How matching and cost guidance work
What happens to an enquiry, how the engineers it goes to are chosen, and what a cost range on this site does and does not mean.
How an enquiry is routed
When you request quotes, the enquiry is matched on the type of job and the area you are in, and passed to engineers who cover your postcode and take on that kind of work — either directly or through partner networks that manage panels of trades. Nobody is placed first because they pay more: the introduction fee is the same whatever position a firm is in and is paid whether or not you hire them. You compare the quotes; the contract is between you and the engineer you pick.
What we ask for
Anyone handling refrigerant in the UK must hold F-Gas certification, and that is the minimum we look for before an engineer receives enquiries. It is a check at the point of joining, not a continuous audit, which is why every guide tells you to ask for the certificate and for recent local work yourself before you sign.
What a range means
Cost ranges in our guides describe a typical job for the equipment class named: a single wall-mounted split of a given capacity, a multi-split with a stated number of indoor units, or a commercial system by size. They assume a straightforward installation with a short pipe run and normal access. Long pipe runs, difficult outdoor unit positions, listed buildings and high-specification units sit above the range. A range is there to help you judge a quote, not to replace one.
Where the service works
Our roots and strongest coverage are in Surrey and the South of England. The matching works UK-wide, but how many engineers an enquiry reaches depends on how many cover your postcode, and we do not publish engineer counts by area because they change too often to be reliable.
Keeping figures current
Guides are reviewed when equipment, prices or guidance change and at least once a year; each page shows its last-updated date. If a range looks out of step with quotes you have received, tell us through the contact page — real quotes are the best check there is.