An artist studio split is for the person, not for the paint. Do not blow air across wet work, and do not put the indoor unit where it blocks north light. Solvents, sprays and oil mediums that need ventilation need an extract to outside. A wall split recirculates. It does not clear a solvent load, and it can spread dust onto a wet surface. Add comfort cooling only when the way you work allows a closed room and a steady setpoint. Energy Saving Trust's air-to-air notes describe the machine. They do not describe a spray booth.
The north window stays clear
North light is often why the room works. Do not bury that window behind a long fascia or a trunking drop across the glazing. Use a side wall, high enough to throw along the ceiling, with room to change a filter without climbing over canvases. South and west roofs still overheat even when the window faces north. Size the studio you have, including rooflights.
A small split can be enough for one person. Say if the load is a kiln, a bank of lamps or a class of ten. The kilowatts should follow that, plus the glass. Energy Saving Trust's air-to-air notes describe the machine. They do not describe a spray booth.
Dust, solvents and a coil that only recirculates
Pastel, charcoal and sanding put dust in the air. High fan across a wet oil painting pins that dust in the surface. Low fan, a shut door, and a filter habit are the controls. Clean filters with the arrow refitted correctly. The split recirculates. If you spray or use solvents that the product instructions say must be extracted, follow that instruction with a proper extract to outside. Do not close the room, run the split, and hope the coil sorts the air. Comfort cooling waits until the extract has done its job and the process allows the windows to be shut. Do not use the split as a dryer for paintings.
Easels, the drain and the outdoor spot
Leave a service gap that survives the way you rearrange easels. Condensate must not run down a wall of work. Show the drain at survey. The outdoor unit wants a lawful spot with airflow. In England, check the Planning Portal. A studio in a flat needs the lease as well. F-gas certification applies. If the studio is a workplace with assistants, HSE temperature guidance is about their comfort, not about preserving pigment.
Frequently asked questions
Will air conditioning dry paintings faster?
Do not buy it for that. Moving air can skin paint unevenly and can stick dust to it. Use the unit for your comfort, with the throw off the wet work.
Can the split clear white spirit or spray?
No. Those need the ventilation the product instructions require, which is an extract to outside, not a recirculating coil.
Should the indoor unit go above the north window?
Prefer another wall. North light is the point of many studios. A fascia and trunking across that glass are a loss you will resent.
What if hardboard boxes the indoor unit in?
An indoor unit boxed in by hardboard will ice and drip. Leave a service gap that survives the way you rearrange easels, and keep condensate off the work.
Does a class, a kiln or a bank of lamps change the size?
Yes. A small split can be enough for one person. A kiln, a bank of lamps or a class of ten is a different load and should be said out loud at survey. The kilowatts follow that, plus the glass.
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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.