Air conditioning in Pimlico
Pimlico air conditioning for flats, maisonettes and townhouses
Apex fits heat-and-cool air conditioning in Pimlico flats and houses, and services existing systems. Almost all of Pimlico is a conservation area and many homes are flats, so Olly plans each job around your lease, the outdoor position and Westminster's rules, then gives you a fixed written quote.
Getting air con into a Pimlico flat
A flat raises two questions before any unit is chosen: does the lease allow it, and where can the outdoor unit legally go? Leases in converted houses and purpose-built blocks alike usually require written permission before anything is fixed to the outside of the building.
Under the planning rules, an outdoor unit serving a flat is capped at 0.6 cubic metres, smaller than for a house. In big managed blocks such as Dolphin Square or Churchill Gardens, which are conservation areas in their own right, the landlord or managing agent will have its own rules on plant.
For a Pimlico flat we set out the indoor and outdoor positions, the pipe route and the unit's sound level for your freeholder to review. Our page on air con in flats and leasehold homes covers the process step by step.
Roof terraces, lightwells and rear walls
Westminster's guidance notes that plant on roofs can harm the roofline, so a roof position in Pimlico needs care: set back from the parapet, low and out of view from the street. A basement lightwell or a rear wall is often easier to agree.
Wherever it goes, the outdoor unit should pass the MCS 020(a) noise calculation, 37 dB(A) one metre outside the nearest neighbour's window, which matters in streets where back windows face each other across narrow gaps.
Not sure which unit suits your Pimlico home? A couple of photos usually settles it.
Near Pimlico
Our London work
- Panasonic Etherea systems with built-in Wi-Fi for homes in Camden and Ealing
- Ducted heating and cooling on a commercial floor in the City of London
- Daikin VRV and mini VRV systems for London commercial clients
Townhouses on the garden squares
The grand terraces on the squares run to four or five floors over a basement, while the side streets have smaller three-storey houses. In a tall house, one outdoor unit at the back can serve several rooms through a multi-split, with the pipes rising inside built-in cupboards or boxed-in corners.
Pimlico has hundreds of Grade II listed buildings, so check our planning permission guide before you plan anything on the outside of a listed house.
Top floors in these houses get very warm in summer, especially under a flat roof. A study or bedroom up there is often the first room people want cooled, and it can be added to a multi-split later if you start with one room. See our page on air con for a home office.
Servicing air con in Pimlico homes and offices
Whatever the make, a system in a city flat or office collects dust and grease faster than you might expect, which cuts airflow and makes the unit work harder. A yearly service cleans the filters, coils and drain, and checks the refrigerant and controls.
Shops and offices near Victoria usually need planning permission for a new outdoor unit, so we check that first. More on servicing your air conditioning.
No obligation: a survey in Pimlico, then a written price.
Air conditioning services in Pimlico
Reviews
What our customers say
Word for word from Checkatrade and Google.
Wonderful Service, Our Air Conditioner was leaking in winter and since then left in very bad condition. Then, Olly did magic and it's now up and running like a new. He did cleaned it thoroughly through low pressure jet and liquid detergent. Tested whole system to identify other faults. He was reasonable in price compared to other service provider. Highly Recommend him for right service and right guidance.
The installation of 2 air-conditioning units (1 in the lounge and 1 in the bedroom) was seamless from olly coming to my flat to the compleatd installation. Olly was very professional in listening to my requirements and giving advice. On the day of installation Olly and Andy carried out the work in a professional, timely and clean manner. I would 100% recommend them to friends and family.
From initial contact to completion of install and subsequent aftercare, my experience with Apex was top class. The install itself was done in half a day and the room was left clean and tidy - you’d not know engineers had worked there! Not often I recommend someone, but I’ve passed their details on to friends who have used them and all had the same personal and great experience.
Questions
Air conditioning in Pimlico: questions
Can I get air conditioning in a Dolphin Square or Churchill Gardens flat?
It may be possible, but the landlord or managing agent decides first. Both estates are conservation areas in their own right and run under their own building rules, so start by asking what they allow for outdoor units and wall penetrations. We can give you a written outline of the indoor unit, outdoor position, pipe route and noise level to send with your request.
Can an air con unit go on a Pimlico roof?
Sometimes. Westminster is cautious about plant that breaks the roofline in a conservation area, so a roof unit needs to be low, set back from the parapet and hidden from the street. On a flat roof over a rear extension that is often achievable. We check the view from the street and the noise at neighbours' windows before suggesting it.
Is a heat-and-cool unit allowed in the Pimlico Conservation Area?
Often, on a house, if it meets the permitted development rules: not on a wall facing the road, within the size limits, and under 37 dB(A) at a neighbour's window. Listed buildings also need listed building consent, and flats depend on the lease. Cooling-only units are not permitted development anywhere, so we fit heat-and-cool systems.
Do you service existing air con in Pimlico?
Yes. We service Daikin, Mitsubishi Electric, Panasonic and most other makes in Pimlico flats, houses and offices. A service includes cleaning the filters and coils, clearing the condensate drain and checking the refrigerant pressures. If your system leaks water, smells musty or blows warm air on cooling mode, tell us when you book.
Still got a question?
Ask Olly directly about your Pimlico home or business.
Free survey and a fixed written quote for new systems. No obligation.