Garden offices have become a normal part of homes across Worcestershire, from Bromsgrove commuters working from home to garden studios in the villages around Pershore and Malvern. Most have the same problem: too hot to work in by early afternoon in summer, and cold by November. A small split air conditioning system fixes both.

Why garden rooms get so hot and cold

Garden buildings are small, often timber-framed or clad, and usually have a lot of glass. Their small volume means they heat up and cool down quickly. Add a computer, a monitor or two and a person, and the temperature climbs fast on a sunny day.

Why a split system suits them

  • It heats as well as cools. A reversible system is an air-to-air heat pump, which can deliver more heat than the electricity it uses, depending on the model and conditions.
  • It's quiet. The noisy part sits outside, so you can take calls without a fan roaring.
  • Nothing hangs out of the window. Unlike a portable unit, you can lock the doors and windows at the end of the day.

Sizing

Most garden offices need a small unit, typically around 2.0 to 3.5 kW, depending on floor area, the amount of glazing, which way the building faces and how well it's insulated. A well-insulated building needs less capacity and costs less to run. If you're still planning your garden room, it's worth spending on insulation and good glazing before thinking about air conditioning.

Power supply

Most garden offices already have a supply from the house, usually an armoured cable to a small consumer unit. The installer checks whether it has enough capacity for the air conditioning. If it doesn't, the supply may need upgrading, and any new circuit must be installed or certified by a registered electrician.

Where the outdoor unit goes

Usually on a small base or bracket behind or beside the building, out of sight from the house and away from neighbours' windows. The pipe run is typically very short, which keeps the installation simple. Noise at neighbouring homes needs considering too. Garden offices are often near a boundary.

Do you need planning permission?

The permitted development rules for heat pumps apply to units within the grounds of a house, subject to the usual conditions on size, number and noise. Remember the limit on the total number of outdoor units: if you already have one on a semi-detached house, adding a second for the garden office may need permission. Listed buildings and conservation areas have extra restrictions.

Running costs

Running costs depend on the building, the unit, how you use it and your tariff. See our costs guide for how to estimate them on your own tariff.

Working from the bottom of the garden? Send us an enquiry and we'll pass it to an independent local installer, who can look at the building, the power supply and the best position for the outdoor unit.