Air conditioning

[Whyisitsodifficult]

We’re planning on doing a single storey rear extension soon. Has anyone incorporated air conditioning into theirs? Be interested to hear if they thought it was worth the expense considering the climate in this country!

Do it! We wanted it but couldn't quite stretch to it. We bought a portable one instead which works brilliantly but is massive and very loud. Was a god send yesterday though! As soon as we can afford it, we'll replace with proper integrated air con.

We have an aircon unit in the bedroom. I work permanent night shifts, so trying to sleep during the day when the weathers hot is virtually impossible. It was a God send with the weather we had last year and worth every penny.

YesI had air con retrofitted into a boiling modern house. If you are doing it at the same time as the construction it will be even easier

We have it in all rooms in the house apart from bathrooms and it is a godsend. We all agree that it was the best money I have ever spent (sorry, that's another thread).

Don't forget that air con units also heat if required. Very efficient at warming a room in no time. TBH we don't usually bother with the central heating now.

One of our portable air con units has died, we are thinking about an integrated unit to replace it.

doriana could I ask what you paid? Are the units big chunky things like you get in shops or are they somehow recessed? Interesting about having it as a hearing source. We were considering underfloor but maybe not needed. Thanks for the replies.

I paid a lot as I basically have a complete system in a 4 bed house - £15k! but I have three different outdoor fans for that running 8 different units (tall narrow townhouse retrofit so very inefficient fit), usually they say one outdoor unit will run 9 internal units. Mine are like this but you honestly don't notice them.

Yes it is possible to get flat ones recessed into the ceiling but you need enough clearance to accommodate them. If your house is reasonably well insulated I don't think you would need radiators as well.

The DC and I honestly love them so much that when I move I would have them installed in the new house despite the cost.

Sorry, I meant to add that they are very efficient. I can fully heat or cool a room in ten minutes (each unit is 2.5kw). After that they can be turned off.

We considered putting it into our extension but decided not to. We live in a terrace with small gardens and the external box would be very visible and audible to us and all our neighbours. Also the real problem in hot weather is the bedrooms so if we were going to put ac anywhere it would be there - but that would have been a much bigger job and still need the external box.