How can I get air conditioning in my home and how much does it cost?

An important development from the financial markets: How can I get air conditioning in my home and how much does it cost? Image source, Getty ImagesByMichael RaceBusiness reporterPublished31 minutes agoAs the UK experiences hotter summers and more regular heatwaves, households have been grappling with how to keep sweltering homes as cool as possible. Air conditioning has been in hot demand, with retailers seeing their stock fly off the shelves and units online sell out.

The technology already features in many modern cars, hotels and other public places, yet historically homes have been designed to cope with cold weather and keeping heat in them. Is it time the technology became a feature in most British homes? Types of air con and how they workThe main function of air conditioning is to cool the temperature inside a building.

Economic Details

There are three main types of air con systems designed for homes:Portable air conditioners: The clue is in the name. They are portable, standalone units, which can be used to cool individual rooms. They are simply plugged into the nearest socket and work by drawing in warm air, cooling it, and venting heat outside through a window via a pipe or ducting.

Split systems: These involve two units, one inside and one outside, that are fixed to a wall and linked by a pipe. The one outside acts as a condenser, which expels the unwanted heat into the air outside. You can buy one for just one room or you can get multiple indoor units to work with a single outdoor condenser, according to LG, the household appliance and white goods retailer.

British Gas says, external such "ductless systems" are one of the most common options for UK homes. Ducted air con: These systems are designed to serve the entire home, with a central unit pushing cooled air through a network of ducting, with vents in each room. Unlike the other options, this would require invasive renovation work to an existing property.

Analyst Views

How much do they cost? Costs range widely depending on what is wanted and/or required. Portable units are the cheapest form of air con, ranging from £350 to £650 on average, depending on the brand and performance, according to Checkatrade.

, externalHowever, as demand has soared in recent weeks some retailers began selling the cooling machines for £149, as Lidl did in its infamous middle aisles. Wall mounted or split air con units can cost between £750 and £1,100 each, Checkatrade says - but that is just the unit, and does not include the labour and other installation costs, such as hooking it up to the property's electricity fuse board. Installation company Heatable suggests, external a full cost is typically £2,000 to £3,500, but can go up to £6,000 if you want to have it in more than one room.

Ducted air con systems cost the most, between £990 and £1,750 without installation costs, according to Checkatrade. Fitting the ducting or remedial work to hide it inside properties means it is likely to be more expensive than any of the other systems given the level of work involved.

Economists are analysing what the news means for the markets.