Find an Air Conditioning Engineer you can trust in Newcastle-under-lyme.

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.
 

The importance of having your office heating and cooling system serviced on a regular basis simply can’t be overemphasized. Not only does it ensure the proper functioning of your system, but it also ensures it’s energy efficiency, helps you save some cool cash and and also ensures that a great indoor air quality is maintained. However, what discourages most business owners from servicing their air conditioning unit on a regular basis is the fear that the cost of doing so might be high and since the unit is not giving any issues yet, then any required maintenance efforts can be overlooked. The reality here is, no matter how high the cost of servicing your office air conditioning system seems to be, you’d have to pay higher to get it fixed when it starts developing series of faults that could have been prevented with proper maintenance. In this post, we’re going to consider the cost involved in the servicing of office air conditioning systems. Let’s take a look!

First and foremost, you should note that during an office air con service, the refrigerant will be recharged and the complete quantity of refrigerant is pumped out of the AC system weighed, filtered and dried. Once done, the AC system will be re-gassed with the quantity of refrigerant prescribed by the manufacturer. Furthermore, the quantity of the AC compressor oil is also changed with the same amount of fresh oil. A vacuum test will also be carried out to determine whether or not there are damages or leaks in the AC system which has to be fixed.

The cost of an office air con service depends on a number of factors including quantity and type of refrigerant required, location and more. On the average, the amount you can expect to incur to service your air conditioning system would be within the range of £60 to £90.

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 heat start to come up especially during the summer months, the swelter will mercifully be kept in check by air conditioning. The technology has made a significant impact on modern life and it can now be considered a norm for all new and modern homes. So if you’re also planning to fit new HVAC air conditioning systems in your home or property, you may also be interested in knowing exactly how it works. In this article, we aim to provide you with an in depth insight into how air conditioning operates. Now let’s take a closer look at the process!

✓ A grille at the bottom of the machine absorbs warm air from the room

✓ The warm air is transmitted over some chiller pipes through which a coolant fluid is circulating. Working in a similar fashion as the chiller cabinet in a refrigerator, this part cools down the transmitted warm air and any excess moisture is duly removed by a dehumidifier.

✓ The air is then transmitted over a heating element which is quite similar to the one present in a fan heater. On a cold day, this part of the unit can be turned up in order to allow the HVAC works as heater.

✓ A fan which is positioned at the top blows the air back through another grilled into the room.

✓ Coolant flows through the the chiller pipes. In the process, it carries heat from the air blowing past the pipes and then it evaporates - converting the cool liquid into a hotter gas. This heat is then transported to the outside of the building from inside the room.

✓ With time, the heat inside the building slowly blows away into the outside air.

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.

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.

What is the essence of calling a place “home”, if it doesn’t guarantee your comfort? A home should serve as a getaway from the chaos outside world, where you can relax and spend great time with your family. However, what makes house really a home goes way beyond simply having a place to live and sleep. It’s a fact that we all love comfort and where else should one be able to get that if not inside one’s home? And that’s exactly where an air conditioning system comes in! However, having a heating and cooling system installed at home provides you with more benefits than just comfort. They also go a long way to ensure provide us with safety as well as a better quality of life within the four walls of our home. In this post, we’re going to look at some of the top reasons why you should get an air conditioning system installed at home.

• A more secure home. More often than not, when our personal space is air conditioned we keep the doors and windows closed which makes it a lot difficult for an intruder to break into the home.
• Reduced possibility of asthma attacks. Since an AC system is able to minimize your home’s humidity and reduce the amount of mold, mildew, pollen and other air borne outdoor allergens, the risk of suffering an asthma attack is greatly reduced.
• Reduced number of pests and parasites. It’s a fact that you can help even your dog fight off fleas with an AC system. Air conditioning filters are a lot more effective in preventing bugs entry into a hme than an open window.

Nothing provides you with more relief during the hot summer months than having a fully functioning air conditioning system at home. If you seek to keep your surrounding cool, then your best bet would be to install an air conditioning system. The system functions mainly by transmitting air over a specific temperature to outside from the inside and then replaces it with the cooled air. The outcome of this is a comfortable, conducive and relaxing environment to live, play or even work. Asides the cooling advantages provided by air conditioning systems, they’re also able to deliver other great benefits like removing pollutants and improving the indoor air quality of your living space. What’s more? They also feature filters which works to keep out both insets and parasites. So when making a purchase decision, most homeowners are usually concerned about the cost of buying and installing these air conditioners. If you’re also interested in knowing the cost, here’s what you need to know.

There are different types of air conditioning units with each having it own unique prices. Let’s have a look.

✓ Portable air conditioning unit - £300 to £600

✓ Fixed air conditioning unit - £800 to £1000

✓ Installation Charges - £130 to £200 per day

The prices of these air conditioning units varies depending on a number of factors. Some examples of these price influencing factors include the height of the ceiling, the exact number of both the doors and windows, construction or design of the property and finally, the number of people it can cover at a go.

You need to determine the air conditioning unit’s size as well as the size of the area. Generally, a ton of AC unit is perfect for cooling an area of about 400 square feet.