How Much Does Air Conditioning Cost to Run in the UK?
Running costs are one of the most common questions we get asked before an air conditioning installation. The good news is that modern R32 split systems are significantly more efficient than older units — and far cheaper to run than you might expect.
How air conditioning running costs work
Split system air conditioners are heat pumps — they move heat rather than generate it. For every 1 kW of electricity consumed, a modern R32 unit delivers 3–5 kW of cooling or heating. This ratio is measured as the SEER (cooling) and SCOP (heating) rating. A higher rating means lower running costs.
Typical running costs for a split system
Based on a UK electricity rate of around 24p/kWh, a 2.5 kW split system running at moderate load uses approximately 0.5–0.7 kW of electricity per hour — costing around 12–17 pence per hour to cool or heat a standard bedroom. For an average summer day of 6 hours of use, that works out to roughly 72–102 pence per day. Running the same unit for heating in winter, displacing an electric radiator, typically saves around 60–70% on heating costs for that room.
R32 efficiency advantage
All systems PGAD installs use R32 refrigerant, which achieves higher SEER and SCOP ratings than older R410A units with the same outdoor conditions. R32 also uses up to 30% less refrigerant by weight, reducing the environmental impact of the installation without compromising performance.
Tips for keeping running costs low
Set the thermostat to 21–24°C rather than running at maximum. Use the sleep or timer function overnight. Keep doors and windows closed while the unit is running. Have the system serviced annually to ensure it maintains its rated efficiency. Correct sizing at the point of installation — which PGAD calculates during the free survey — is the single biggest factor in long-term running cost efficiency.
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