To ask if you've had home aircon installed (not portable)

[GingerBeverage]

Do you use it, and think it's worth the money?

No, it comes under permitted development, with some restrictions on how close to the boundary ect it can be. I’m not 100% sure you can easily get non-heat-pump fully installed air conditioning any more, and really not sure why you would want to? It’s very inefficient, expensive to run, and you don’t get the benefit of also having efficient additional spot heating in the winter.

Absolutely no redecorating or even cleaning for us. Pipes go straight out through the wall, and are covered by plastic ducting to the outside unit. We sited ours so the ducting runs along the soffits and then down beside the drainpipes so you can hardly see it.

In Portugal what we call air con units are always reversible (both heat and cool). So I guess that is what you call heat pumps. I am interested in purchasing one for my son's house in the UK. Here, I can get a decent unit (heating and cooling) for 250 euros and 220 euros to install. It sounds like they are waaaay more expensive in the UK for similar units! We have to have registered and approved installers - you cannot just buy a unit and install it yourself. You cannot even purchase one without advising the shop which installer you are using.

I live in Spain and have air conditioners in most rooms but I never use them. We fitted ceiling fans and I use them instead. Air con is expensive to run here and I don’t like using it - I much prefer the fans. It’s been 30-40 degrees here for the last 6 weeks or so and it’s fine.

admittedly Spanish houses are better designed for the heat!

The units aren't expensive, they can be bought online cheaply, but certain trades installing them are taking the piss. People should go with refrigeration companies for install, as a big shop would. They have been doing this work for decades, and not companies with shiny shoe salesmen, who are ripping people off.