Why a job in the centre of Olomouc is different
The historic core of Olomouc is among the best preserved in the republic, and the facades of the houses around the square are often the first thing visitors notice. Air conditioning can certainly be installed there, but a white outdoor unit box in the middle of a stucco facade simply looks like a foreign body. Therefore, for buildings in the heritage-protected part of the centre, it pays to solve the installation differently than for a standard new build on the edge of town.
Before installation begins, we recommend discussing the placement of the outdoor unit with the building owner or property manager, and preliminarily verifying whether external work on the given building can proceed without further steps. For houses in the centre of Olomouc, it is reasonable to expect that more parties than just the flat tenant may be involved in decisions regarding the façade's appearance.
Where to place the outdoor unit so it does not spoil the façade
The most common and least conspicuous solution is the inner courtyard or the rear wing of the building. Most historic houses in central Olomouc have a courtyard that is completely invisible from the street, so the unit does not disrupt the streetscape at all. The piping then runs along the courtyard façade or through the ceiling into the basement and from there to the indoor unit: a slightly longer route, but the result remains clean on the outside as well.
The second option is the roof, provided the flat is on the top floor and roof access exists. The outdoor unit on the roof is not visible from the square or pavement, and noise disperses into the surroundings rather than down the street between buildings. A disadvantage is often a longer refrigerant line running vertically through several floors, which increases the installation cost.
Where there is no courtyard or roof access, the least exposed side of the building is sought, for example, a side façade outside the main view axis from the square, or placement behind a recess or cornice that partially conceals the unit. It is always a compromise between functionality (sufficient airflow must be ensured) and minimising visual intrusion.
Piping inside the flat
In historic flats, walls are often thick, ceilings vaulted and floors valuable, so we avoid unnecessary damage. We therefore route the piping along the shortest possible path, usually following existing service routes or through areas where other utilities were previously installed. Wall penetrations are made with dust extraction to prevent interior contamination, as with any installation, but with particular attention paid to the pipe route.
Ground-floor premises in historic buildings
Many buildings around Horní and Dolní náměstí have shops, cafés or offices on the ground floor where air conditioning is often even more urgent than in an upstairs flat: a premises with a window facing the sun can heat up considerably in summer. Here, the placement of the outdoor unit is handled similarly to that for a flat, except that the owner or manager of the entire building is usually involved in the decision-making, not just the tenant of the premises. It pays to discuss this with the landlord at the same time so that installation is not delayed by waiting for approval.
Do you live or run a business in a house in the centre of Olomouc and are wondering where to install an air conditioner? We will come, inspect the building and propose a location that works without unnecessarily disrupting the façade.
When to plan installation in advance
If the building has multiple owners or ground-floor tenants with commercial premises, expect that positioning the unit will involve coordinating with several people at once. We recommend starting measurements as early as possible, not just a week before the planned summer season, obtaining consent and agreeing on placement takes longer than for an apartment in a housing estate. The installation procedure itself is then the same as elsewhere in Olomouc, only with greater emphasis on the routing of the unit and pipes.
It pays to involve a neighbour or the building's owner with whom you share the courtyard or façade in the decision-making process, when placement is agreed in advance with all those who have a say, installation proceeds without unnecessary delays. The survey and consultation on placement are always non-binding, so it is worth getting in touch even just to ask where an indoor unit could be installed for a specific building.