As the UK swelters through hotter summers and more regular heatwaves, Lidl has begun selling portable air conditioning units for £149 in its middle aisles, a fraction of the typical £350-to-£650 price tag. Retailers across the country are seeing stock fly off shelves and units sell out online as households try to keep sweltering homes cool.
Air conditioning is already standard in many modern cars, hotels and public places, but British homes have historically been designed to retain heat, not shed it. The technology’s main function is to lower indoor temperatures, and three main types are available for houses.
“Portable air con unit sold for £149 as UK heatwave drives demand; costs for full systems reach £10,000”
Portable units are the cheapest option. They plug into a socket and vent warm air through a window pipe. Checkatrade, the tradesperson comparison site, puts the average cost between £350 and £650 but notes that demand has driven some retailers to slash prices.
Split systems, which have one indoor and one outdoor unit linked by a pipe, cost more. The unit alone ranges from £750 to £1,100, according to Checkatrade. Installation company Heatable says the full cost, including labour and connection to the property’s electricity fuse board, is typically £2,000 to £3,500 and can rise to £6,000 if multiple rooms are covered. LG, the appliance retailer, says such “ductless systems” are among the most common options for UK homes, while British Gas notes they can be used with a single outdoor condenser serving several indoor units.
Ducted air conditioning, which pushes cooled air through a network of vents, serves an entire home but requires invasive renovation. Without installation, costs range from £990 to £1,750, according to Checkatrade. Heatable estimates the complete job at between £5,000 and £10,000, depending on the property’s size, layout and ductwork complexity.
The question, as summer temperatures continue to climb, is whether air conditioning will become a permanent feature in most British homes.