Home air conditioning in Reading
Summers in the South East are among the warmest in the country, so cooling often comes first, with efficient winter heating as a bonus. We cover Reading and the rest of Berkshire, including Slough and Bracknell. Homes in RG1, RG6 and RG30 are all within our coverage.
Rooms and systems
For new Reading extensions with flat roofs, the outdoor unit position is best agreed against the architect's drawings. Where a home in Reading faces the street, the outdoor unit usually goes at the rear, out of sight. Ask at your Reading survey whether the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant could apply to your home. For Reading landlords, simple wall units with limited remotes are the easiest systems for tenants to live with.
Existing systems need care too: an annual service, an occasional deep clean and prompt repairs keep them efficient and quiet. For a single hot bedroom or living room, a wall-mounted split is usually the simplest answer. Two to four rooms often suit a multi-split on one outdoor unit, while a ducted system hides everything except the grilles.
Guide prices in Reading
As a guide, homes in Reading can expect £6,645–£18,245 per system for a ducted system, £185–£1,495 for a repair and £115–£225 per system visit for a service, VAT included. Installations are fixed in writing after a free survey; visits are priced before we come.
Planning and permissions
In England, most houses can have an outdoor unit under permitted development if it is no larger than 1.5 m³, meets the MCS 020(a) noise limit of 37 dB(A) at the nearest neighbour's window, and there are no more than two on a detached house or one on other houses. Listed buildings need consent. Flats need more care: get your freeholder's written consent first, and expect the planning rules for a block of flats in Reading to be stricter than for a house.
If your home in Reading is replacing fossil fuel or electric heating, and no gas, oil or LPG boiler stays in use, an MCS-certified air-to-air heat pump may qualify for the £2,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant, which the MCS-certified installer claims and deducts from the price.
Nearby
Close to Reading, our coverage also includes Lower Earley (3 miles), Henley-on-Thames (6 miles) and Wokingham (7 miles). See all of Berkshire.