How to Compare Air Conditioning Quotes
Three quotes for "a bedroom air con unit" can differ by £1,000 and all be fair — because they are quoting different things. The trick is to make them like-for-like before you look at the bottom line. Here is the checklist, the red flags and a comparison table you can copy, so you end up choosing between installers rather than between specifications you did not know were different.
Why you want three quotes, not one or five
One quote tells you a price, not whether it is a good one. Two that differ leave you guessing which is the outlier. Three, obtained after proper surveys, nearly always cluster — two close together and one apart — and the one apart is where the useful questions are. More than three rarely adds information. Air Con Surrey matches each job with up to three vetted, F-Gas certified engineers for exactly this reason. Get the quotes after a site survey, not a phone call: pipe run, outdoor-unit position, condensate drainage and electrics are what move the price, and none can be judged from a photo.
The like-for-like checklist
Go through each quote and fill in every line. If a quote does not state an item, ask — silence usually means "not included".
| Item | What to look for | Why it changes the price |
|---|---|---|
| Cooling capacity (kW) | 2.5 / 3.5 / 5 kW per indoor unit, stated | Under-sizing is cheap and runs flat out; over-sizing short-cycles |
| Brand and range | Manufacturer and model range, not just "Daikin" | Value and premium ranges of one brand can differ by hundreds of pounds per room |
| Indoor unit type | Wall-mounted, floor-standing, ceiling cassette, concealed ducted | Cassettes and ducted units cost more to buy and fit |
| Pipe run length | Metres included and the rate per extra metre | Copper, insulation, trunking and labour add up on long runs |
| Condensate drainage | Gravity drain or a condensate pump (make stated) | Pumps add cost and a service item; gravity may not be achievable |
| Electrical supply | New dedicated circuit, isolator, Part P certification | Often the biggest "extra" left off a first quote |
| Access and scaffolding | Ladder, tower or scaffold; brackets vs ground stand | Scaffold hire can be a significant separate line |
| Making good | Core drilling, trunking finish, sealing; redecoration excluded? | Decides what the job looks like when they leave |
| Commissioning | Nitrogen pressure test, vacuum, charge weight, commissioning sheet | Non-negotiable for reliability and warranty |
| Warranty and who honours it | Manufacturer warranty (5–7 years via accredited installers for premium brands) vs installer labour warranty | A 7-year manufacturer warranty outlasts a 2-year installer promise |
| F-Gas and records | Company certificate number; logbook/commissioning records | Legal requirement — see our F-Gas guide |
| VAT | Rate shown and basis (20%, or 0% energy-saving relief where applied) | Compare totals — see grants, VAT & finance |
| Payment schedule | Deposit, stage payments, balance on commissioning | Large deposits before equipment is ordered shift risk to you |
A comparison table you can copy
Put the three quotes side by side and fill every cell from the written quote; where you had to phone to find out, note that too — it says something about the paperwork you will get later.
| Line | Quote A | Quote B | Quote C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brand / range / model | |||
| kW per room (cooling / heating) | |||
| Pipe run included (m) / extra per m | |||
| Electrics included (new circuit, Part P) | |||
| Access / scaffold | |||
| Commissioning sheet provided | |||
| Warranty: parts / labour / who honours | |||
| F-Gas certificate no. | |||
| VAT rate shown | |||
| Deposit / payment schedule | |||
| Total inc. VAT | £ | £ | £ |
For reference, a single wall-mounted split typically lands at £1,500–£3,000 installed (most at £1,800–£2,500), a two-room multi-split at £2,800–£5,000 and three rooms at £4,500–£7,500. Quotes far outside those bands deserve a question — in either direction.
Warning signs in a quote
- No model number. "Daikin 3.5 kW" could be three different ranges; you cannot compare or check the warranty.
- A price without a survey — or a survey that took five minutes and never went outside.
- "Today only" pricing or pressure to pay a deposit on the spot. Genuine quotes are valid for weeks.
- Large up-front deposit before any equipment has been ordered.
- No mention of pressure testing, vacuum or commissioning — the parts that decide whether it lasts.
- Vague warranty ("fully guaranteed") with no parts/labour split and no manufacturer registration.
- F-Gas certificate not offered, or a personal ticket shown in place of a company certificate.
- Cash discount with no paperwork. No invoice means no warranty and no Section 75 protection.
- Planning glossed over for a flat or conservation area — see our planning guide.
Once the quotes are like-for-like
Now look at the totals. If the three are within 10–15% of each other, choose the installer you trust most: the one whose survey was thorough, whose quote answered the checklist without prompting, and whose warranty is clearest. A slightly higher price from the installer who will still be answering the phone in year five is usually the better buy. If one quote is far cheaper, find out what is missing before being pleased; if one is far dearer, ask what you get for it — sometimes a better range and longer warranty, sometimes nothing.
FAQs
Sources & methodology
- Installed price bands: Air Con Surrey 2026 installation cost baseline (single split £1,500–£3,000; multi-split 2 rooms £2,800–£5,000, 3 rooms £4,500–£7,500).
- Warranty and accreditation: manufacturer accredited-installer programmes (Daikin, Mitsubishi Electric and others), 2026 terms.
- Consumer protection: Consumer Credit Act 1974 s.75; UK F-Gas Regulation; HMRC VAT Notice 708/6.
Get three quotes worth comparing
Air Con Surrey is a free matching service. We match your job with up to three vetted, F-Gas certified local engineers who survey first and quote in writing — so the comparison is between installers, not guesswork.