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Chiller Unit Finance

Spread the cost of commercial chiller units from £20,000 to £600,000+ with flexible finance options. HP, lease, or refinance, compare rates from 40+ lenders.

Can you finance a chiller unit?

Yes, chiller units are financed as a standard asset purchase, usually on hire purchase or a lease, with the machine itself acting as the security. UK prices typically run £20,000 to £600,000, and most deals are written over 12–84 months with a deposit of around 10–20%. Decisions typically take 24–48 hours. Used machines are financeable too, usually with a shorter term.

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2-minute application
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Typical Cost

£20k – £600k

Approval Speed

24–48 hours

Same-day for < £100k

Rates From

4.5% APR

What would a chiller unit cost per month?

£95,000
10%
60 months
9%
£0

Your estimate

Indicative only. Not a quote and not an offer of finance.

Pre-filled with a typical chiller unit price. Indicative only, not a quote.

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Finance options

Hire Purchase (HP)

Rate
From 4.9% APR
Term
12–84 months
Deposit
10–20%
Ownership
Yours at the end
Best for
Businesses wanting to own the plant outright

Finance Lease

Rate
From 4.5% APR
Term
12–84 months
Deposit
None required
Ownership
Return or buy (balloon payment)
Best for
Tax-efficient, claim 100% of payments against profit

Operating Lease

Rate
From 5.2% APR
Term
36–84 months
Deposit
None required
Ownership
Return at end
Best for
Keeps the chiller off balance sheet for the lease term

Representative example

On a purchase price of £95,000: a 10% deposit of £9,500, then 48 monthly payments of £2,004 at 5.9% APR representative (fixed). Total amount payable £105,692, including the deposit. The rate you are offered depends on your business and the asset.

What buyers actually specify

Guide prices for sizing a finance agreement, not quotes. Manufacturers in this market mostly price on application, so where a current UK list price could not be confirmed the row describes a specification class rather than naming a model. Your supplier quote is what the agreement is written against.

Machine or specification Guide price Type
Daikin EWAT-B Series £35,000 – £110,000 Air-Cooled Scroll Chiller (75-710kW)
Daikin EWAD-T Series £90,000 – £280,000 Air-Cooled Screw Chiller (290-2150kW)
120kW air-cooled chiller (specification class) £35,000 – £55,000 Small Commercial Air-Cooled Chiller
600kW water-cooled screw chiller (specification class) £150,000 – £260,000 Central Plant Water-Cooled Chiller

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Tax benefits

Commercial chillers generally qualify for the Annual Investment Allowance, letting the cost be set against taxable profits in the year of purchase. Whether a unit is treated as moveable plant or as a fixture depends on how it is installed: a packaged unit standing on a roof or plant slab and connected by removable pipework is usually moveable plant, while a chiller built into the fabric of a plantroom can be treated differently for capital allowances purposes. For finance leases, payments are typically deducted from profits as they fall due.

Market context

Chillers are bought by manufacturers, data centres, hospitals and food processors needing process or comfort cooling, and by FM contractors replacing plant that has reached the end of its working life. Finance suits the purchase because a chiller is usually one part of a wider works package, alongside pipework, controls and commissioning, and spreading the combined cost keeps working capital free for the rest of the project. Installation and servicing require an engineer certified to handle the refrigerant in use, which buyers factor into who they use for commissioning and ongoing maintenance. Replacement is generally driven by compressor wear or the unit becoming uneconomic to service, rather than a fixed age, and the used market is limited because chillers are sized for a specific cooling load.

Bad credit?

Several of our 200+ lenders specialise in businesses with imperfect credit histories. You may need a larger deposit or personal guarantee, but options exist. Checking your options here does not affect your credit score, because we do not run a credit search to match you. A lender will run their own checks only if you decide to apply.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I finance a used chiller?
Yes, though the used market for chillers is smaller than for general machinery because units are sized for a specific building and cooling load. Lenders will usually want to see a recent service history and, for larger units, an engineer's condition report before agreeing terms. Expect a slightly higher rate than for new equipment and a shorter maximum term to reflect the plant's remaining working life.
Does it matter whether the chiller is a fixture or moveable plant?
It can. A packaged chiller on a roof or external slab, connected by removable pipework, is generally treated as moveable plant and is straightforward to finance and to remove if a tenant leaves. A chiller built into a plantroom as part of the building fabric may be treated differently for both finance and capital allowances, so it is worth flagging the installation method to your broker before applying.
Do I need a certified engineer to install or service the chiller?
Yes. Anyone handling the refrigerant in a commercial chiller, whether installing, servicing or decommissioning it, needs to hold the relevant F-gas certification. This does not affect the finance itself, but lenders and insurers will expect the maintenance contract to be with a certified engineer, so it is worth having that arranged before the unit is delivered. Confirming this arrangement upfront also protects your warranty, since most manufacturers will not honour a claim where uncertified work has been carried out on the unit.
What deposit do I need for chiller finance?
Hire purchase typically asks for a 10-20% deposit, while finance leases and operating leases are often available with no deposit at all. The exact figure depends on the size of the deal and your trading history. A larger deposit will generally bring the monthly payment down and can help with approval on larger central-plant chillers. Repeat customers financing a second or subsequent piece of equipment with the same lender often find deposit requirements ease over time as a trading relationship builds.
How quickly can I get chiller finance approved?
Most straightforward applications are approved within 24-48 hours. Larger central-plant chillers, or deals that form part of a wider construction package, can take longer because the lender will want sight of the installation contract and commissioning timetable alongside the equipment quote. Having your last two years' filed accounts and a formal supplier quote ready before you apply is the single biggest factor in keeping to that timescale.

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