Find an Air Conditioning Engineer you can trust in Shefford.

Are you planning to install a new climate control in your home or property? If yes, then there are a number of things you’d have to consider before making a financial commitment and that’s related to air conditioning planning permission. It’s crucial to equip yourself with the facts so as to avoid any hiccups along the ways and end up with an AC system that works well and complies with all relevant air conditioning regulations. In this post, we’re going to give you a good insight into planning permission for air conditioning in homes. Let’s take a look!

In general, majority of small air conditioning installations do not need planning permission. In other words, you don’t have to submit a planning permission application to install an air conditioning system in your home or property – if you want to, simply go ahead with it. However, there’s a need to ensure that your external air conditioning units meet some regulations. These regulations include:

• It isn’t bigger than 0.6m3
• It’s over a metre from the boundaries of any property
• It’s more than a metre away from the edge of a flat roof
• It shouldn’t be fitted on a pitched roof

In addition, you’d have to ensure that there isn’t a wind turbine on the property. For a more accurate information, it’s more advisable to reach out to your local authority for advice on air conditioning planning permission before installing your air conditioning unit. They’re in a much better position to advise you on how to ensure that your air conditioning complies with the relevant regulations as well as whether or not you’ll need a planning permission.
 

NO - as air conditioning systems use fluorinated gases as refrigerants, all work on them must be done by professionals holding valid F-Gas certification. There is a range of different qualifications and certifications that apply for this, so it's always best to ask someone who is qualified to do this.

NO - as air conditioning systems use fluorinated gases as refrigerants, all work on them must be done by professionals holding valid F-Gas certification. There is a range of different qualifications and certifications that apply for this, so it's always best to ask someone who is qualified to do this.

If you live in the UK, you’d know by now that no matter what’s happening in the world around us, nothing is going to stop the heat from getting in. And that’s exactly more reason why a well functioning cooling system is more of a necessity than a luxury. Hence, we’ve put together this list to help you avoid common air conditioning mistakes this summer. Let’s take a look!

• Not changing the filter. In the summer when the heat turns up there’s a huge need to change the air filters on a regular basis ( at least once a month). This is due to the fact that your air conditioning system works extra hard and runs all the time during the warmer months. What’s more? If you happen to have pets, a large family or live with an individual who suffers from asthma or allergies, it becomes a lot more important to change your air filters. Plus, a dirty filter is capable of increasing your energy cost within the range of 5 to 15 percent on a monthly basis.
• Not having the right size. When it comes to air conditioning, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. You simply have to purchase and install the right size for your property which is chiefly determined by the type of the dwelling, the home’s size and other factors.
• Ignoring red flags. Calling in a technician isn’t always the most convenient thing to do especially when life gets a bit busier. However, when you choose to ignore warning signs that something is wrong with your HVAC system, you risk a total breakdown of the unit. What happens is the problem becomes an even more serious issue which will be very costly to repair or at times, replaced.

If you want to guarantee the comfort of those inside your work environment, getting a commercial HVAC system should be a top priority. And if you already have one installed, knowing the best time to have it replaced rather than repaired will go a long way to save you some huge bucks. For instance, an air conditioning system that’s old and malfunctioning is best replaced due to the fact that all the components are probably weak and can only keep generating series of faults till it finally breaks down beyond repair. When evaluating your air conditioning unit, there are some factors that you’ll need to take into account to save yourself some money and headaches. Let’s take a look!

• Age. If your commercial HVAC system is within 15 to 20 years old and starting to look like a giant rust attached to your building, then its probably time to get a replacement. Also when old, most commercial air con systems are usually much less efficient and will consume more energy which implies higher energy bills.
• Wear and tear. If your system has experienced a significant amount of wear and tear, then its probably not heating or cooling as efficiently as it used to. Depending on the product’s quality as well as the level of maintenance many commercial HVAC system would be overdue for an upgrade by the time they’re about 15 years old.
• Malfunctions. When it comes to heating and cooling systems, some issues are quite easy to fix or resolve while others ( such as a broken furnace fan or refrigerant problems) should be best left to the experts. However, if the malfunctions are becoming more often or serious enough, then you should probably consider getting an upgrade.

If you’re looking to purchase and install an air conditioning system in your home or property, what immediately comes to mind is the type to invest in. When it comes to air conditioners, the available choices are numerous - from window units to central air conditioning, through-the-wall air conditioners, portable air conditioners, ductless split system, package terminal air conditioners, swamp coolers as well as geothermal cooling systems. In this post, we’re going to consider the various type of air conditioners in order to help you make the best decision moving forward. Let’s take a look!

• Window air conditioners. These are the most popular type of air conditioners which are typically mounted in a window. They possess an exhaust system which pushes hot air out the back and sides while the refrigerant cooling is pointed indoors.
• Central air conditioning. This is the most effective form of air conditioning if you happen to own a large home and want all rooms cooled at once.
• Portable air conditioners. Just like window air conditioners, these are self-contained air conditioning systems. In other words, portable air conditioners have all their essential components in one appliance just like in window air conditioning units.
• Through-the-wall air conditioners. These self-contained units that operates by bringing in warm air which is then exhausted while they send cool air back into the room ( similar to window air conditioners).
• Ductless split system air conditioners. Just like the name suggests, these are two-part air conditioners that are able to cool various areas within a home.
• Package terminal air conditioners. These are the type of air conditioners that are mostly used for cooling in commercial spaces like hospitals, hotels and the likes.
• Evaporative or “swamp” coolers. Although these aren’t as common as refrigerant air conditioners but they are just as effective. While conventional air conditioners make use of a refrigerant known as Freon, swamp coolers only incorporates air and water to function.

As the name suggests, these are air conditioning units that are specifically designed to be installed indoors. Unlike the conventional air conditioning system which involves installing a rather unattractive box on the outside of the building, internal air conditioning units are full fledged AC system which doesn’t involve having to make penetrations through the external walls. This could be as a result of the weather proof nature of the building or any other exterior skin features which acts as a restriction and makes the installation of a traditional air conditioning unit on the outside of your building simply illogical.

So how exactly does internal air conditioning units work? Well, most systems features the following components:

• The fan coil or room unit which is retrofitted high up on the interior wall of the room in question. Although, it can also be fitted into existing fittings as a concealed ducted unit during a refurbishment which makes it look a lot more attractive than the first option.
• The refrigeration pipe work then runs from the unit hidden behind the walls or ceilings, to the condenser box. The condenser box is usually the part that goes outside. However, it’s still installed inside the systems, mostly in a concealed space such as under the kitchen counter.

The benefits of installing internal air conditioning systems include the following:

• They are smart systems which is fully controllable with WiFi
• They filter the air, sucking dust, pollutants as well as other allergens from your building
• They most possesses some exciting features like the blackout technology as well as the i-Feel temperature control
• They’re just as effective in cooling and dehumidifying as any traditional air conditioning system.

When it comes to the installation of air conditioning units, one of the greatest mistakes any shop owner can make is attempting to install the system by themselves. The good performance, efficiency as well as durability of a heating and cooling system starts right from the installation stage. Therefore, if not done right, you risk making such an expensive investment a total waste. Installing your air conditioning system by yourself may save you the cost of hiring a professional like many shop owners would rightly say, but one thing they often ignore is the fact is that a poorly installed air conditioning unit would actually be more of a liability than an asset. Not only can it consume more electricity than necessary implying higher energy bills, but it can also lead to frequent breakdowns meaning huge repair costs as well as significantly cutting short the lifespan of the unit in question. Hence, the importance of getting in touch with a reliable professional for help.

If you’re yet to be convinced of the importance of having your shop air conditioning system professionally installed, here are some points that will make you have a rethink.

• Professionals are experienced and highly skilled. When it comes to the installation of heating and cooling systems in a work environment, there’s a need to call in a reliable professional. This is because AC system installation requires a well trained individual who knows just how best to ensure your AC system works efficiently and for a long period of time.
• Professionals able to provide expert advice. Having a good experience in field and good knowledge of heating and cooling systems, professionals are able to provide helpful tips such as maintenance procedures so as to ensure you get to enjoy your investment for a prolonged period.