Why cottages heat up so fast
Most backyard cottages in Johannesburg North, Pretoria East and the East Rand were built on a budget. Many have no ceiling insulation, a low roof and one wall that takes the full afternoon sun. In January the room can sit at 32 degrees by four o'clock, and in July it loses heat as soon as the sun goes down.
That is why we always look at the building before we talk about units. A 9000 BTU inverter split is enough for most single-room cottages up to about 18 square metres, but only if the ceiling is insulated and the window is not facing west without any shade.
The electrical check comes first
A cottage is often fed from the main house through a long cable run to a small distribution board. Before we quote, we check the cable size, the earth and whether there is space for a dedicated breaker. An aircon on a shared plug circuit with a kettle and a geyser is a nuisance trip waiting to happen.
- Confirm the supply cable from the main board can carry the extra load
- Fit a dedicated breaker and isolator for the outdoor unit
- Check that the cottage geyser and aircon will not trip together
- Issue a certificate of compliance for the new circuit
Placing the indoor and outdoor units
In a small room the indoor unit should blow along the longest wall, not straight at the bed. The outdoor unit usually goes on a wall bracket on the shady side, close enough to keep the pipe run short and neat. We avoid the wall next to the neighbour's bedroom, and we keep the unit high enough that dogs and garden tools do not damage it.
Condensate drainage is the other detail people forget. A cottage often has no nearby drain, so we run the condensate line to a garden bed or gully rather than letting it drip onto the paving outside the front door.
Cottages that are rented out
If the cottage is let to a tenant, simple controls matter. We set the remote to a sensible default, show the tenant how the filter clips out, and recommend a service every six to twelve months depending on dust. Landlords in Randburg and Midrand often ask for a timer setting so the unit is not left running all day while the room is empty.
Send us the size of the cottage, which way the main window faces and a photo of the distribution board. We will come back with a supply-and-fit quote that suits the room, not just the budget.
