Every installer will tell you their price. The good ones will also happily answer the questions below. If you get vague answers or a shrug, that is your signal.

Take this list to your next survey. Print it if you want.

1. Are you F-Gas certified?

Legally required. If they hesitate, walk away. Ask to see the certificate number. F-Gas covers the refrigerant work inside every split system. Uncertified installs are illegal and void every manufacturer warranty in the country.

2. What is your public liability insurance cover?

Ten million pounds is the standard for commercial installers. Two million is the floor for domestic. Ask to see a copy of the policy schedule. This protects you if they damage your home.

3. Are you REFCOM registered?

REFCOM is the UK’s F-Gas company register. Not every good installer is a member, but membership is a low-friction quality signal. If they are, it means an audit trail exists on their refrigerant handling.

4. What brand and model are you quoting?

Get the exact model number in writing. Not “a Daikin 2.5 kW” - the actual model code. That way you can look up the warranty terms, the noise level, and the running efficiency yourself.

5. What is the manufacturer warranty and how do I register it?

Most brands offer 5 to 7 years if the installer registers the install through their portal within 30 days. If your installer does not do this, you get the shorter 2-year default. Ask who registers it and when.

6. Is the price fixed?

Get a written fixed price. Not “starting from”. Not “subject to survey” if a survey has already happened. If the quote says “extras may apply”, ask what those extras are and get them capped.

7. What happens if you hit something unexpected?

Walls have surprises. Cables, water pipes, insulation packed into voids. Ask what the process is if the pipe run has to change. A fair answer is “we call you, discuss it, agree a price before we continue”.

8. Who does the electrical work?

The condenser needs its own fused spur or dedicated circuit. Some air con installers do this themselves. Others sub-contract. Either is fine. Ask which, and if sub-contracted, ask if the electrician is Part P certified.

9. How long will the install take?

Single room split: one day is normal. Multi-split three rooms: two to three days. Anything much longer needs a reason. Ask about days in the house, whether you need to clear specific rooms, and whether they clean up daily.

10. What refrigerant do you use?

Should be R32 in 2025 and 2026. Older units used R410A which is being phased out. Do not accept R410A for a new install - servicing costs will climb every year as the refrigerant gets rarer.

11. Do you service the unit after install?

An annual service keeps the warranty valid and catches leaks early. Ask what a service costs, whether they offer contracts, and what is included. A good service is £120 to £180 for a single unit and takes about an hour.

12. What is your process if it goes wrong?

Ask how long a callout takes if the unit fails in month two. If they cannot answer, they have not thought about it. A fair answer: “48 hours for anything under warranty, we come out, we fix it or we replace it”.

Bonus: get everything in writing

The quote should have your name, address, the exact model, the fixed price, the warranty period, the install dates, and the payment schedule. If they will only email you a headline number, ask for the detail.

Ready to compare quotes

The point of asking these questions is comparison. One installer might have the best price. Another might have the best warranty. A third might feel most trustworthy on the doorstep.

Cooler Spaces sends your enquiry to up to three vetted installers so you can put them next to each other. Every installer on our network has answered all 12 of these questions in writing before we accept them.

Get up to 3 free quotes. Takes about a minute.

12 questions to ask an air con installer before you sign