THE UK has had some proper sizzling days this summer and it’s becoming a recurring trend year-on-year.
So it’s no wonder people are considering more powerful cooling gadgets than a fan .
Portable air conditioning units have become more popular in recent years but they’re less effective for larger spaces and can be quite noisy.
What about a proper fully-fledged air conditioning system?
BOXT , which is most well-known for boilers, also does air conditioning.
And judging by their booking page over July and August, more people in the UK are turning to air conditioning as a long term solution to beat the heat.
So I tried BOXT’s service, opting for a Bosch Climate 3200i 5.3kW air conditioning unit and here’s how it went…
Home air conditioning – getting set up
First thing’s first, arranging the installation is largely done online via BOXT’s website.
Here you go through several steps outlining where you want the unit installed and things like room measurements so you get the right system to cool your space.
You need an external space for the condenser unit, which contains the fan, the condenser and a compressor (ie the most important part of it all).
Unlike a portable AC unit, you cannot install one of these full sized systems yourself, by law it has to be done by an engineer who is F-gas registered.
There are other important options to consider which can add to the overall installation cost, such as having the outside condenser unit installed high up on your wall or low on the ground.
You also need to ensure it’s at least one meter away from your neighbour’s property due to the slight noise it produces.
You’ll get to a booking page on BOXT where you can select a day for it all to be installed and it generally takes about half a day depending on the options you pick (so, I decided to have the external bit installed higher up my wall, meaning scaffolders had to come around first thing, which is all arranged by BOXT).
Like most things, the sooner the date you pick you’ll have to pay a little extra – or wait a few days later. And weekends are more expensive too.
You then get to pick the air conditioning system you want – I went for the Bosch Climate 3200i 5.3kW.
After it’s processed, you’re asked to send some pictures where you want it so the engineers can plan ahead. You may also get a quick call to clarify some bits too.
Installation
The scaffholders arrived bright and early at 7.30am and the engineer arrived little after that, followed by an electrician.
All was installed and sorted by about 3pm.
I opted to have mine placed in the dining room area, as I have a south facing garden which gets hot the most.
The external part of the system was put in the garden above the patio doors.
Meanwhile, the air conditioning unit on the inside fits beautifully within an alcove, at about a meter long.
And the scaffholders arranged to come back a couple of days later to take the fixtures down.
Getting cool
The Bosch Climate 3200i 5.3kW comes with a remote control but I got an added Bosch Wi-Fi Connectivity Module (which costs £100) so I can use it on my phone and control it with Alexa .
I wait for a hot day before deciding to use the air conditioning and as soon as it comes it’s a pleasant surprise within a few short minutes.
I go right in the deep end, opting for 16 degrees at full boost and I’m feeling satisfyingly chilled very soon.
If I keep it on for a good hour it’s enough to make the entire downstairs feel super cool – you really notice the difference when coming down from upstairs too.
The external part in the garden is much quieter than I expected, letting off a small murmur as it gets to work.
And there’s even a heat option too for when the winter months roll in.
The kit is A++ energy efficiency rating for cooling and A+ rating for heating to keep electricity costs down.
COSTS
Obviously having a proper air conditioning system installed in your home is a luxury so it doesn't come cheap.
The Bosch Climate 3200i 5.3kW costs £2,819 from BOXT, along with that extra Bosch Wi-Fi Connectivity Module for another £100.
As I was having the external equipment put higher up the scaffolding cost another £480.
BOXT is currently offering £250 off with code AC250 at the checkout.
So, the overall total is £3,149.
Then you need to factor in the energy costs which can vary hugely depending on how long you use it.
I found I only needed it for a few short blasts of 16 degrees for about 10 minutes throughout the day.
On some occasions I had it on at 20 degrees at a lower speed for an hour.
Looking at my smart electric meter on the days I had it on I can’t see any drastic cost increases.
A couple of weeks ago when we had some pretty hot weather I had it on several days throughout the week and my electricity bill was £3 higher than average for those seven days.
Another cost to be mindful of is you’ll need to get it serviced every year to keep it all in good working order, which cost between £70 and £120.
BOXT: Verdict
Having a home air conditioning system is an undeniable luxury that brings cooling comfort a fan or small portable air-con unit just can’t achieve.
My stuffiest room is now a cool escape – especially on days I’m working from home.
But crucially the set up and installation was hassle free, especially for anyone who isn’t savvy when dealing with scaffolders and engineers.
Having a company like BOXT that sorts everything from A to Z takes all the stress out of it.
And while the costs are high this is an option that will last you for years if the unit is properly looked after.
All prices in this article were correct at the time of writing, but may have since changed.
Always do your own research before making any purchase.
