UK Homes Accepting Air Conditioning as Standard?

For decades, air conditioning in the UK was a seasonal curiosity — the thing people talked about when temperatures spiked, then set aside once the weather turned cool again.

But something has shifted.

Recent data shows a significant increase in demand for air conditioning installations in UK homes, with installers reporting record demand and a growing sense that cooling is no longer a niche or luxury service. That matters — not just for the comfort of householders, but for how HVAC installation companies plan work, allocate engineers, and price jobs.

Recent figures from Checkatrade show that demand for air conditioning installation in UK homes soared by 63% year-on-year following a record-breaking hot summer — the largest quarterly increase on record.

Despite this surge, fewer than 5% of UK dwellings currently have air conditioning installed — a tiny share compared with countries like the US, where about 90% of homes are fitted with cooling systems.

That gap highlights both the opportunity and the challenge. On one hand, there’s growing homeowner willingness to adopt cooling systems; on the other, air conditioning is still far from a “default” home feature.

Additional research supports this trend. Surveys show a steep increase in homeowners looking for properties with built-in cooling and a corresponding rise in estate agents reporting demand for AC as a selling point.

Industry responses back this up: some local HVAC firms have reported unprecedented levels of sales interest during heatwaves, describing summer 2025 as one of the busiest periods they’ve ever seen for residential air conditioning enquiries.

Taken together, these figures make one thing clear: UK homeowners are now much more open to air conditioning than they were even a few years ago.

This evolving homeowner mindset has some important implications for HVAC businesses:

Higher volume of enquiries, more diverse needs

Homeowners aren’t just asking about a “single unit in a living room” anymore. They’re asking about comfort across multiple rooms, year-round performance, energy costs, and how systems integrate with heating. That means quoting becomes more nuanced — and more valuable when done quickly and accurately.

Faster response expectations

When homeowners want cooling installed before the next heatwave, they’re not patient. Quick initial quotes, clear explanations, and confident pricing win trust — even before site surveys happen.

Opportunity for pre-survey engagement

If more homeowners are primed to install air conditioning, there’s a bigger opportunity to convert quotes into booked surveys and jobs. That makes that early stage of quoting strategic.

For many installers, this is where tools that help standardise and speed up quoting — without sacrificing accuracy — start to feel less like a convenience and more like a necessity.

For many customers, the speed and clarity of the first quote strongly influence who they choose to work with.

A fast, professional air conditioning quote builds trust. It reassures customers that the installer is organised, experienced, and responsive. Even when a detailed site survey is still required, a quick initial quote often secures the next step.

Slow responses or vague pricing, on the other hand, can cost HVAC businesses work — even when their technical offering is strong.

As competition increases, quote speed and consistency are becoming key differentiators for HVAC installers.

The data suggests a clear trend: while air conditioning is still not common in UK homes, it is far more accepted than it used to be. Enquiries are rising, homeowners are more willing to pay for comfort and efficiency, and multiple data sources show that temperature trends and behavioural shifts are combining to change perceptions.

For HVAC engineers and installation companies, this means thinking differently about residential quoting, customer education, and service demand forecasting. What was once a seasonal niche is increasingly becoming part of the core residential HVAC conversation.

As the UK adapts to warmer summers, air conditioning installations look set to become far more routine — and HVAC businesses that adjust their quoting, pricing, and sales approach now will be ahead of the curve.

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