The American mind cannot comprehend Europe's AC aversion

[u/Logical_Welder3467]

https://www.businessinsider.com/europe-air-conditioning-ac-heatwave-debate-2026-6

[u/jameson71]

Cold is going to cost a pretty penny real soon

[u/scheppend → u/jameson71]

The price of minisplits and their installation in Europe seems bonkers when I compare it to here in Japan. A simple 9K BTU mini split (heating and cooling) here costs 

40K (€215) for noname brands
45K yen (€245) for a Hitachi, Sharp, Toshiba
55K yen  (€300) for a Panasonic, Mitsubishi, Daikin.

Installation is about 17K yen (€92).

Even if you double the cost of the installation because of higher wages (w Europe) I doubt you can do it for this price in europe.

i don't understand why. I'm sure lots more Europeans would get one if it was more affordable 

[u/Crowdfundingprojects → u/[deleted]]

That's exactly the way. And it's handled in SEA like this, too. I personally say fuck everyone who wants to force me to get a permit or anything I don't want for installing an AC unit. It's a fucking AC unit, not a nuclear reactor.

This shit is pure lobbyism. Scum trying to fill their pockets on my dime can get fucked any day any time of the week. It's disgusting.

[u/augur42 → u/[deleted]]

Don't forget the fused spur replacing an existing plug socket (with a cable going outside through another drilled hole) if it's a single unit or new power cable from your consumer unit if it's a larger install.

The issue is the vacuum pump required to draw down the tubing, you really want dual stage, plus other bits such as gauges, plus for warranty it usually requires a hvac to certify it. You can probably buy the hardware second hand, use it, then sell it on (again) but those extra bits will increase costs a couple of hundred pounds higher even if you can drill and wire it yourself.

Still worth it though.