What to Check Before Hiring an Air Conditioning Installer
Before hiring anyone to install or service air conditioning, confirm they hold current F-Gas Category I individual certification, that their company holds F-Gas company registration (commonly through REFCOM), and that they carry public liability insurance. Beyond the legal minimum, a proper written quote following an actual site survey is the clearest sign of a professionally run business.
F-Gas certification — the non-negotiable check
Working on equipment containing refrigerant gas without proper F-Gas certification is a criminal offence in the UK. There are two layers to check:
- Individual qualification — the engineer doing the work should hold City & Guilds 2079 (or equivalent) certification.
- Company registration — the business itself should be registered with an approved F-Gas scheme, most commonly REFCOM, though Quidos and Bureau Veritas are also approved providers.
A legitimate installer should be able to provide their registration number without hesitation — it’s worth checking this against the relevant scheme’s public register before committing to any work.
Insurance
Public liability insurance protects you if something goes wrong during installation — ask for evidence of current cover, not just a verbal assurance.
A proper site survey, not a phone quote
Accurate pricing and correct system sizing depend on details that can’t be assessed remotely — room dimensions, insulation, existing electrical capacity, and where an outdoor unit can be sited. Be cautious of a firm quote given without anyone visiting the property first.
Manufacturer accreditation
Partner status with manufacturers like Daikin, Mitsubishi, or Toshiba often extends warranty terms beyond the standard length, and generally reflects a level of ongoing training the installer has invested in — worth asking about directly.
What a proper written quote should include
The exact make, model, and capacity of the equipment specified — not just “a split unit” — along with a clear breakdown of what’s included (commissioning, warranty registration, disposal of any old equipment) and what isn’t.