What’s Involved in Getting Air Conditioning Installed in Chamonix?

Alpine Heating
Jul 2
3 min read

Thinking about air conditioning for your chalet or apartment in Chamonix? You’re not alone - every year, more people are looking for ways to keep cool during those increasingly frequent summer heatwaves. But installing AC in a finished building here isn’t as simple as picking a unit off the shelf and plugging it in. Here’s what’s actually involved, and why it’s worth planning ahead if you want a neat, reliable installation.

1. Working in a Finished Building: Keeping It Tidy

Every project in a finished property comes with the challenge of minimising disruption and making the wires and pipes 'disappear'. Installing AC means finding routes for pipework and cabling between the indoor and outdoor units, and getting these through walls, ceilings, or floors without leaving visible scars. Done right, a good installer will get everything hidden away or as discreet as possible—but it does take experience and planning.

2. The Main Components: Indoor, Outdoor, and the Bits In Between

A typical split air conditioning system has:

Indoor Unit(s): Usually wall-mounted, these need to be positioned for good airflow and minimal visual impact.
Outdoor Unit: This is the bit that hums away outside, expelling the heat from your home.
Pipework & Cables: Refrigerant pipes and control cables need to run between the two, ideally in the shortest, most unobtrusive route possible.

3. Electrical Requirements: Dedicated Circuit

An AC system needs its own dedicated circuit, run from your consumer unit (fuse board) out to the outdoor unit. This will often mean running cable through the building, which is one of those tasks that’s simple enough on a plan but can get fiddly in reality, especially if you want to avoid visible trunking or chasing out walls.

4. Condensation Management: Drains Matter

Every indoor unit creates condensation as it cools the air. That water needs to drain away—ideally via a gravity-fed pipe that runs downhill all the way outdoors or to a suitable drain point. Where that’s not possible, a small condensate pump can be fitted, but pumps do add noise and maintenance.

5. Outdoor Unit Placement: Get the Base Right

The outdoor unit is best placed on a solid, level base—either a concrete pad or sturdy wall brackets. Proper mounting keeps noise and vibration down and helps the unit last longer. You’ll also want to think about snow clearance in winter and making sure the unit isn’t too visible from the street, both for aesthetics and to keep the planners happy. Having the unit at ground level or on a balcony makes maintenance more practical.

6. Specialist Installation: Tools, Knowledge, and Licences

Installing AC isn’t a job for a general builder or DIY enthusiast. Specialist tools are needed to handle, evacuate, and charge refrigerant lines, and by law, only companies with the appropriate certification (like Alpine Heating) can legally work with refrigerants in France. This is both for your safety and to protect the environment.

7. Planning Permission: Paperwork Before Pipework

For most installations, especially if the outdoor unit is visible, you’ll need to submit a “Déclaration Préalable” to the mairie (town hall) before work starts. This is a formality, but it’s important to get it right to avoid headaches later on—especially in protected areas like Chamonix. If you’re in an apartment, you’ll also need approval from the copropriété (co-owners' association), as external works or changes to the façade require their consent before installation can go ahead.

8. Don’t Wait for the Next Heatwave

As with all good projects, the best results come from proper planning, not last-minute rushes. Summer is busy season for AC installs, and lead times can stretch out as soon as the mercury rises. If you want your system ready for the next hot spell, the best time to start is now—before everyone else is making the same phone call.

Final Thoughts

Getting air conditioning installed in Chamonix is perfectly doable, but it pays to plan ahead and use a specialist who’ll do the job neatly, safely, and with all the right paperwork. If you’re considering AC for your property, get in touch for a chat about what’s needed—there’s always a way to make it work without turning your home upside down.

If you have specific questions or want to discuss your property, feel free to reach out. At Alpine Heating, we’re always happy to talk through the options and make sure you get a solution that works for you and your home.