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UK Aircon provides air conditioning installation, replacement, repair, energy assessments and maintenance agreements throughout Manchester and Greater Manchester. We work in homes, offices, shops, restaurants and industrial units, and we plan each system around how the building is actually used.
We are a REFCOM-registered contractor with over 20 years of experience. Quotes are free, installed systems start from £1,800, and each new installation comes with a 5 years warranty covering parts and labour, plus access to a 24-hour emergency call-out, complimentary maintenance check-ups and discounted spares.
Covering all ten Greater Manchester boroughs
Greater Manchester is made up of ten metropolitan boroughs: Manchester, Salford, Trafford, Stockport, Tameside, Oldham, Rochdale, Bury, Bolton and Wigan. Each council is its own local planning authority, so the body we check with depends on where your property is. A flat in Ancoats falls under Manchester City Council, an office at MediaCityUK under Salford City Council, and a house in Sale or Altrincham under Trafford Council.
Most domestic split systems do not need a planning application, but listed buildings need listed building consent for external units, and conservation areas such as Castlefield, Ancoats and parts of Didsbury bring extra scrutiny of anything visible from the street. Where a property could be affected, we check with the relevant council before work starts.
Mill conversions, terraces and city towers
Converted mills and warehouses
Ancoats, the Northern Quarter and Castlefield are full of former cotton mills and warehouses converted into apartments and offices. These buildings have thick brick walls, exposed beams, large windows and often protected facades. Visible pipework is rarely welcome, so we plan routes through service risers, ceiling voids or rear courtyards, and we work with building management on outdoor unit positions, which are often on the roof or in a shared plant area.
High-rise apartments
The towers around Deansgate, Castlefield, Salford Quays and the city's newer residential districts have floor-to-ceiling glazing that lets in a lot of solar heat. Upper floors can become uncomfortable from late spring onwards. Leasehold rules nearly always require freeholder consent before installation, and some buildings only allow equipment on balconies or in designated locations.
Red-brick Victorian and Edwardian terraces in Manchester
Red-brick terraces in Levenshulme, Chorlton, Withington, Fallowfield and Rusholme are a staple of south Manchester. Many have rear yards that make a sensible home for an outdoor unit on a wall bracket. Converted lofts and rear kitchen extensions are typical hot spots, and a single wall-mounted split is often all that is needed.
Suburban homes
In Stockport, Sale, Altrincham, Bury, Prestwich and Didsbury, semis and detached houses with gardens give plenty of options for ground-mounted outdoor units and short pipe runs. These are good candidates for multi-split systems serving several bedrooms from one outdoor unit.
Commercial air conditioning for Manchester businesses
Manchester has one of the largest office markets outside London, alongside a major media cluster, universities, hospitals, retail and a very busy hospitality sector. Our commercial work includes:
- Offices in Spinningfields and the city centre
- Studios and offices at MediaCityUK
- Industrial and warehouse units at Trafford Park
- Restaurants, bars and cafés
- Retail units and showrooms
- Server rooms and data cupboards
- Clinics, salons and gyms
- Teaching and meeting spaces
For open-plan floors we usually recommend ceiling cassette units, which spread air evenly without taking up wall space. Larger multi-zone buildings often suit VRF, where one set of outdoor plant serves many individually controlled rooms. Owners and operators also need to keep on top of compliance: systems over 12kW require a TM44 energy inspection every five years, and systems at or above 5 tonnes CO2-equivalent need regular leak checks by F-Gas qualified engineers. Read more on our commercial air conditioning installation page.
Installation and replacement
Every installation begins with a free survey. We measure the space, note glazing, orientation, occupancy and equipment, and then size the system correctly, typically 2.0 to 7.0kW for a domestic split. A single split system is usually installed and commissioned in a day. The work involves a 65mm core hole, mounting both units, running and insulating the pipework, connecting the condensate drain, and a nitrogen pressure test and vacuum before the system is charged and started.
Replacement is often the smarter choice for older equipment. If your system still runs on R22, it can no longer be serviced with that refrigerant, so a fault can leave it unusable. Modern R32 heat pumps are more efficient, quieter, and provide heating as well as cooling. Our domestic air conditioning installation page explains the options for homes.
Energy assessments: finding where your system wastes power
An energy assessment from UK Aircon looks at how an existing system performs and where it is costing you more than it should. Businesses that inherited air conditioning with a lease get the most from it. So do homeowners who have watched their bills creep up.
During an assessment we look at:
- Whether units are correctly sized for the rooms they serve
- Filter, coil and airflow condition
- Controls, timers and set points
- Rooms where heating and cooling may be running against each other
- Refrigerant charge and signs of leaks
- The age and efficiency of the equipment
You get practical recommendations, anything from a change of set point to replacing an inefficient unit, and the follow-up work can be done through our wider air conditioning services. For background on running costs, see our guide to how much air conditioning costs to run.
What does a maintenance agreement include?
A maintenance agreement puts your servicing on a fixed schedule, so it does not get forgotten. Annual servicing is recommended for most homes, here and over the Pennines in Leeds and West Yorkshire. Offices, restaurants and server rooms usually need more frequent visits. Each visit covers filter and coil cleaning, drain checks, electrical and control checks, refrigerant and performance checks, and a written record of the system's condition. For commercial clients we can also keep F-Gas leak check records up to date and flag when a TM44 inspection is due.
Repairs for any make of air conditioner
Our technicians repair air conditioning systems from any manufacturer, including ones we did not fit. They are background checked and receive monthly training. Typical call-outs include:
| Symptom | Common causes |
|---|---|
| Blowing warm air | Low refrigerant, blocked filters, faulty sensor or compressor issue |
| Water dripping indoors | Blocked or poorly falling condensate drain |
| Ice on pipes or coils | Restricted airflow or low refrigerant charge |
| Rattling or buzzing | Loose panels, worn fan bearings or debris in the outdoor unit |
| Musty smell | Dirty filters, coils or drain tray needing cleaning |
Book a visit through our maintenance and repairs team, or contact us with details of your property. We reply within 24 hours to discuss your project and book a free estimate.
Questions we hear from Manchester customers
Can I install air conditioning in a converted mill apartment?
Usually, yes, but you will need consent from the freeholder or building management, and if the building is listed, listed building consent may be needed for any external equipment. Outdoor units are often placed on roofs or in shared plant areas.
Which council do I check with about planning in Greater Manchester?
Each of the ten Greater Manchester boroughs is its own local planning authority, so it depends on where the property is, for example Manchester City Council, Salford City Council or Trafford Council.
What is an air conditioning energy assessment?
It is a review of an existing system's sizing, condition, controls and refrigerant charge to find where it is wasting energy, with practical recommendations to reduce running costs.
Should I repair or replace an R22 air conditioning system?
Replacement is usually the better option. R22 can no longer be used to service systems, so a refrigerant leak or compressor fault can leave an R22 system unusable, while modern R32 heat pumps are more efficient.
Does air conditioning also heat my home or office?
Most modern split systems are air-to-air heat pumps, so the same unit provides efficient heating in winter and cooling in summer.
Does a commercial system in Manchester need a TM44 inspection?
Yes, if the total cooling capacity is over 12kW. A TM44 energy inspection must be carried out at least every five years.