Heat pumps are a sustainable way to heat your property. Depending on the type of heat pump you invest in, they will work in slightly different ways. In the latest post from Air Conditioning Direct, we take a more in-depth look at heat pumps and the frequently asked questions surrounding them.

Heat pumps may extract thermal energy from the air, water or ground, then “pump” it into your home to provide warmth.

What Maintenance Do Heat Pumps Require?

High-quality heat pumps can be expected to last around 25-30 years and require very little maintenance.

Most ground source heat pumps will require an annual check to ensure they are working correctly. Where a ground source heat pump isn’t working correctly, it may lose up to 25% of its efficiency.

Where there is a problem with the thermostat and the temperature is set too low, the auxiliary heater could begin operating and use much more electricity than it should.

Whilst an air source heat pump also requires very little maintenance, it may be recommended by your supplier to have the heat pump serviced before winter (or summer if used for cooling).

Do I need Planning Permission?

Heat pumps of any variation, are generally allowed as permitted developments in England, but it is always advisable to double check with your local planning office before any work takes place.

How Efficient are Heat Pumps?

Heat pumps are said to be about 3-5 times more efficient than fossil fuel boilers. Due to their ability to heat an entire home during winter, heat pumps have increased in popularity in the colder climates of Scandinavia.

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Here at Air Conditioning Direct, we have been installing heat pumps across London for many years. If you would like more information regarding our heat pumps or the installation process, we welcome you to contact us. Please call 020 8989 8989 or send your enquiry through to our online contact form.

Heat pumps are a highly energy efficient way to heat and cool residential spaces. In the latest blog post from Air Conditioning Direct, we discuss heat pumps, how they work and their advantages.

How Do Heat Pumps Work?

Heat pumps extract thermal energy from the ambient air, water or ground and transfer it into your home. An advantage of using heat pumps is that the process is fully reversible, meaning that they can be used for both heating and cooling your space.

By extracting energy from the air, Altherma heat pumps use a combination of renewable and traditional energy to heat your home and provide it with hot water.

There are a wide variety of heat pumps on the market, which work in slightly different ways, however, a professional installer will be able to inform you of the best option for your space and budget.

The Advantages of Heat Pumps

In the modern day, we are all much more aware of our impact on the environment. In addition to this, the rise of high fuel bills means that many of us are now considering alternative methods of heating our homes. Heat pumps are a highly efficient option for heating and cooling residential properties and are said to heat five times more efficiently than traditional heating systems.

It is a common misconception that alternative methods of heating your home require more maintenance, however, heat pumps require very little maintenance. What’s more, they can be connected to all standard low-temperature radiators and underfloor heating systems.

Here at Air Conditioning Direct, we have been specialising in providing tailored air conditioning systems, heat pumps and solar panels to both commercial and residential properties. If you would like to find out more about our wide range of services, we welcome you to contact us. Please call our team today on 020 8989 8989 or fill out our online enquiry form.

The advantages of heat pumps are never ending, they’re an all in one energy efficient heating and cooling system that are used in homes across the country. They extract thermal energy from the air, water or ground and pump it into your home. Air source heat pumps absorb heat from the outside air. This heat can then be used to heat radiators, underfloor heating systems or warm air convectors and hot water in your home.

Last year the European Heat Pump Market and Statistics Report 2015 concluded that there was a 3% rise in the amount of heat pumps being sold, showing that heat pumps are becoming a trend.

Here are some of the benefits of using an air source heat pump:

One of the biggest advantages is that air source heat pumps are a form of low carbon heating, essentially being a more sustainable option for your residential space, in comparison to traditional electric and gas boilers. If you’re looking to cut overall emissions, air source heat pumps use only one unit of electricity to produce 3 to 4 units of energy. Additionally, you can reduce this even further by fitting solar PV panels so it runs off clean electricity. 

Air source heat pumps can also be used throughout the year. During the hot summer months, the heat pump can convert the outside air to a cool setting, resulting in keeping everyone cool inside. As well as this, air source heat pumps also have a long lifespan. With advised yearly maintenance, air source heat pumps can last up to 25 years. Here at AC direct, we also offer a seven-year guarantee, putting your mind at rest in case of any unlikely issues.

There are also ground source heat pumps, which use pipes buried in the garden to extract heat from the ground. Again this heat can also be used to heat radiators, underfloor, water and warm air heating systems.

Here are some of the benefits of ground source heat pumps:

Ground source heat pumps have a very low running cost in comparison to electrical heating systems. This is due to very few moving parts throughout the ground source system, making the pump compressor being the only element that requires electric energy to run. They are also super reliable and require little maintenance, due to the pipes being buried into the ground. These heat pumps can last up to 20 years, making them a great investment for your home. 

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For a range of high quality heat pumps give our friendly team a call on 020 8989 8989 who will be happy to help you. Additionally, you can contact us through our online enquiry form.

In previous posts, we’ve discussed the advantages of heat pumps, how they work, some of the frequently asked questions around them, and their history. Now, we take a look at the various sizes of heat pumps available, and how you can ensure you invest in the most suitable size for your property.

There are two types of heat pump – air source and ground source. The type of heat pump you invest in may affect the recommended kW output and consequently the size of the pump.

Other factors that can affect the size of heat pump you require are:

• The number of bedrooms in the property
• Type and size of the property
• The level of insulation/heat loss
• The size of radiators/underfloor heating
• The desired indoor temperature
• Seasonal outdoor temperatures

As a rough guide, many experts recommend an output of 1 kW for every 10 metres squared. However, this measurement can change dramatically depending on the rate at which your property loses heat. 

Finding A Reliable Company

When updating the heating or cooling system in your home, working with a reliable and professional company is a must. A qualified heat pump installer will be able to inform you of the right size heat pump for your property, and provide you with answers to all your questions about the pump and its operation.

Look out for reviews and accreditations and ensure the company you work with has up to date insurance policies.

Air Conditioning Direct – Heat Pumps

We have been installing Altherma heat pumps across residential and commercial properties for many years, which have proven to be up to five times more efficient than traditional heating systems based on fossil fuels or electricity. To get your no-obligation quote today, please call 020 8989 8989 today. Alternatively, send your enquiry through to our enquiry form and we’ll be in touch with you shortly.

Whilst it may be technically safe to sleep with your air conditioning left on all night, there are a few things you should know and consider before doing so.

The summertime is here and the nights can become extremely sticky. The rise in temperature can make it difficult to sleep, but is it safe to leave your air conditioning unit on throughout the night? In the latest post from Air Conditioning Direct, we discuss this topic in more detail, ensuring you can get a comfortable night’s sleep, whatever the weather.

Body Temperature

Your body temperature can drop between 1 and 2 degrees whilst you sleep, so you may feel more comfortable leaving your air conditioning on a low setting, rather than turning it up full blast before you sleep. Leaving your air conditioning on a low setting will also avoid you getting a chill.

The National Sleep Foundation suggests that the best temperature for sleep is somewhere between 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit, so keeping your room somewhere between these temperatures should help you get to and stay asleep.

Health

Air conditioning left on overnight can dry out your room, making your nose feel stuffy and your skin feel dry. If this happens, you may want to cool your room down before going to bed and then turn the air conditioning off. Alternatively, you may want to try using a fan to cool down as well as other techniques, including keeping your curtains closed and your windows open – if there’s a breeze.

No matter whether you plan to use your air conditioning unit throughout the night or just at certain points during the day, the unit should be regularly cleaned. AC units that are not regularly cleaned can harbour a build-up of dust and dirt that can spread into your room once you turn it on.

Overall, there is no safety issue when it comes to leaving your air conditioning on all night, but you should be mindful of the possible issues that this could cause and take appropriate measures to make the most of your system.

Air Conditioning Direct

Here at Air Conditioning Direct, we have been installing air-con units into premises across London for many years. We’ll tailor the unit we install to suit your space, ensuring you feel all of the benefits of using an air conditioning system. If you would like to find out more about our wok please call Call 020 8989 8989 or send your enquiry through to our online contact form and we’ll be in touch shortly.

Many people have returned to the office now, and more are likely to do so in the coming months. Employers have many challenges to overcome to ensure the safety of their employees as they return to work, and one common question that many people have is whether or not air conditioning is safe to use.

The simple answer is yes – according to HSE, the risk of contracting coronavirus as a result of air conditioning is extremely low, as long as there is adequate ventilation on the premises. The majority of air conditioning systems will not need to have their settings changed, unless they recycle air from room to room. Fresh air supply should be used wherever possible.

How To Ensure Office Spaces Are Properly Ventilated

Even before COVID-19 swept across the UK, proper ventilation was highly important. It is now the legal responsibility of the employer to ensure that proper fresh air ventilation is supplied to all offices in their building. Air Conditioning units are the best way of doing this, however there are other ways you can supplement mechanical ventilation:

• Open windows as wide as they can be wherever possible
•  Use fans to help circulate air
•  Keep Air Conditioning Systems maintained and ensure any repairs are carried out

Furthermore, you can improve the general air quality of an office by:

• Making sure that rooms are properly cleaned, dusted, and vacuumed on a regular basis. Preferably weekly.
•  Changing filters on Air Conditioning Systems regularly
•  Using non toxic cleaning agents
•  Keeping plants!
  
• Air Conditioning Direct

If you are returning to the office after a while away, it might be worth having your air conditioning checked to ensure that you are opening safely. This is, of course, essential to the wellbeing of your employees, and it makes sure you are operating with compliance to the law.

Air Conditioning Direct

Our team at Air Conditioning Direct will likely be able to help you. Give us a call on 020 8989 8989, or fill in our handy contact form and we will be in touch.

Having a fully functioning air conditioning system in your home or office can greatly improve your comfort levels, whether that be from warming you up or cooling you down. After owning one for a while, your air conditioning system can become a part of the furniture and so you may forget to service it regularly. We have compiled a few reasons why you should keep up with your air conditioner maintenance.

Energy Efficiency

Ensuring that your air conditioning maintenance is up to scratch will mean that the system is far more likely to be running at its full capability. If not serviced, your air conditioner will gradually run at less and less efficiency, meaning you will be spending more money running the system than necessary.

Saving on Repair Costs

Speaking of saving money… Keeping up with air conditioning maintenance means that the system is far less likely to stop working seemingly out of nowhere. When this happens, not only are you suddenly plunged unexpectedly into a world without air con, but you will also have to spend money on emergency repairs. Regular servicing can eliminate the chance of needing to fork out the money for air conditioner restoration.

Preserving the Quality of Air

A serviced, fully functioning air conditioner should be providing the room with clean and fresh air. Over time the filter inside the machine will gather dust, causing the quality of air it is producing to drop. This is due the filter not being able to do its job of purifying the air effectively before sending it back out into the room. For people with medical issues such as asthma this can be harmful, so ensuring that the air quality remains at a high level by regularly getting your air conditioner serviced is very important.

Air Conditioning Direct

We hope that these reasons detailing why it is important to maintain your air conditioning system was helpful to you. Elsewhere on the website you can also find blogs on similar issues, such as whether using air con during the Covid-19 pandemic is safe, and if it is safe to sleep with the air conditioning on.

Air Conditioning Direct provides services across London, including Loughton, Finchley and St John’s Wood. For more information, please feel free to get in touch with us by filling out our online contact form, or by calling 020 8989 8989.

As summer is now upon us, the demand for air conditioning systems has risen, but in people’s haste to get their unit up and running, they often forget that positioning is key when setting up their conditioning system. We at Air Conditioning Direct are here to help with some key things to consider when thinking about where to place your AC.

Keep Away From Hot Points

Your new air conditioning unit is likely to have a built in thermostat installed, regulating the temperature of the room to adjust accordingly. To give the unit the best chance possible of having an accurate reading, it should be positioned away from hot points of the room. These hot points can be anything that gets an unbalanced amount of heat compared to the rest of the room, such as above a kettle or in direct sunlight. If your air conditioning unit is placed in a neutral area, its temperature regulation is going to work more effectively.

Avoid Placement Directly Over Bed

At first thoughts, the idea of an air conditioner pouring cold air over you while you try to sleep on a summer’s night may seem dreamy, but the reality is quite different. Placing an air conditioning system is a common mistake as the vast majority of people find that this placement has the opposite effect, making them too cold while they’re trying to drift off. For a happy medium, the general consensus is that the AC unit should be placed in a central location. This will provide the required cooling without it feeling too cold.

Think About Air Flow

It is advisable that your air conditioning system should be placed in a position that compliments the natural air flow of the room. In order to get the most use of your system, it should be placed away from doors that will be frequently opened and shut, as well as any furniture that may block the AC’s air flow. The easier it is for the air to be transported from your conditioner to the rest of the room, the more effective it will be.

Contact Air Conditioning Direct

If you would like to find out more information about the residential AC services we provide or would like some advice on air conditioners, please feel free to fill our our online contact form or call us on 020 8989 8989.

Over the past few years, the inclusion of plants inside the home has become more and more popular, with an increasing number of homeowners decorating their houses with foliage. Air conditioning systems work to alter the environment of a room, which can sometimes be detrimental to house plants. However, with some tips and useful information, air conditioning and plants can co-exist inside your home, so you can successfully maintain your plants while keeping your room temperature just as you like it.

Choosing The Right Plants

If you are in the position of already having installed an air conditioning system and are looking for plants that are the best suited for an air conditioned environment, there are a few options available to you. Air conditioning creates a room with low humidity, so plants that fare the best in this type of environment should be at the top of your list to choose from.

Plants such as the Peace Lily or the Snake Plant are comfortable living in environments with drier humidity. The Parlour Palm is also a great option as they are very adaptive to low humidity and they require very little attention so you will not have to worry about maintaining them too much.

A good idea is also to include terrariums into your plant collection – these can be purchased or easily made yourself at home. Terrariums are perfect for living in air conditioned rooms because they create their own humid environment. Because the vapour that is released by the plants can’t escape the glass jar, it recycles and creates its own small scale water cycle.

Maintaining Existing Plants

Even if the plants you already own are the specific types that tend to cope easily in an air conditioned environment, there are still ways in which they can be maintained and kept thriving.

A big factor is to do with the positioning of the plants in relation to the air conditioner. You should avoid placing plants directly underneath the air conditioner, as the constant blast of cool air can freeze cells, preventing nutrients from moving freely around the plant.

Air conditioners can cause plants to lose moisture, so in order to keep them healthy, they should be misted and watered regularly to ensure they are getting all the nutrients they need. Although be vary of overwatering because this will cause it to drown.

Air Conditioning Direct

Plants and air conditioning systems can coexist in your home, it just means that some plants will require more attention and some more thought needs to go into where they are placed in relation to the air conditioner.

If you would like more information about the air conditioning services we provide and would like to know our availability, please feel free to get in touch by filling out our online contact form or by calling us on 020 8989 8989. We deliver air conditioning systems in and around London and Essex, including Kensington, Loughton and Chigwell.