Comfort Cooling vs Full Air Conditioning
- Wix
- Jul 9
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 10
What's the Difference in Your Luxury Apartment?
When it comes to luxury London apartments, the terms comfort cooling and air conditioning are often misunderstood or used interchangeably. However, understanding the difference is essential for both residents and property managers. Here’s a breakdown to help you get clarity on what you actually have in your apartment – and why it matters for your comfort, energy bills, and maintenance needs.
What Is Comfort Cooling?
Comfort cooling is a type of climate control system commonly found in modern London apartments. It’s designed to cool the indoor air slightly during warm months, but it is not the same as full air conditioning.
🛠 How It Works:
Your apartment has fan coil units, often hidden in ceilings or joinery.
These units blow room air across a chilled water coil.
The chilled water comes from a central plant, not an AC unit.
The air is gently cooled and recirculated through the space.
Think of it like a hotel room that never gets icy cold — just comfortably cooler than outside.
🧊 Key Features:
❌ No Heating (unless paired with heating loop)
❌ No Dehumidification
✅ Quiet & Discreet (only grilles are visible)
✅ No F-Gas regulation required
✅ Lower planning restrictions
🔄 What About Comfort Cooling with Heating?
Some apartments feature fan coil units with both chilled and hot water pipes, enabling seasonal heating and cooling through the same grille.
✅ Cooling via chilled water in summer
✅ Heating via LTHW (Low Temperature Hot Water) in winter
❌ No humidity control
✅ Still no refrigerant gas in the apartment
✅ Ideal where planning restricts AC units
This is known as a four-pipe fan coil system and is increasingly popular in high-spec developments.
🌡️ What is Full Air Conditioning?
Full air conditioning (AC) provides complete climate control, including cooling, heating, and humidity regulation. It relies on refrigerant gas systems and external condensers.
✅ Precise temperature setting year-round
✅ Dehumidifies the air
✅ Heat pump function for winter
❌ More visible equipment (wall or ceiling units + external fans)
❌ F-Gas leak checks required
❌ Planning approval may be needed for external units
🏡 Why It Matters in Central London
Feature | Comfort Cooling (Chilled Water Only) | Comfort Cooling + Heating (Four-Pipe System) | Full Air Conditioning (Refrigerant-Based) |
Cooling Type | Chilled water via fan coil units | Chilled water via fan coil units | Refrigerant-based split or ducted systems |
Heating Function | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (via LTHW) | ✅ Yes (heat pump) |
Humidity Control | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
System Visibility | Hidden behind ceilings/joinery | Hidden behind ceilings/joinery | Often visible (ducts, wall units, etc.) |
Planning Restrictions | Minimal | Minimal | Often significant |
F-Gas Compliance Needed? | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
Common in London Apartments | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | Less common |
🚧 Maintenance Implications
Whether you have comfort cooling, comfort cooling with heating, or full AC, preventative maintenance is key:
Clean filters regularly (especially during pollen season or if living on lower floors near traffic).
Check chilled water valves and actuators to prevent energy waste.
Service fan coil units every 6 months to maintain airflow and hygiene.
F-Gas leak testing (for AC systems using refrigerant gas) is required annually by law.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Why does my apartment never feel properly cold in summer? A: Comfort cooling systems are designed to reduce indoor temperatures slightly (3–5°C below outside). They don’t work like full air con systems that target a set temperature.
Q: Can comfort cooling also heat my apartment? A: Not on its own. But if you have a four-pipe system, the fan coil can switch to heating using hot water in winter.
Q: I have ceiling grilles and no external unit — what system do I have? A: Most likely comfort cooling or a fan coil system with chilled and hot water. Full air conditioning usually has wall-mounted units and external condensers.
Q: Do I need to service my comfort cooling system? A: Yes. Filters, valves and sensors need checking every 6 months. Poor maintenance leads to energy waste and poor air quality.
Q: Why is there no condensate or dripping from my cooling system? A: Comfort cooling systems don’t dehumidify. No condensation means no drainage needed — but also no moisture removal.
ℹ️ Not Sure What You Have?
If you're unsure what type of system is in your apartment, our team can help. We provide expert assessments and tailored maintenance packages exclusively for high-end London homes.
Call our team on 02 0369 50901 or email fixme@maintainmyhome.uk The only maintenance company exclusively focussed on luxury London apartments.
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