European Heatwave Boosts AC Demand: Installation Fees Up to €1,500

Blue Whale News, June 29 (Reporter Lu Pengpeng) An extreme heatwave has swept Europe in recent days, with Germany, the UK, France, and other countries setting new high-temperature records and issuing heat alerts.

Against this backdrop, Chinese-made air conditioners and other cooling appliances have become hot sellers locally, with over 10,000 monthly sales on e-commerce platforms and shortages even offline.

Ongoing Extreme Heatwave, Frequent Heat Alerts in Many Countries

According to CCTV News, a World Meteorological Organization official said on the 26th that the heatwave sweeping Western Europe, breaking several temperature records, will continue eastward, affecting the entire continent.

Data shows France has faced heatwaves for consecutive days, with western temperatures reaching 43°C, a June record for France. The UK saw its high-temperature record broken for three consecutive days (June 24-26), reaching 37.3°C on the 26th, causing over a thousand schools in England and Wales to close fully or partially. Germany's Mücken-Drewitz area recorded 41.5°C on the 27th, a new record. Persistent heat damaged highway surfaces in many areas, leading to road closures or speed limits, with railways urging reduced long-distance travel. Italy has also suffered intense heat, with the government issuing red heat alerts for 18 cities including Rome, Venice, Florence, and Milan.

Despite record temperatures, AC penetration in European countries is much lower than other major economies, with only about 20% of households equipped with cooling devices.

Reasons are multifaceted. First, in the past, prolonged high heat was less frequent in Northern Europe, reducing the need for AC. Additionally, to combat climate change, Europe has set green development goals, with some countries implementing policies restricting AC use. For example, Spain introduced a regulation in 2022 requiring public spaces to keep AC at no lower than 27°C.

E-commerce Monthly Sales Over 10,000 Units, Chinese Brands Break Through on Cost

Under the heatwave, some AC units see monthly sales exceeding 10,000 units.

Blue Whale reporter interviewed a Chinese national living in Paris for ten years, who said recent high temperatures in Paris are extreme. "Even previous summers were hot, but rarely this extreme. Walking on the street feels like melting."

Demand for home cooling has surged.

They noted that in France, portable AC typically costs €200-€500, while split units range from €500-€1,200.

Blue Whale checked Amazon France, sorting by bestseller, the top two are both Midea AC units. One sold over 10,000 units in the past month, priced at €166, and the other had over 7,000 orders, at €459.

In this heatwave, Chinese brands stand out with cost-effectiveness, becoming top choices for many local consumers.

"Brands like Midea, Haier, and Gree are available in France. With the same specs, Chinese brands are generally much cheaper than European, American, and Japanese brands," the Chinese national told Blue Whale.

According to CCTV News, China's exports of household AC to Western European countries rose 9.7% year-on-year in the first five months of 2026. Among them, portable AC saw notable growth, with a year-on-year increase of over 70%. Many companies report consumers lining up to buy, offline store shortages, and supply falling short of demand in several Western European markets.

"Can Afford to Buy, Not to Install, Not to Run": Installation Fees Up to €1,500

Notably, buying an AC in Europe is not the hardest part; the real barrier is installation. Split AC installation fees typically range from €300 to €1,500, with the highest quotes exceeding the unit price.

Why are installation fees so high? The local Chinese analyzed that buildings in central Paris are often decades or even centuries old, with thick walls making drilling much more difficult than in modern buildings. Additionally, installing outdoor units on high floors involves risky work. Most apartment buildings require prior approval from the property management and owner committees before installation, which is extremely cumbersome.

Meanwhile, local installation workers have high hourly rates. With multiple costs combined, split ACs become "buy but can't install" appliances.

Due to the difficulty and high cost, portable ACs have become the preferred cooling choice for local residents, especially renters.

To address issues like external wall protection restrictions and high installation costs in European countries, Chinese companies have developed customized products.

For example, the aforementioned "Midea U-shaped Smart Inverter Window AC," with a U-shaped hollow design, inserts into a window gap, allowing limited window opening after installation, perfectly avoiding high European labor costs, property approvals, and drilling old walls. It is a popular model in rental markets overseas.

Notably, buying an AC in Europe is just the first step; subsequent electricity costs are also significant. The local Chinese reported that with daily use of 6-8 hours, a split AC adds €30-€80 to monthly electricity bills, while a less efficient portable AC can add €50-€100 monthly.

Thus, energy efficiency has become a core consideration for local consumers. On e-commerce platforms, Chinese brands' high-efficiency models also sell significantly better.