English-speaking AC installation, explained simply. Choose by rooms, area and budget: a single unit, a whole-home multi-split, or marine-grade near the coast. One fixed all-in price, F-Gas Cat. I certified, 3-year equipment + 1-year labour warranty. Lisbon, Algarve and the Silver Coast.
The three situations English-speaking customers come to us with most. No two homes are the same, but the decision repeats.
A summary of the questions we hear most, no personal data.
First AC, just moved in
WhatsApp / FormChoosing
We’ve relocated and bought a place with no air conditioning. I don’t understand the difference between a single unit and a multi-split, or what size I need, and I’d like it to heat in winter too. Where do I start, in English?
Customer
We start with a site survey, explained in plain English. We measure the rooms, size the units correctly, and give you two options: separate single units per room, or one multi-split with a single outdoor unit. A written quote with everything included, equipment, brackets, pipework, gas charge. And yes, a split is a heat pump, so it heats the house in winter too.
One thing worth knowing: by law the installer must be F-Gas certified, otherwise the manufacturer’s warranty is void. We are, and it’s in writing.
Single unit from €799 · Multi-split (3 rooms) from €3,299 + VAT
VentoFix
Site survey within 48 hours, a written quote after measuring
The unit in the house we bought is 11 years old. It loses gas every summer, it’s noisy and the electricity bill is high. Should I repair it once more or just replace it?
Customer
Repeatedly topping up the gas means there’s a leak in the circuit, so the honest fix is to find the leak, not to keep re-gassing. If it has needed two top-ups in three years, replacing is usually cheaper. A modern unit also uses up to 50% less electricity, so it pays for itself over time. (And you can’t put modern gas in an old unit, they’re not compatible.)
We’ll look at two routes: swap each old unit for a new one (about €800–1,200 per room, including taking the old one away), or move to a multi-split if you have 2–3 tired units. Removing and disposing of the old equipment is included.
We have a holiday home near the coast but live in the UK most of the year. We want AC fitted but we can’t be there for it. Can you organise it while we’re away, and is the salt air a problem?
Customer
Yes, we do this often for owners in the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands and Germany. We arrange access with your key-holder or neighbour, survey the home, and email you the quote with photos before anything is ordered, then photos of the finished job. You pay by transfer and get an official fatura with your NIF.
Within about 3 km of the sea the salt air corrodes ordinary units faster, so we fit marine-grade models with anti-corrosion protection. They last far longer by the coast, and the warranty holds with annual servicing.
Single marine-grade unit from €1,200 · multi-split from €2,199 + VAT
VentoFix
Quote within 24 hours, install coordinated remotely with photos and fatura
Three kinds of system for three kinds of use. The choice depends on how many rooms you want to cool and heat, how the outdoor units look on the façade, and how hard the system will work.
For one room
Single unit
One indoor + one outdoor unit. The simplest, most independent system, if one fails the others keep going.
Guide prices for Portugal in 2026, + VAT, with the equipment and certified installation included. Three situations: first installation, replacing an old unit, or a home near the coast.
First installation
First AC in the home
Equipment + certified installation + trunking + copper pipework + gas charge, all included.
Single unit 9,000 BTU (bedroom up to 15 m²)from €799
Single unit 12,000 BTU (living room 16–25 m²)from €950
Single unit 18,000 BTU (living room 26–40 m²)from €1,299
Multi-split, 2 roomsfrom €2,199
Multi-split, 3 roomsfrom €3,299
Multi-split, 4 roomsfrom €3,999
Multi-split, whole house (5 rooms)from €5,499
Pipework run during a renovation€150 – 400
Pipework run after finishing€400 – 950
Premium brands (Daikin, Mitsubishi Electric, Fujitsu, Toshiba) cost 15–25% more than entry-mid models.
Replacement
Replacing 10+ year-old AC
Includes taking the old unit away (required by law). We reuse the existing pipework where it’s sound, after a nitrogen flush.
Like-for-like swap (9,000 BTU)€800 – 1,200 / room
Multi-split replacing 2 single units€1,500 – 2,200
Removal of the old unitincluded
Electrical supply upgrade+ €80 – 200
Extra pipework over 5 m+ €15 – 25 / m
New wall bracket+ €30 – 60
If an old unit keeps losing gas, repeated re-gassing rarely pays. Replacing with a modern unit makes sense for running cost and reliability, a new system uses up to 50% less electricity.
Coastal homes
Marine-grade near the sea
Units with built-in anti-corrosion protection for homes within ~3 km of the coast. Official fatura with your NIF, remote coordination for owners abroad.
Single marine-grade unit (one room)from €1,200
Two-room marine-grade multi-splitfrom €2,199
Whole-home marine-grade (3–4 rooms)€3,500 – 4,800
Annual servicing (keeps warranty valid)from €149 / year
Remote survey + install for owners abroadincluded
Photos + fatura emailed to youincluded
Within ~3 km of the sea, ordinary units corrode faster. Marine-grade models cost a little more but last far longer, and we service them annually so the warranty holds.
* Guide prices + VAT. The final price depends on the brand, pipework distance, access and location. A written quote within 24 h of a site survey.
What size unit do I need? A quick guide
A rule of thumb for the Portuguese climate: about 600 BTU per m². Adjustments add up to 35% depending on the room.
Room area
Typical BTU
Standard model
Up to 15 m²
9,000 BTU
Single unit 9 k
16 – 25 m²
12,000 BTU
Single unit 12 k
26 – 40 m²
18,000 BTU
Single unit 18 k
41 – 60 m²
24,000 BTU
24 k or multi-split 12 + 12
60 m² or more
30,000+ BTU
Multi-split or VRF — sized on site
Adjustments to the base figure
Top floor or flat roof*+ 10 – 20% BTU
Large window facing south+ 15% BTU
Open-plan kitchen in the living room+ 4,000 BTU
More than 3 people regularly+ 600 BTU/person
Base figure ~600 BTU/m² for the Portuguese climate. *The top-floor uplift is a rule of thumb for roof heat, not a regulation. We confirm the exact size on the site survey, so you don’t over- or under-buy.
Estimate the system and the price
Pick a mode for an instant estimate, all-in, with the equipment and certified installation.
8 m²BedroomLiving room40 m²
3-bed home — multi-split with 3 indoor units
Recommended system
Single unit 12,000 BTU / 3.5 kW
VentoFix — all included
from €950
+ VAT
All-in estimate (mid-range A++ unit + F-Gas Cat. I installation). Premium Daikin/Mitsubishi: +15–25%. Final price after a site survey.
* Guide estimate + VAT. The final price depends on the brand, pipework distance and access.
What to check before you sign
Three things that decide whether an installation lasts. Worth knowing before you choose anyone, here or elsewhere.
Required by law
F-Gas certification — category I
In Portugal, any company that installs or services AC handling refrigerant gases must be certified. It’s a legal requirement, not an optional extra. Ask for it before you hire anyone.
Without it, the manufacturer’s warranty is void. So it directly affects how long your unit lasts.
Ask for the installer’s certification before hiring
You should get a signed gas-charge record after fitting
It’s in writing, and in English, with us
VentoFix: Category I — the highest level, residential to commercial.
Two different warranties
Equipment warranty ≠ installation warranty
They’re two separate things, with different lengths and whoever is responsible. Many people assume it’s all one, it isn’t.
Warranty
Covered by
Length
Equipment
Manufacturer
2 – 3 years
Installation
Installer
0 – 2 years (typical)
VentoFix: 3 years on equipment + 1 year on labour — in writing on the quote, not just spoken.
Before you sign
An honest quote — what should be on it
Equipment (brand + model + BTU stated)
Decorative trunking, indoor → outdoor
Anti-vibration mounting
Insulated copper pipework (metres)
Dedicated wiring
Condensate drain
Gas charge + vacuum + leak test
VAT shown clearly
A lump sum with no breakdown, no mention of F-Gas, no written warranty — get a second quote.
What a VentoFix installation includes
No surprises at the end. The quote you approve is the price you pay.
🔍
A certified technician visits
An F-Gas Cat. I certified technician comes to the home, assesses the space and gives you a detailed written quote, in English.
🏗️
Full installation in a day
Copper pipework, brackets, electrical and refrigerant connections, gas charge — all in the price. A single unit in 4–6 hours, a multi-split in a day.
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Tidy-up and testing
When we finish we clean up, test the system in every mode and show you how it works. We leave the home as we found it.
📋
A written report and fatura
You get a full written report of the installation — useful for insurance, a rental, or future servicing — plus an official fatura with your NIF.
🛡️
3-year + 1-year warranty
3 years on the equipment and 1 year on labour. If anything goes wrong during the warranty, we come back at no extra cost.
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Booked in 24–48 hours
Once you approve the quote, we usually book the installation within 24 to 48 working hours. Flexible times, including Saturdays.
We work with the leading brands
We install and service any brand, including equipment that’s already in the home.
Tier 1 — premium Japanese
Lasts 12–15 years · 3-year warranty
Official distributors in Portugal. The quietest and longest-lasting in the residential range. 3-year manufacturer warranty when fitted by an F-Gas certified technician.
Official distribution in Portugal, strong on WiFi/app control and modern design. Good value for money. 2-year manufacturer warranty in writing.
LGSamsung
Tier 3 — entry / budget
Lower price · 1–2 year warranty
Lower upfront cost, shorter official warranty, and fewer parts and service points in Portugal. Certified installation still extends the life. We’ll be honest about parts availability before you choose.
MideaToyotomiGiatsu
We install and service any brand — including units with no service network in Portugal.
Where we cover
We focus on the areas with the most English-speaking residents and holiday-home owners. Choose your area for local prices, real examples and availability.
Eleven answers to the questions English-speaking customers ask most, choosing, costs, winter heating and warranties.
Yes. We deal with you in English from the first message to the finished job: the site survey, the written quote, the installation and the warranty are all explained clearly, so you always know what you’re paying for and why.
It does both. A modern split is a heat pump, so the same unit cools efficiently in summer and heats the home in winter. That matters in Portugal: winters are mild but damp, and a split is cheaper to run than electric heaters.
Yes, we do this regularly for owners in the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands and Germany. We arrange access with your key-holder or neighbour, survey the home, and email you the quote with photos before anything is ordered, then photos of the finished job. You pay by transfer and get an official fatura with your NIF.
A multi-split (one outdoor unit) looks tidier on the façade and means less condominium paperwork, but if the outdoor unit fails, all the rooms stop. Separate single units fail one at a time, but there are more units on the wall outside. Rule of thumb: 1–2 rooms with occasional use → single units; 3–5 rooms used together → multi-split.
A rule of thumb for Portugal: about 600 BTU per m². A 20 m² living room needs roughly 12,000 BTU. Add about 20% for a top floor or flat roof, 15% for a large south-facing window, and 4,000 BTU for an open-plan kitchen. We confirm the exact size on the site survey.
Premium Japanese (Daikin, Mitsubishi Electric, Fujitsu, Toshiba, Panasonic) are the quietest and longest-lasting, 12–15 years, with a 3-year warranty. Korean (LG, Samsung) are strong on app control and design at mid-price, usually a 2-year warranty. Entry brands cost less but have a shorter warranty and fewer service points here. A certified installation matters more for lifespan than the brand.
If you can, fit it mid-renovation. Running the pipework before the new finishes go on costs about €150–400; doing it afterwards into finished walls is €400–950 plus making good. We coordinate with your builder and route the pipes neatly.
Yes. On old stone walls we core-drill cleanly so nothing cracks, and run the pipework through the loft or in trunking painted to match the wall. We do this often in older houses on the Silver Coast and in central Lisbon.
Repeatedly topping up the gas means there’s a leak in the circuit, so the honest fix is to find the leak, not to keep re-gassing. If it has needed two top-ups in three years, replacing is usually cheaper, and a modern unit uses up to 50% less electricity, so it pays for itself over time.
Often yes, but it needs a dry-nitrogen flush first, residue from the old refrigerant can damage a new compressor. We also check the brackets can take the new unit’s weight, and near the coast we check for corrosion. The wiring sometimes needs upgrading for a modern inverter.
Yes, it’s a legal requirement in Portugal. An installer without F-Gas certification voids the manufacturer’s warranty, so it directly affects how long your unit lasts. Ask for it before you hire anyone. VentoFix holds Category I, the highest level, and it’s in writing, in English.
Start with a site survey.
We measure the rooms, size the units correctly and give you 2–3 concrete options with comparable brands. A written quote within 24 h, in English. F-Gas Cat. I + 3-year warranty.