Air conditioning in Delémont

Are you looking for air conditioning in Delémont, for a house, an attic flat or an office? Installing a cooling system in the capital of the canton of Jura raises specific questions: façades to respect, close neighbours, cantonal energy rules. This page presents the usual work, the steps to plan ahead and how to compare quotes for an air-conditioning installation in Delémont.

The most common air-conditioning installations in Delémont

Requests generally concern three types of equipment:

• the fixed split: a wall-mounted indoor unit connected to an outdoor unit, for one or two rooms;
• the multi-split: a single outdoor unit serving several rooms, useful when you want to cool the living room and bedrooms without multiplying units on the façade;
• the reversible heat pump: it heats in winter and cools in summer, which can make sense when the heating is due for renewal.

Most often, people cool a top floor under the roof, a living room exposed to strong sun or business premises with many appliances. In an ordinary home, a single room is sometimes enough to solve the problem.

Delémont, between the Birse and Sorne valleys: what the location changes

Delémont lies in the valley of the Birse and the Sorne, an area milder than the Franches-Montagnes, where winters are cold and snowy. In this valley, summer heat can be felt on the upper floors and in south-facing rooms, especially in dense streets. The need exists, but it remains closely tied to the orientation and construction of each home.

This climate has a practical consequence: an appliance that also heats in winter (a reversible heat pump) must be designed for cold seasons, since Jura winters remain harsh. Ask the installer how the proposed unit performs in cold weather and how it handles defrosting of the outdoor unit.

Old town and castle: a separate area

The old town of Delémont, with its castle, is one of the canton’s protected ensembles, alongside those of Porrentruy and Saint-Ursanne. Fitting an outdoor unit on a façade, on a roof or in a courtyard there may be refused or made subject to conditions. If your property is in this area or close to it, ask the municipality before hiring an installer: the possible location of the unit determines the whole project.

Houses, rental buildings and small premises

• House: the outdoor unit can be placed more freely, but the distance to neighbouring plots and their windows still needs checking because of noise.
• Rental building or co-ownership: façade, balcony and roof are often common parts. The routing of refrigerant lines and the drainage of condensate must be accepted by the building’s owner.
• Shop or office: look at the real thermal load (appliances, shop windows, number of people), not just the floor area.

Permits, energy and noise: the steps

Several rules may apply at the same time. They should be confirmed with the relevant authorities.

1. Energy: in Switzerland, air conditioning may require authorisation or a justification under the cantonal energy law. In Jura, the cantonal energy section is the contact to approach, and it also provides information on the cantonal subsidy programme, which applies mainly to renewable heating systems (to be checked for your project).
2. Building permit: it is issued by the municipality or the canton depending on the scale of the project. Ask the municipality of Delémont whether your installation requires an application, especially if the outdoor unit is visible from the street.
3. Noise: the outdoor unit must comply with the limits set by the Noise Protection Ordinance (OPB). Neighbours may complain if the unit is badly placed.
4. Landlord’s or co-owners’ consent: a tenant cannot decide alone. In co-ownership, the association’s agreement is required to alter common parts.

A good habit: ask the installer whether they handle the application or whether you must file it yourself, and note the answer in the quote.

Sun protection: the alternative to look at first

Before drilling through a façade, look at what is really heating the room. Often, the sun comes in through large windows or through a poorly protected roof. External blinds, shutters, brise-soleil or a solar film reduce heat gain with no appliance and no noise, and may be enough in a home where the discomfort lasts only a few weeks a year. Air conditioning remains justified when the heat persists despite these measures, for health or work reasons, for example. A serious professional will tell you honestly whether the appliance is worthwhile.

Preparing your request and comparing quotes

To obtain comparable offers, describe from the outset:

• the type of property (house, flat, shop), the floor and the orientation of the rooms concerned;
• the number of rooms to cool and their approximate floor area;
• the possible location of the outdoor unit (façade, balcony, garden, roof) and the distance to neighbours;
• your status: owner, co-owner or tenant, and whether consent has already been obtained;
• whether you might want a reversible unit that also heats;
• whether a suitable electrical supply exists nearby.

A good quote details the make and model of the units, the number of indoor units, the noise level of the outdoor unit, the routing of the lines, condensate drainage, the electrical connection, commissioning and maintenance terms. It also states who handles the administrative steps.

What makes the cost vary: the number of rooms, the power required, the length and difficulty of routing the lines, the nature of the façade, access for fitting the outdoor unit, electrical work and any requirements from the municipality. Two quotes can only be compared if they cover the same scope. To get started, you can request a quote: your request is passed on to tradespeople and companies in the region, who will contact you to prepare a free, no-obligation quote.

Going further in Delémont

• the trade page: air conditioning;
• the town page: work in Delémont;
• the canton page: canton of Jura;
• other work in the municipality: solar panels in Delémont, heating engineer in Delémont, tiling in Delémont.

A cooling project often overlaps with electricity generation (solar panels) and heating: if you are reviewing one of these items, it is worth discussing it with all the contractors involved.