Why West Sussex homes overheat
The Sussex coast gets plenty of sun, and the housing here wasn't built with hot summers in mind. Worthing and the coastal towns are full of bungalows and low-rise retirement flats from the 1960s onwards — single-storey, generously glazed, with bedrooms sitting directly under a roof that soaks up sun all day. Crawley has the opposite problem: newer, well-insulated houses that hold on to heat once it gets in, especially upstairs and in loft conversions. And in Chichester and the older parts of Horsham, Georgian and Victorian townhouses stay comfortable for a day or two, then turn stifling once a warm spell settles in.
Worth knowing: a modern split-system air conditioner is a reversible air-to-air heat pump. It cools in summer and heats in winter, putting out several units of heat for every unit of electricity it uses — genuinely useful in the all-electric flats and bungalows common along the coast. One thing to be straight about, though: air-to-air systems don't qualify for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which only covers air-to-water heat pumps.
Costs and the practical checks
We're not going to put made-up numbers on this page — what you'd pay depends on the property, the number of rooms and the state of your electrics. Our guide to air conditioning costs sets out realistic ranges and what moves the price. Before anyone quotes, three local things are worth checking:
- Conservation areas and listed buildings. Chichester's historic centre and parts of Horsham fall under conservation rules, and an external unit may need checking with the council first. Don't assume either way — ask before you buy anything.
- Flats and leasehold. Common along the coast, including Worthing's retirement blocks. You'll almost always need the freeholder's consent, so start that conversation early.
- Electrics. Older homes often need a consumer unit upgrade before a system goes in. See can my home electrics handle air conditioning? for how to find out where you stand.
Where Coolhouse is up to in West Sussex
Straight answer: our vetted installers are currently in Hertfordshire, and we haven't yet signed anyone up in West Sussex. We're building the network here now, and we'd rather say that plainly than promise a survey we can't deliver this week.
If you're in Chichester, Crawley, Horsham, Worthing or anywhere in between, leave your details and we'll tell you honestly where we're up to — then match you with a vetted local installer as soon as one comes on board. No spam, no passing your number around. Just a straight update when we have someone worth recommending.