Running Costs
Running Costs | Air Conditioning | Heating and Air Conditioning | Lancing
Living on the Sussex coast means one day can feel like high summer while the next calls for a cosy retreat indoors. HEP designs, installs and maintains high-efficiency heating and air conditioning solutions that keep Lancing homes and businesses perfectly balanced whatever the forecast. By pairing smart controls with the latest inverter technology, we ensure your comfort never comes at the expense of spiralling energy bills, giving you precise temperature management and lower running costs all year round.
From compact split systems for studios to advanced multi-room setups with heat-pump capability, every HEP installation is tailored to match your space, usage patterns and budget. Our engineers calculate seasonal performance, advise on tariff-beating settings and provide ongoing servicing so your investment continues to pay you back through reduced consumption and reliable, whisper-quiet operation. Discover how seamlessly efficient heating and air conditioning can transform your Lancing property—and your energy statements.
FAQs
How much does it cost to run a domestic air-conditioning unit in Lancing per hour?
Running costs depend on the unit’s rated power input, local electricity tariff and the temperature you set. A modern 2.5 kW A+++ split system (suitable for a double bedroom or small lounge) draws roughly 600 W when cooling at full output but typically averages 300-400 W once the room is at temperature. At the current West Sussex electricity price cap of about 28 p/kWh (summer 2024): • Full output: 0.60 kW × £0.28 ≈ 17 p per hour • Normal cycling: 0.35 kW × £0.28 ≈ 10 p per hour Over a 4-hour evening, that’s about 40 p. Larger 5-6 kW units double those figures, while bedroom-size 2 kW models are slightly cheaper. Heating mode in winter is even cheaper (see below) thanks to the heat-pump effect.
Is it really worth paying more for an A+++ or inverter-driven air-conditioning system?
Yes. An inverter compressor ramps its speed up and down instead of simply switching on/off, which avoids energy-hungry start-ups and lets the system run at the lowest power needed to hold the set temperature. In real UK conditions this typically delivers a seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) of 5-7, meaning you get 5-7 kW of cooling for every 1 kW of electricity consumed. Compared with an older fixed-speed unit (SEER 2.5-3.0) you’ll cut cooling bills by roughly 50 %. On a 300-hour cooling season the saving for a 2.5 kW room unit is around £40-£50 a year—enough to recoup the extra upfront cost within the warranty period.
Does using the AC in heat-pump mode cost more than running my gas or electric heating?
In Lancing’s mild coastal climate, heat-pump mode is often the cheapest way to heat a single room. A modern unit delivers a coefficient of performance (COP) of about 3.5 at an outdoor temperature of 7 °C—so every 1 kWh of electricity (28 p) produces 3.5 kWh of heat, equivalent to 8 p/kWh. By comparison: • Mains gas at 9 p/kWh with a 90 % efficient boiler costs roughly 10 p/kWh of delivered heat. • Direct electric panel heaters convert at 1:1 and therefore cost the full 28 p/kWh. Result: the AC heat pump is around 20 % cheaper than gas and 70 % cheaper than electric resistance heating. Below –5 °C the COP drops, but such temperatures are rare and short-lived on the South Coast.
What practical steps can I take to keep my AC running costs as low as possible?
1. Choose a realistic set point: 22-23 °C in summer feels comfortable after Lancing’s usual 25-27 °C outdoor highs, and every 1 °C lower adds about 6 % to energy use. 2. Use ‘eco’ or ‘sleep’ modes overnight; they automatically widen the temperature band and slow the fan. 3. Keep doors and windows closed while the unit is on to prevent warm, humid air from entering. 4. Clean or replace the indoor filters monthly in peak season—dirty filters cut airflow and force the compressor to work harder. 5. Shade the outdoor condenser from direct sun without blocking airflow; a cool condenser draws less power. 6. Schedule a professional service once a year to check refrigerant charge and coil cleanliness; even a small drop in refrigerant can raise energy use by 10-15 %.
Can I use cheaper, off-peak electricity tariffs in Lancing to run my air conditioning?
Yes, if you have a smart meter you can switch to a time-of-use tariff such as Octopus Agile or EDF GoElectric. Off-peak windows (typically midnight–5 a.m. and sometimes mid-afternoon) can be priced 40–60 % below the standard rate. While cooling demand is usually highest early evening, you can pre-cool your home during cheap periods by running the AC a few degrees lower, then letting the building’s thermal mass carry you through peak-rate hours. In winter the same strategy works with heat-pump heating: pre-heat rooms during off-peak and coast during the peak. Make sure the tariff’s higher peak prices won’t outweigh the savings—our energy-cost calculator can help you model usage.
What size air-conditioning unit should I install to avoid paying too much in running costs?
Oversizing is the biggest cause of wasted energy. A rule of thumb for well-insulated post-1990 UK homes is 100 W of cooling per square metre of floor area; older or sun-exposed rooms may need 120-130 W/m². Measure the room, account for large south-facing windows, occupants and equipment, then select the next-nearest capacity. A correctly sized 3.5 kW inverter will modulate down to 0.9 kW for light loads, whereas an oversized 5 kW model may cycle on/off at 1.5 kW minimum, using 20-30 % more electricity and providing less comfort. Always ask your installer for a full heat-gain calculation before you buy.