Air Conditioning Site Survey: What Happens

By the AirCon Doctor team · Updated 30 October 2026

Every good installation starts with someone looking properly at the property. Photos and room sizes are fine for a simple single-room job, and for those we can often quote from details you send. For anything else, such as several rooms, a tricky pipe route, a flat, a listed building or a business, a site survey is the way to get it right.

This guide explains what we look at, what you can prepare and what you get afterwards. Our process is simple: survey, fixed-price quote, installation, then commissioning, F gas records and handover.

Before the visit

It helps to think about:

which rooms you want to cool or heat, and when you use them;
whether heating matters as much as cooling;
any preference on the type or look of indoor unit;
whether you own the property outright, rent, or own a leasehold flat (if leasehold, see leasehold consent);
whether the property is listed or in a conservation area;
access to the loft, consumer unit and outside walls;
any building work coming up, since pipes and cables are easier to hide before decorating.

Clear a little space around the walls where units might go, and have any plans or drawings to hand if you have them.

If you’re interested in a grant, mention it: the Boiler Upgrade Scheme has strict conditions for air-to-air systems. See the £2,500 air-to-air grant.

Inside: the rooms

For each room we look at size, ceiling height, windows and their orientation, insulation, how the room is used, and heat from equipment or people. That gives the cooling and heating load and the unit size. Oversized units cycle on and off; undersized ones struggle in a heatwave. See choosing the right size.

We then agree where the indoor unit will go, taking account of airflow, furniture, beds and desks, and how it will look. If a wall unit isn’t right, we talk through floor, cassette or ducted options.

The route: pipes, cables and drainage

The refrigerant pipes, power and control cables and condensate drain all need a route. We check wall construction, what is on the other side, ceiling and loft voids, and whether any hidden services might be in the way. We confirm how condensate will drain: by gravity where possible, or by a pump if needed (see condensate pumps).

Want it done properly? AirCon Doctor installs, repairs and services air conditioning and heat pumps across London and the South East, from our base in East Grinstead. We’re an F-Gas certified company and NICEIC approved. Get a fixed-price quote.

Outside: the outdoor unit

We look for a position with good airflow, a solid wall or level base, sensible distance from neighbours’ windows and safe access for servicing. We check it against the manufacturer’s installation requirements and the pipe length limits for the system. In England, we also check whether it fits the heat pump permitted development conditions, including the MCS 020a noise check where relevant. Our guide to outdoor unit placement explains the rules.

Electrics

We inspect the consumer unit, check for spare capacity and suitable protection, and plan the route for the dedicated supply and isolator. AirCon Doctor is NICEIC approved, so the electrical work is part of our job and is certificated. If the consumer unit needs upgrading first, we tell you why. See new circuits and Part P.

Commercial surveys

For offices, shops, restaurants and other businesses, the survey also covers occupancy and equipment heat gains, working hours, ceiling grids, access and working-at-height requirements, and how work can be phased around trading. We check existing systems, their refrigerant type and F gas records, and whether a TM44 inspection is due. See commercial air conditioning.

After the survey: your fixed-price quote

You get a written, fixed-price quote that sets out the equipment (make, model and capacity), unit and pipe positions, electrical work, drainage, making good, commissioning and F gas documentation. It shows the manufacturer’s warranty for the brand chosen and confirms the VAT; see our VAT guide. As a guide, a single room split is £1,200–£2,200 + VAT and a 3–5 room multi-split is £4,500–£8,500 + VAT.

We reply to enquiries the same working day. Call 07833 053749 or email info@aircondoctor.co.uk to arrange a survey.

Quick answers

How long does an air conditioning site survey take?

It depends on the size of the property and the number of rooms. A simple home survey is quicker than a multi-room or commercial one. We’ll tell you what to expect when we book it.

Do I always need a site survey?

Not for every job. Simple single-room installs can often be quoted from photos and details. Larger, multi-room and commercial jobs need a visit.

Will the quote change after the survey?

The quote we give after a survey is a fixed price for the work described. It only changes if the scope changes.

Do I need to be there?

Yes, ideally, so we can agree positions with you and see inside lofts, cupboards and the consumer unit.

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More advice

This guide is general information, checked against the sources linked on 30 October 2026. It isn’t legal, tax or financial advice. Rules, grants and product ranges change, so check the current position before you rely on it.