Air Conditioning Ipswich: Split System Installers

On 19 July 2022 Santon Downham, in west Suffolk, recorded 39.0°C, higher than the UK record that had stood since 2019. Summers like that are why air conditioning enquiries have grown across East Anglia, even in a coastal county.

In Ipswich there's a second reason. With one in seven homes heated only by electricity, a reverse-cycle split system can do the heating in winter more cheaply than panel heaters.

Ipswich at a glance

Electric heating: 13.8% of households in the Ipswich Borough Council area (8,239 homes) heat with electricity only, against 8.7% across England. 75.0% use mains gas only and just 131 homes use oil only. Source
A town of semis: 38.5% of Ipswich households live in a semi-detached house, against 31.5% in England. 22.3% live in a terrace, 20.7% in a purpose-built flat and 14.2% in a detached house. Source
Suffolk's hottest day: On 19 July 2022 Santon Downham in Suffolk recorded 39.0°C, beating the UK record that had stood since 2019. Source
Heat pump planning: An air source heat pump on a house is usually permitted development if the unit is no larger than 1.5 cubic metres and at least a metre from the boundary. Listed buildings need consent. Source

Heating and cooling in one

Air-to-air units move heat in either direction. In winter they work like a heat pump, giving more heat than the electricity they use. If you replace electric heating with an air-to-air system, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme can contribute £2,500 in some cases. Ask the installer whether your system qualifies.

Before the installer visits

Decide which rooms matter most. Measure them, note which way the windows face, and think about where an outdoor unit could sit: a side wall, a flat roof or the ground at the back.

In a flat, check your lease. Most leases need the freeholder's consent for anything fixed to the outside wall.

Running it well

Set it to around 24°C in summer rather than as cold as possible. Close blinds on sunny windows and the unit works less. Have it serviced regularly, which means cleaning filters and checking refrigerant, by an F-Gas engineer.

Condensate from the indoor unit needs somewhere to drain, usually a small pipe to the outside or into a waste pipe. Agree the route before fitting so you don't end up with a pump hidden in a cupboard.

Ipswich homes and what they need

1930s and postwar semis

The side wall of a semi is often the best place for the outdoor unit, with a short pipe run to a front or back bedroom.

Victorian and Edwardian terraces

With no side access, the outdoor unit usually goes in the back yard. Keep it away from shared boundaries to limit noise.

Newer estates and apartments

Some new estates have covenants that limit what can be fixed to the front. Check your deeds or ask the management company.

Areas covered

Engineers who cover Ipswich work across areas including Kesgrave, Martlesham, Rushmere St Andrew, Whitton, Chantry, Pinewood, Ravenswood, Gainsborough, Westerfield and Bramford.

View Ipswich on Google Maps

Questions people in Ipswich ask

Do I need planning permission?

Often not for a single unit on a house, but rules apply on size and position. Listed buildings and flats need extra consent.

Who can fit it?

Only an F-Gas certified engineer can handle the refrigerant. Ask for their certificate number.

How much power does air conditioning use?

A modern split unit cooling one bedroom uses far less than a portable unit. Check the energy label and the seasonal efficiency figure when you compare models.

Sources

Also nearby: Air conditioning installation in Chelmsford, Air conditioning installation in Norwich, Air conditioning installation in Cambridge

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