A callout fee is what you pay for an engineer to attend and diagnose the split. In 2026 illustrations it often sits in the low hundreds or less. That is an illustration, not a tariff. Parts, refrigerant and a return visit are extra. Out of hours can be higher. Ask what the fee includes: travel, diagnosis, and whether it is credited if you go ahead with the repair. If the refrigerant circuit has to be opened, the firm should be F-gas certified.
A hundred pounds said on the phone
A verbal 'about a hundred' is not a price. You are buying time and a diagnosis, not a promise that the unit is fixed before they leave. There is no set UK callout fee. A 2026 illustration for a standard visit is often the low hundreds or less.
Diagnosis on the visit, repair if the part is aboard
A tripped breaker, a blocked filter or a failed pump may be sorted on that visit if the part is on the van. A gas leak, a board that has to be ordered, or a compressor fault usually means a second visit. Get the inclusion in writing. Some firms waive the callout if you proceed. Some charge it on top of parts whatever you decide. Assume diagnosis is the fee, and parts plus further labour are extra, until the price says otherwise.
Weekends, parking and a unit on the roof
Evenings, weekends, a missed appointment, and a unit on a roof that needs access equipment all move the illustration. Three indoor units on one visit take longer than one bedroom head. A system with no model label and no service history takes longer to identify. London parking and congestion are time, and time is the fee. Two firms can both be fair and still differ because one has included the first hour of repair and the other has not. Out of hours and long travel can be higher.
The original installer and the warranty desk
If the unit is under a warranty that requires the original installer, call them first. An independent callout can be money you also have to explain to the warranty desk. Energy Saving Trust's heat pump framing does not change this: a reversible split still fails in ordinary ways, and the visit is still a person's time.
A new board ordered before the fault is named
Stop if a part is being ordered against a guess. Pay for the finding, then decide. A new board ordered against a guess is a second cost if the fault was the drain pump. Opening the refrigerant circuit needs an F-gas certified company.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a set UK callout fee?
No. A 2026 illustration for a standard visit is often the low hundreds or less. Inclusions, hours and travel change it. It is not a tariff.
Do I need an F-gas engineer for every visit?
You need a certified company when the work opens the refrigerant circuit. A visit that only checks a filter, a breaker or a drain may not. Ask which it is before they start.
Core buying guides
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How this guide was prepared
This guide was written by the Local AC Installers Editorial Team. We compare official guidance, legislation and established consumer information, separate general information from project-specific advice, and show publication dates and sources. We do not accept installer accreditation claims at face value.