Find an Air Conditioning Engineer you can trust in Barnet.

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.
 

We all know how helpful air conditioning systems can be especially during the hot summer season which is great at making your home feel nothing less than an inferno. So if you have an AC system, you’d probably want to know if leaving it on will be cheaper and more efficient.

The short and simple answer to this question is yes, leaving your air conditioning system on will make make it cheaper and more efficient. This isn’t what you or many other people will have in mind though. Under no circumstances should you leave you air conditioning system on full blast 24/7. To make your air conditioning system more efficient by leaving it on has a right and wrong way you can go about it. Let’s have a look!

If you’d ever noticed, any time you turn your air conditioner off during a very a hot day, even if it’s for just a couple of hours, things tend to get thrown out of balance pretty quickly. When turned back on, your AC system will have to work even harder to restore the usual comfort levels in the room. When you abuse this dial in such a fashion, the AC system can only become more inefficient rather than making your home more comfortable quickly.

On the other hand, your AC system ( when tuned to the right settings) can help maintain the proper temperature and humidity balance within your home instead of turning it off while away. And upon getting back, you can simply turn down the thermostat a bit which helps you prevent the usual stagnant air that you’d be hit with when your return home (with the AC system turned off) that’ll have you racing for the dial.

Do you wish to save money on your air conditioning expenses and energy bills? If yes, then you’ve come to the right place. In this post, we’re going to consider some of the common myths you shouldn’t buy into if you really wish to save some money on your air conditioning system. Let’s take a look!

• The size of the system does not matter. This is one of the biggest mistakes you can make when purchasing an air conditioning system. A too large system will not only consume more energy meaning more higher heating bills, but will also keep turning off till it finally breaks down. And on the other hand, a system that’s too small would have to work harder to have your space cooled which means that it’ll wear down sooner. Consult a specialist in order to determine the right size of HVAC unit for your home.
• Turn down the temperature for a faster cooling. The fact here is, your AC system works just as hard whether you lower it 4 degrees or 25 degrees. Therefore, getting the temperature you want is just a matter of time. Also, you can end up paying a higher bill if you set it lower than you need to and in the process you happen to forget about it. Here, using a programmable thermostat can save you money and you’ll also get the temperature you really want.
• You don’t have to change the air filters. This is an idea you never buy into if you wish to save money. Air filters are usually inexpensive and can save you huge repair costs as well as heating bills on the long run. Normally, air filters should be replaced every 30 to 90 days by a specialist.

Also referred to as Freon, the refrigerant “R22 is a commonly used chlordiflouromethane that’s usually incorporated in air conditioning systems as well as many other refrigeration applications. However, because of the evidence discovered which shows the gas can contribute to the damage of the ozone layer, the refrigerant has now been banned since Dec 31, 2009 as it became legally required that any system making use of R22 and became faulty must be replaced.

Generally, R22 owners in commercial applications are now responsible for checking for leaks, record keeping as well as labelling of equipment using this type of gas. Failure to comply with these directives can lead to hefty fines.

Existing refrigeration and air conditioning equipment that makes use of R22 can still be used. However, the owner of the equipment will be denied any rights to purchase extra tanks of gas that’ll keep the equipment running. In the event whereby an air conditioning system requires a complete recharge of the R22 refrigerant, according to the law, it’ll be considered obsolete and therefore will have to be replaced. What’s more? As the remaining supplies of R22 starts to decline, the price of getting the refrigerant is expected to skyrocket. As a result, do not be shocked if the cost of purchasing more R22 to keep your current equipment running outweighs the cost of replacing your existing equipment with a new and environmentally approved one.

As R22 is gradually being phased out, there are new ozone friendly alternatives which are being introduced into the refrigerant market. Out of these alternatives, the most common one is the R410A, which is purely a combination of hydrofluorocarbons which does not deplete the ozone layer.

In a server room, you have multiple electronics in a single room. If you stand a bit close to your personal computer while its still running, you know you’ll definitely feel some heat. Now imagine the amount of heat that would be generated by large servers in a single room (hint: it’s quite much). A server room would be highly uncomfortable to work in with that amount of heat around and beyond that, the heat is also very dangerous to the electronics. It can lead to equipment malfunction or even breakdown. When the equipment in your server room is one that stores all your business’ information, then it’s simply a no-brainer to do everything you possibly can to protect the equipment. Hence, the reason why every server room requires a good and well installed air conditioning system which helps to control temperature as well as moisture in the server room. It also goes a long way to control the amount of dust in the room and dust can also affect the performance of the electronics. Here are some of the reasons why the HVAC system in your server room should be professionally installed.

• The quality is guaranteed. Compared to when the installation project is made a DIY task, a professional installer is able to guarantee a better quality result. They possess the necessary experience, knowledge, tools and skills to make the project a successful one and highly satisfactory.
• They offer technical advice. When you hire a professional HVAC system installer, you also get free advice on a bunch of relevant technical topics and lots more.
• They often offer maintenance guides and after installation support. Companies that are committed to customer service and utmost satisfaction will often provide maintenance guides and technical support post installation. They also give you the opportunity to leave a feedback based on your experience so they can improve on their service delivery.

Having its usage banned in air conditioning systems and many other refrigeration applications due to the danger it poses to the ozone layer, several companies that are affected by the R22 legislation would possess a policy to identify specific recommended alternatives. If you’re also affected by this new legislation, then you’ve come to the right place. Generally, the alternative that’s selected is usually dependent on the business unit level as well as the business’ energy efficiency requirements.  In this post, we’re going to consider some of the recommended alternatives to the R22 refrigerant. Let’s take a look!

• R140a. This refrigerant is commonly used in industrial refrigeration, residential air conditioning, industrial air conditioning as well as commercial centrifugal compressors.
• R134A. This refrigerant is commonly used in domestic refrigeration, commercial refrigeration, transport refrigeration, residential air conditioning, commercial centrifugal compressors and mobile air conditioning.
• R407C. This is commonly incorporated in industrial refrigeration, residential air conditioning and commercial air conditioning.
• R407A. This type of gas is commonly incorporated in commercial refrigeration, plug ins as well as vending machines.
• MO99 ( R438A). This gas type is common applied in commercial refrigeration, plug ins, vending machines, industrial refrigeration as well as residential air conditioning.
• RS-44b. This is commonly used in all refrigeration systems.

These R22 alternatives are all believed to be environmental friendly having little to no impact on the ozone layer. However, one drawback possessed by of these alternatives is when POE oil is incorporated. This can result in excess moisture which causes acid build up inside the refrigerant lines. What’s more? These refrigerant alternatives also work at a higher pressure which means that it may cause more wear and tear on components.

If you’ve made the decision to purchase an air conditioning system for your office, the next step is deciding whether to install the unit yourself or get in touch with a professional for help. To several business owners, this is a very simply decision to make, - a lot of money can be saved by making the task a DIY project. However, the installation of a heating and cooling system requires some specific skills and knowledge that, when not properly mastered, can lead to some installation faults which will ultimately make the system consume more energy than necessary while also affecting its durability. On the other hand, installation done by a well trained professional will not only save you a lot of money, but will also ensure you get to enjoy your system for a long period of time.

If you’re yet to be convinced about the importance of a professionally installed office air conditioning system, here are some point that just might 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 know just how best to ensure your AC system works efficiently and for a long period of time.
• Most professionals are insured. When you call in an insured office air conditioning expert, you’ll have a peace of mind knowing you’re fully covered in case something goes wrong during the installation process.
• 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.

When getting a new air conditioning system, it’s essential to always go for one that’s energy efficient, otherwise you’ll end up paying more money on your heating and cooling bills than necessary. Over the years, a variety of air con units have been developed which ultimately makes it a bit tricky trying to separate the “the boys from the men. Not all are created equal and most home and property owners who do not take the necessary measures and put certain things into consideration when buying a new AC system often go back home with the most visually appealing unit rather than an energy efficient one.

When purchasing a new energy efficient system, there’s a need to look out for some things that can go a long way to help keep your heating bills and your home’s temperature low. Let’s take a look!

• Get the appropriate size for your space. One of the biggest mistakes you can make when buying a new air conditioner is getting the wrong size. A unit that’s too small will have to work overtime to achieve the set temperature for the room and driving up your energy bills, while a unit that’s too large will cool the air pretty easily and quickly but leave it damp and clammy.
• Energy saving setting. Always look out for this feature when buying a new unit. This allows the unit to turn off both the compressor and the fan once the space has been cooled off which in turn helps you conserve energy.
• ENERGY STAR® Certification. When deciding on the best air condition for your home, always look for the blue ENERGY STAR® certification. This implies that the unit has met or exceeded certain higher efficiency standards than other similar models.