LG air conditioning

About LG air conditioning

LG is a Korean electronics group with a large heating and cooling business. In the UK it sells residential air conditioning, commercial systems including Multi V VRF, and Therma V air-to-water heat pumps, all through installers. Its UK product pages sit under LG’s business site, which is where you’ll find the full specifications.

Wall-mounted units for homes

LG’s UK residential range includes:

• ARTCOOL Mirror: a design-led unit with a dark mirror-style front. LG’s 3.5 kW AC12BH page lists its DUAL Inverter compressor, UVnano, Plasmaster Ionizer+ and Wi-Fi ThinQ connectivity.
• DUALCOOL Deluxe: a mainstream white unit. LG’s 3.5 kW DC12RH page lists R32 refrigerant, a DUAL Inverter compressor, UVnano fan cleaning with UV LEDs, IonizerPLUS, an auto-cleaning drying function, a pre-filter and Wi-Fi ThinQ.

LG sells other sizes and simpler models too, and indoor units can be combined on a multi-split outdoor unit. If looks matter, our page on design air conditioning units compares ARTCOOL with other style-led ranges.

Multi V and commercial systems

For larger buildings, LG’s VRF range is Multi V; its UK site has pages for the Multi V i. A VRF system runs many indoor units, such as cassettes, ducted units and wall units, from shared outdoor units, with central controls. It suits offices, hotels and multi-room premises. LG also offers smaller commercial splits for shops and single open areas. Our commercial air conditioning page explains how we survey and plan these jobs.

LG’s Therma V air-to-water heat pumps are a separate product line for heating homes and hot water. We install air-to-water heat pumps as an MCS certified company.

Refrigerant, controls and ThinQ

Current LG wall units for UK homes, such as the DUALCOOL Deluxe, use R32 (GWP 675). Older LG systems may use R410A (GWP 2,088), which can still be serviced but is getting dearer to buy.

App control is through LG ThinQ (LG notes that SmartThinQ has been renamed ThinQ). If you already use LG appliances, the air conditioning sits in the same app. On commercial systems we normally fit wired or central controllers. Our guide to smart air conditioning apps compares ThinQ with other brands’ apps.

Where LG fits

• Living rooms where looks matter: ARTCOOL Mirror.
• Bedrooms and home offices: DUALCOOL wall units.
• Homes already using LG ThinQ: one app for everything.
• Offices and hotels: Multi V VRF.

For a single shop or small office, a larger LG split with a cassette or ducted unit is often simpler and cheaper than VRF. We suggest the smallest system that does the job well, because it’s easier to run and maintain.

Warranty

Warranty on LG air conditioning comes from LG. Its UK product pages show a 10-year warranty mark for the DUAL Inverter compressor, but they don’t set out the full terms, which can depend on the product and how it is installed and registered. We explain the manufacturer’s warranty that applies to your system on your quote, and we don’t add a warranty of our own. Keeping up annual servicing and records helps if you ever need to claim: see our warranty guide.

ARTCOOL or DUALCOOL?

Both use the same type of DUAL Inverter compressor on the models above, so the choice is mostly about looks and features. ARTCOOL Mirror suits a room where the unit will be on show, such as a living room with dark furniture or a modern kitchen-diner. DUALCOOL Deluxe is the more discreet white option for bedrooms, offices and rooms where you’d rather not notice the unit at all. Before deciding, compare the exact sizes on offer, the noise figure at the lowest fan speed for that size, and whether Wi-Fi is built in. We set out those details on your quote so you can compare like with like.

Looking after an LG unit

UVnano and auto-cleaning help keep the fan and coil fresher between services, but the filters still need rinsing every few weeks in busy months, and the system still needs an annual service. A service checks the refrigerant circuit, cleans the coil and drain and tests the controls, which keeps the unit efficient and quiet. If the unit shows a fault code, note it down along with the model number from the label before you call us.

Strengths and things to consider

Strengths: ARTCOOL Mirror looks unlike most other units; air-cleaning features such as UVnano and the ionizer are built in on the models above; and ThinQ is easy to use.

Things to consider: a dark mirror front shows dust and fingerprints more than white; model names and features change between years, so compare quotes on the exact model; and the compressor warranty mark isn’t the same as full parts and labour cover, so ask what the manufacturer’s terms include. Our LG air conditioning review goes into more detail.

Installation, servicing and repairs

A single-room split costs £1,200–£2,200 + VAT, a 2-room multi-split £2,800–£4,500 + VAT and a 3–5 room multi-split £4,500–£8,500 + VAT, including supply, installation, commissioning and F-Gas documentation. Multi V and other commercial systems are priced after a survey. An annual service is £95–£150 + VAT, and a repair call-out starts from £75 + VAT for diagnosis. We reply to enquiries the same working day.