A split install drops masonry dust and needs a path for a heavy outdoor unit. Protect floors on that path, and move furniture out of the drill zone before the team arrives. Dust sheets over a sofa that is still against the wall do not stop grit in the fabric. New oak, pale carpet and a piano are the usual regrets. Agree in the quote who moves the heavy pieces and who makes good the decorations, then photograph the room that morning.
Dust travels past the hole
Core drilling brick or block pushes dust into the room even with a vacuum attachment. It settles on open shelves, in speaker cloth and on a television that was two metres away. Shut internal doors to rooms you are not installing in. Take fabrics, lampshades and the fruit bowl out of the working room.
Ask the installer what protection they bring. Many lay boards or sheets on the walk from the door. They do not reupholster a sofa you left in the drop zone. If the floor is freshly laid, say so. A clear wall, a sheet or board on the carry path, and a vacuum at the hole are the practical standard. F-gas commissioning and a tidy floor are both part of a finished visit. One does not replace the other.
Floors that mark and furniture you cannot lift
Herringbone timber, limestone and high pile carpet take scuffs from a condenser on a sack truck. The outdoor unit is awkward, not delicate. Clear the turn at the bottom of the stairs yourself if you know the newel post is fragile. A team in a hurry will protect what they can see, and they will not know your floor is three weeks old unless you told them.
Pianos, aquariums, glazed cabinets and anything you cannot lift alone should be moved the day before by someone you hire, or declared immovable so the route changes. Making good nail holes and decorator's damage should already be a line in the quote if you expect paint, not only a brushed wall. Snagging the trunking is a separate check from sweeping the dust.
Frequently asked questions
Will the installer bring dust sheets?
Many do for the walk route and the drill. Do not rely on sheets to save a sofa left against the wall. Move soft furnishings out of the dust zone yourself.
Should I cover the whole house?
Cover or shut off the working room and the carry path. Dust travels through open doors. The rooms you close properly usually stay fine.
Who repairs a scraped skirting?
Whoever the quote named. If making good is included, photograph the damage the same day and ask them back. If it was excluded, you will be arranging the decorator.
Should I photograph floors before anyone arrives?
Yes. Photograph floors and skirtings that morning. If the team leaves boot prints and rubble, photograph that before you clean, and deal with it as a mess on the day rather than as a reason to distrust the refrigerant work.
Can the condensate test land on new oak?
Water from a condensate test must have a destination that is not your oak floor. That is a drain question, and it belongs on the quote. Boards over a new carpet are cheaper than a cleaner the next week.
Do I move a piano on the morning?
No. Move it the day before, or declare it immovable so the route changes. Do not wait to be asked. The same applies to aquariums, glazed cabinets and anything you cannot lift alone.
Core buying guides
Start with these high-intent guides, then dig into the rest of the library.
Related guides
Sources and further reading
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.