Lagos has a long summer and a demanding holiday rental market — two reasons air conditioning stopped being an extra and became infrastructure. This guide answers the questions we hear every week in our shop on Rua Dom Vasco da Gama: which type of system to choose, what capacity you need, and what makes the price vary.
The four types of system, and who each suits
- Wall split — one indoor unit per room, connected to an outdoor unit. The most common and most economical solution. Ideal for bedrooms and living rooms when you want to cool one or two spaces.
- Multi-split — several indoor units connected to one outdoor unit. The right answer when facade or terrace space is limited, or when the condominium restricts the number of outdoor units — common in apartments in central Lagos.
- Ceiling cassette — recessed into a false ceiling, distributing air in four directions. Common in shops, offices and large open-plan living spaces.
- Ducted — completely hidden, with only the grilles visible. The discreet option for anyone who does not want to see equipment at all, and the most expensive.
The right capacity: where nearly everyone gets it wrong
This is the part that decides whether you will be happy with the unit or complain about it for ten years. And it is where the two classic mistakes happen.
Undersized equipment runs flat out permanently, never reaches the temperature you asked for, consumes a lot and wears out quickly. It is the classic "I bought the cheapest one and it does not cool".
Oversized equipment is a less obvious but equally real problem: it cools the air too fast, switches off, switches back on, and in that short cycle it fails to dehumidify. The result is a room that is cold but feels damp and uncomfortable, plus a compressor starting and stopping far too often.
The correct calculation does not come from floor area in square metres, whatever the tables suggest. It also depends on ceiling height, glazed area and its orientation, insulation, which floor you are on, and how many people occupy the space. A west-facing living room in Lagos with a large window needs considerably more capacity than an internal bedroom of the same size.
What pushes the price up
Beyond the type and capacity of the equipment, what weighs most on the quote is the difficulty of the installation: the distance between indoor and outdoor units, the pipe route, whether chasing walls is needed, the wall construction, and where the outdoor unit can physically go. Two properties with identical equipment can have quite different quotes purely because of this.
It is also why we give fixed prices after seeing the space, not over the phone. A figure given without seeing the property is a guess at best — and at worst, the start of an argument about "extras" halfway through the job.
Air conditioning heats too — and in the Algarve that pays
Almost all the units we install are reversible, meaning they heat in winter as well as cooling in summer. In the mild Algarve climate that matters more than it sounds: on cold, damp January evenings, an air-to-air heat pump is one of the most efficient ways to warm a room — far cheaper to run than an electric heater.
If the aim is to heat the whole house and the hot water too, the conversation changes and it is worth looking at a full heat pump, or a log burner in the main living room.
Holiday lets: aircon is a commercial asset
If you rent to holidaymakers, air conditioning is one of the first filters guests apply and one of the most frequent complaints when it is weak or noisy. It is worth treating it as commercial equipment: generously sized, quiet in the bedrooms, and with guaranteed annual servicing before the high season. A breakdown in August is not a comfort issue, it is a lost booking and a bad review.
Servicing: the detail that Lagos makes important
Lagos is a coastal town, and salt air corrodes outdoor units faster than inland. An annual clean and check — filters, coils, gas, drainage — maintains performance, reduces consumption and extends equipment life significantly. It is probably the best value-for-money maintenance in a house.
We service units we installed and units installed by others, including annual contracts for owners who are not in the country all year.
In short
Choosing air conditioning well in Lagos is mostly about choosing the right capacity and the right installation — the brand matters less than people think. Always ask for a site visit before the quote, and be wary of anyone pricing without seeing the space.
Want a quote for your home or rental in Lagos? Visky has a shop on Rua Dom Vasco da Gama and replies within 24 working hours. See our page for services in Lagos or get in touch.
