Most people in the UK think air con is a money pit because they compare it to old electric heaters. That is a mistake. Heating and cooling are different. A heater creates warmth but a cooler moves heat from one place to another. This is why the cost of running air conditioning is lower than you think. You aren’t paying to create cold; you are paying to move heat out of your house which is something lots of people do not realise.
How much does it actually cost per hour
If you look at your electric bill you will see a price per kilowatt hour. Usually this is around 25p or 30p right now. A medium unit might use 0.5kW once the room is actually at the right temperature. That means the cost of running air conditioning can be as low as 15p an hour. That is less than it costs to run a tumble dryer.
At Air Conditioning Direct we see people make the mistake of buying units that are too small. If a unit is too small for the room it never reaches the target temperature. It stays at full power all day and night. This is where the high bills come from. You need a unit that is powerful enough to “click off” into a low power mode. Buying a bigger unit can actually save you money on your monthly bill because it doesn’t have to work as hard.
Factors that change the cost of running air conditioning
You have to look at your house like a thermal box. Every bit of heat that gets in has to be pumped back out by the AC unit.
- Thermal mass is a big deal: Bricks and furniture hold heat. If you let your walls get hot all day it takes hours of high power cooling to get that heat out. It is cheaper to turn the AC on early at a low setting than to blast it at 4pm when the house is already like an oven.
- The height of your ceilings matters too. Heat rises so high ceilings give the hot air somewhere to go. If you have low ceilings the heat stays right where you are sitting and the AC has to fight harder to keep you comfortable.
- Air Conditioning Direct often finds that poor maintenance is the hidden reason for high bills. If the outdoor unit is blocked by leaves or dirt it can’t get rid of the heat. The system keeps spinning its fans but nothing happens. This is just wasting electricity.
- Humidity makes a difference. Sticky air feels hotter than dry air. Modern units have a “dry” mode. This uses less power than full cooling but makes the room feel much better by just pulling the moisture out of the air.
Portable units vs fixed systems
A lot of homeowners buy a portable unit because they want to avoid the install price. This is usually a bad financial move in the long run. Portable units are “single hose” systems. They blow hot air out the hose but that air has to come from somewhere. It gets sucked in from under doors or down chimneys. You are basically sucking warm air into the house while trying to cool it down.
A fixed system from Air Conditioning Direct uses a “closed loop” with refrigerant. No air is swapped between inside and outside. It just moves the heat. This is why a fixed system is about three times more efficient than a portable one. The cost of running air conditioning with a fixed unit is significantly lower and it will pay back the installation cost through lower bills within a few summers.
Ways to keep your bills low
If you want to be smart about it you should use a timer. Don’t wait until you are hot to turn it on. Set it to start an hour before you get home from work. This stops the heat from building up in your carpets and sofa. It is much cheaper to maintain a temperature than to drop it by ten degrees in one go.
Some people worry about the environment too. The good news is that these systems are very efficient. Because they move heat instead of making it, they are better for the planet than most other ways to stay comfortable. They also filter the air which helps if you have hayfever or live near a busy road in London.
Air Conditioning Direct has worked on thousands of homes over 25 years in London and the surrounding areas. We know that every room has a “sweet spot” for efficiency. We can show you how to find that spot so your bills stay low. We also offer a 7 year guarantee which is one of the best in the industry. It means we trust the kit we install to stay efficient.
It is better to think of AC as a tool for your health and sleep. If you sleep better you work better. The cost is small compared to the benefit of actually being able to use your home during a heatwave. If you want a quote or just want to ask about your specific house then give us a call on 020 8989 8989 or fill in our online contact form. A member of our team will be in touch and discuss the best options for you before the summer heat arrives.