Domestic air conditioning in Somerset
Quiet, efficient cooling and heating for bedrooms, living spaces, home offices, extensions and conservatories. Installed neatly, with the controls explained and a servicing plan to follow.
Why homes are fitting air conditioning
Summers in the south-west are warmer than they were, and modern houses — particularly extensions with large areas of glass, loft conversions and top-floor flats — hold heat for days. Fans move the air around without removing any heat. An air conditioning system removes it, and dehumidifies as it does so, which is why bedrooms feel noticeably better to sleep in.
The other reason is heating. Most split systems are reversible, so in spring and autumn the same unit warms a room efficiently without firing up the central heating for one cold space. That is useful for a home office, a conservatory or an extension that was never well served by the radiators.
Where it goes in a home
- Bedrooms — the quietest indoor units, positioned so air does not blow across the bed. See air conditioning for bedrooms.
- Home offices — a single wall unit keeps a small room usable on warm days when a laptop and monitors add heat.
- Living rooms and open-plan kitchens — larger units, sometimes ducted if the ceiling can take it.
- Extensions and conservatories — high solar gain makes them the hardest rooms to keep comfortable. See conservatories and extensions.
- Whole-house multi-split — one outdoor unit serving several rooms, so the outside of the house is not covered in boxes.
How we install it in a lived-in house
Most of the disruption in a domestic installation is avoidable with planning. Pipework is run on the shortest sensible route and boxed in neat trunking, or concealed in a ceiling void or wall chase where the building allows it. The outdoor unit goes on a wall bracket or ground stand, away from neighbours’ windows where possible, and the condensate is taken to a suitable drain. We lay dust sheets, drill with extraction and leave the room as we found it.
If an electrical supply is needed it is installed, tested and certified by Somerset Sparks, so you deal with one group from survey to handover.
Running it sensibly
A modern inverter system uses far less electricity than older fixed-speed units, because it ramps up and down rather than switching on and off. In practice the biggest savings come from sensible use: sealing the room, using the schedule, and keeping the filters clean. Our running costs guide goes through it, and the installation cost guide covers the upfront side.
Electrical workNeed a new circuit or consumer unit work with your air conditioning? Tom’s company Somerset Sparks can do it as part of the same job.
Common questions.
Can I have air conditioning installed in my home?
Yes, in most cases. Houses, bungalows and flats can all take a split system. Leasehold properties need the freeholder’s agreement, and listed buildings or conservation areas may need consent for an external unit.
Are home air conditioning units noisy?
Modern indoor units are quiet enough for bedrooms, often under 25 dB(A) on the lowest speed. The outdoor unit is the louder part, which is why its position matters, particularly near neighbours.
Will it also heat my home?
Most current split systems are reversible heat pumps, so they can heat as well as cool. They work well in spring and autumn and for single rooms, and they can supplement your central heating.
How many rooms can one outdoor unit serve?
A multi-split outdoor unit typically serves two to five indoor units, depending on the model and the combined load.
Does domestic air conditioning need servicing?
Yes. Most manufacturers recommend an annual service, and filters should be cleaned more often. See air conditioning servicing.
Talk to the engineers.
Call, message or send the form. We reply the same working day wherever we can.
