britannia's maiden voyage took place in March of that year, visiting spots in France, Italy and Spain. Ahead of her 10th anniversary, the ship underwent her first major refit, which "introduced warm, contemporary colour palettes, upgraded furnishings, and expanded guest areas". Overall, Britannia is "renowned for her elegant design, exceptional onboard experiences and wide-ranging itineraries". Britannia has been in service for 10 years (Image: P&O Cruises) Facts and figures of P&O Britannia According to P&O's website, Britannia is 330 metres in length, with a passenger capacity of 3,647 alongside 1,350 crew. Additionally, she weighs 143,000 tonnes, has 17 decks, 1,837 (75% with balconies) and has a top speed of 22 knots (25 mph). The ship shares its homeport between Southampton and Bridgetown in Barbados. Where do P&O Britannia cruises travel to? Britannia frequently travels to destinations around Europe, including the likes of: Spain Portugal The Canary Islands France Italy Norway The Netherlands Germany Belgium Some less frequent longer destinations include: Caribbean islands USA Canada Australia What rooms does the P&O Britannia offer? As mentioned previously, Britannia offers 1,837 cabins with there being a choice of options for visitors. An example of a balcony cabin on Britannia (Image: P&O Cruises) This includes the smaller Inside cabins, which don't have windows, and balcony cabins, which allow guests to get a bit of sea breeze. There are also superior deluxe cabins, which are slightly larger and offer the space of an extra seating area and floor-to-ceiling glass doors. Finally, there are the suites which have more space, a larger bathroom and butler service. What features does the P&O Britannia have? Britannia has a number of features onboard, including 27 different bars and restaurants, four swimming pools and eight different venues. Some of the options for food include Sindhu, which "celebrates the best of contemporary Indian cuisines", according to P&O's website. Meanwhile, The Glass House offers tapas dishes, The Beach House explores Latin American and Caribbean cuisine, and Epicurean has "modern British dining in a sophisticated setting". Britannia has a number of swimming pools for guests to enjoy (Image: P&O Cruises) Elsewhere, adult guests can experience The Limelight Club, which "combines exquisite cuisine with incredible live entertainment". Recommended reading: More relaxed choices include the poolside Pizzeria and Grill as well as Horizon Buffet. Alongside The Limelight Club, entertainment options range from The Live Lounge, which features cabaret, comedy and dancing, alongside Brodie's which hosts quizzes and shows live sport. Guests can also relax with the Oasis Spa and Salon, the adult-only "outdoor sanctuary" with The Retreat, and a gym/fitness studio.
Rhyl Journal
11 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Bioethanol plant deems lack of Government support an ‘act of economic self-harm'
Vivergo Fuels, near Hull, warned earlier this year that it was in imminent danger of closure as crisis talks continued with the Government. This followed the end of the 19% tariff on American bioethanol imports as part of the recent UK-US trade deal. On Friday, the Government said: 'This Government will always take decisions in the national interest. 'That's why we negotiated a landmark deal with the US which protected hundreds of thousands of jobs in sectors like auto and aerospace. 'We have worked closely with the companies since June to understand the financial challenges they have faced over the past decade, and have taken the difficult decision not to offer direct funding as it would not provide value for the taxpayer or solve the long-term problems the industry faces. 'We recognise this is a difficult time for the workers and their families and we will work with trade unions, local partners and the companies to support them through this process. 'We also continue to work up proposals that ensure the resilience of our CO2 supply in the long-term in consultation with the sector.' Ben Hackett, managing director of Vivergo Fuels, said: 'The Government's failure to back Vivergo has forced us to cease operations and move to closure immediately. 'This is a flagrant act of economic self-harm that will have far-reaching consequences. 'This is a massive blow to Hull and the Humber. 'We have fought from day one to support our workers and we are truly sorry that this is not the outcome any of us wanted. 'This decision by ministers will have a huge impact on our region and the thousands of livelihoods in the supply chain that rely on Vivergo, from farmers to hauliers and engineers.' Mr Hackett said the industry has faced 'unfair regulations' for years that favoured overseas producers, and the recent US-UK trade deal pushed the sector 'to the point of collapse'. He said: 'We did everything we possibly could to avoid closure, but in the end it was the Government that decided the British bioethanol sector was something that could be traded away with little regard for the impact it would have on ordinary hard-working people. 'We did not go down without a fight and I hope that the noise we generated over the past three months will make the Government think twice before it decides to sign away whole industries as part of future trade negotiations.' A spokesman for Associated British Foods, which owns Vivergo, said: 'It is deeply regrettable that the Government has chosen not to support a key national asset. 'We have been left with no choice but to announce the closure of Vivergo and we have informed our people. 'We have been fighting for months to keep this plant open. 'We initiated and led talks with Government in good faith. We presented a clear plan to restore Vivergo to profitability within two years under policy levers already aligned with the Government's own green industrial strategy.' The spokesman said the Government had 'thrown away billions in potential growth in the Humber and a sovereign capability in clean fuels that had the chance to lead the world'. The bioethanol industry, which also includes the Ensus plant on Teesside, has argued the trade deal, coupled with regulatory constraints, has made it impossible to compete with heavily subsidised American products. Vivergo said the Hull plant, which employs about 160 people, can produce up to 420 million litres of bioethanol from wheat sourced from thousands of UK farms. It has described bioethanol production as 'a key national strategic asset' which helps reduce emissions from petrol and is expected to be a key component in sustainable aircraft fuel in the future. The firm recently signed a £1.25 billion memorandum of understanding with Meld Energy to anchor a 'world-class' sustainable aviation fuel facility at the site. But Meld Energy said earlier this month uncertainly over the bioethanol industry was putting this plan in jeopardy. The Vivergo plant is also the UK's largest single production site for animal feed, and the company says it indirectly supports about 4,000 jobs in the Humber and Lincolnshire region. Vivergo has said it buys more than a million tonnes of British wheat each year from more than 4,000 farms, and has purchased from 12,000 individual farms over the past decade. But it took its last wheat shipment earlier this month. The farmers' union described the imminent closure of the Vivergo plant as a 'huge blow'. NFU combinable crops board chairman Jamie Burrows said: 'Not only is it terrible news for those hundreds of workers who will lose their jobs but also for the thousands of people whose livelihoods depend on this supply chain – that includes local farmers who have lost a vital market for their product.' The Ensus plant in Teesside differs from the Vivergo operation because it also produces CO2 as part of the process. Ensus, which is owned by CropEnergies, part of the German firm Sudzucker, is the UK's only large scale manufacturer of CO2, which is used in a wide range of sectors, including in drinks and the nuclear industry. Grant Pearson, chairman of Ensus UK, said on Friday: 'I met with Sarah Jones, the minister for business, today, to receive the Government's response to our request for financial support and the policy changes required to ensure that the Ensus facilities can continue to operate. 'The minister confirmed that they value both our contribution to the UK economy, the jobs we provide and support in the north east of England and in particular our production of biogenic CO2 which is a product of critical national importance. 'They are therefore looking at options to secure an ongoing supply of CO2 from the Ensus facility. 'This is positive news, however it is likely to take time to agree upon and finalise and therefore urgent discussions will be taking place to provide a level of assurance to the Sudzucker and CropEnergies' boards that there is a very high level of confidence that an acceptable long-term arrangement can be reached.'
