How to Choose an Air Conditioning Installer: The Checks That Matter
How to choose an air conditioning installer in the UK: F-Gas certification, Building Regulations, MCS for the grant, what a good quote looks like and the warning signs.
By Max Tuleberg · Founder, Vento · Last updated 25 October 2026
Founder of Vento. Worked on the tools before building the software.
Choose an installer who is F-Gas certified, surveys your home before quoting and gives you an itemised quote. If you want the £2,500 grant, they must also be MCS certified for air-to-air heat pumps. Here's what to check, and how.
The checks that matter
| Check | Why it matters | How to check |
|---|---|---|
| F-Gas company certificate | Required by law for any business installing or servicing air conditioning for others | Ask for the number and issuing body (Refcom, Quidos F-Gas Register or Bureau Veritas) and check their register |
| Engineers' F-Gas qualifications | Each engineer working on the refrigerant needs their own qualification | Ask which category: Category I covers all systems; Category II covers systems under 3 kg of refrigerant |
| Building Regulations | Fixed air conditioning in a home is notifiable work in England | Ask if they're in a competent person scheme (BESCA, Blue Flame, Certsure or NAPIT) or will notify building control |
| Electrical work | A new circuit from your consumer unit is notifiable under Part P | Check the electrical work will be done and certified by a registered electrician |
| MCS certification (for the grant) | Only an MCS-certified installer with an approved consumer code can claim the £2,500 grant | Search the MCS installer database and ask about RECC, HIES or MCS:2025 |
| A proper survey | Sizing depends on your rooms, windows and insulation | They should visit, measure and calculate the load before quoting |
What a good quote looks like
- It's itemised: equipment by make and model, materials, labour and commissioning as separate lines.
- It shows the capacity and efficiency (SEER and SCOP) of each unit.
- It explains where the units and pipes will go.
- It states the warranty, the servicing needed to keep it, and what's excluded.
- If you qualify for the grant, it shows the full price, the grant deducted and the balance.
Warning signs
- A price over the phone without a survey.
- No F-Gas company certificate number, or reluctance to give one.
- A single total with no breakdown.
- Pressure to sign the same day, or a grant offered by someone who isn't MCS certified.
- An offer to sell you a unit to fit yourself — handling refrigerant without certification is illegal.
Before you sign
Compare two or three itemised quotes for the same rooms and capacities. Check what happens on the day in our installation guide, and whether you need permission in our planning permission guide.
Sources
Checked on 24 October 2026. GOV.UK's list of F-Gas company certification bodies was last updated in 2019, so always check the certificate itself.
This guide is general information for UK installers, not legal or regulatory advice. Always check the current regulations and manufacturer instructions for your specific job.
Frequently asked questions
What qualifications does an air conditioning installer need?
By law, every engineer who installs or services the refrigerant circuit needs their own F-Gas qualification (Category I for any system, or Category II for systems under 3 kg of refrigerant), and the business needs F-Gas company certification, renewed every three years. For a home installation in England, they should also be registered with a competent person scheme for the Building Regulations, or notify building control. To claim the £2,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant they must be MCS certified for air-to-air heat pumps, with an approved consumer code.
How do I check an installer's F-Gas certification?
Ask for their F-Gas company certificate number and which body issued it — GOV.UK lists Refcom, Quidos F-Gas Register and Bureau Veritas for refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pumps — then check it on that body's public register.
How many air conditioning quotes should I get?
Two or three is sensible. Make sure each installer has surveyed the property and that the quotes are itemised, so you can compare the same equipment, capacities and work rather than just the total.
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