Siemens Smart Infrastructure has launched Connect Box, an open and easy-to-use IoT solution designed to manage small to medium-sized buildings. Connect Box is a user-friendly approach for monitoring building performance, with the potential to optimise energy efficiency by up to 30 percent and to substantially improve indoor air quality in
Wakefield-based granite and quartz worktop supplier, Roann Limited, has been appointed by Hertfordshire-based contractor Midgard, part of the JRL group, to supply kitchen worktops across three projects totalling almost half a million pounds. “We’re delighted to have been appointed by Midgard to work across these three projects! We’ve been working
Baxi will be supplying its 100% hydrogen boilers for the H100 Fife Project, a world-first hydrogen-to-homes demonstration delivered through a partnership between gas distribution company SGN and Fife Council in cooperation with industry regulator Ofgem. Baxi attended an event hosted by SGN on 8 March to mark the beginning of
The UK is making progress in decarbonising its economy. In 2022 total emissions fell by 3.4%, and the nation is currently only 19% short of the 2030 target of a 68% reduction of 1990 levels. To achieve the UK’s 2050 net zero obligation, large parts of the economy still require
Heating and hot water solutions provider Baxi and H2GO Power, hydrogen-based software and hardware solutions innovators, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) formalising their commitment to develop innovative green hydrogen-based technology that will tackle both heat decarbonisation and energy reliability. The MoU was signed by Baxi’s MD Karen Boswell
A new homes development in Leicestershire is the first by Bloor Homes to have energy efficient air source heat pumps installed. The technology is being used for every home at the housebuilder’s Brooksby Spinney development in Brooksby, north-east of Leicester. Air source heat pumps are a low carbon technology, that
Primary school teachers in the Preston area are set to introduce the world of engineering to Key Stages 1 & 2 children through a series of engaging classroom projects created by Primary Engineer in partnership with Baxi. This is the second year running that Baxi is supporting the Primary Engineer
Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs) are becoming an increasingly popular option for homeowners in the UK who are looking for a sustainable and cost-effective way to heat their homes. Unlike traditional fossil fuel-based heating systems, ASHPs use heat from the air outside to heat the home or building, making them
Often overlooked, the electric cable is a fundamental ingredient in any Infrastructure project globally. The greater need for more power, more data transmission and more of everything, in general, has driven significant development of cable technology over the years, as illustrated here: Material developmentsIn the 1880s, the first cables were insulated
Air conditioners provide great comfort at home. However, like any other machine, it’s susceptible to damage. Although some issues can still be fixed, there may come a time when replacing the air conditioner is a better option. The question is how to determine if it’s time to replace the AC
Siemens Smart Infrastructure has launched Connect Box, an open and easy-to-use IoT solution designed to manage small to medium-sized buildings. Connect Box is a user-friendly approach for monitoring building performance, with the potential to optimise energy efficiency by up to 30 percent and to substantially improve indoor air quality in small to medium sized buildings such as schools, retail shops, apartments or small offices. Connect Box allows users to accomplish essential daily building management tasks from one place via a cloud-based interface with no additional gateway or software. Alarm notifications for potential issues as well as graphics that visualise historical trends provide meaningful insights into the building performance at any time, supporting the optimisation of building operations. Connect Box offers intuitive online access via desktop or smartphone. Installation is fast and easily accomplished via plug and play, so system integrators, technicians and facility managers do not need engineering skills to set up, configure and operate the system. The included library contains more than 500 ready-to-connect field devices and is constantly growing, from both Siemens and third parties. A smart converter supports 11 communication protocols, both standard and proprietary, wired or wireless, including LoRaWAN, BACnet, Modbus and KNX. As an example, the IAQ (indoor air quality) multi-sensor which Siemens has recently introduced, works as a plug and play solution with Connect Box to provide crucial data on room air quality. The multi-sensor measures air quality in real time, checking key metrics like temperature and humidity, CO₂ saturation, VOC and PM2.5 emissions, as well as light and noise level (dBA). Building operators benefit by getting full transparency on air quality in their building and can make sure that they provide a healthy environment for tenants, visitors or staff. Connect Box offers two licensing models. The Cloud license allows users to store their building data in the Connect Box online database, while the On-premise license enables users to easily integrate the data collected from wired and IoT devices into an existing automation system, building management system, or external cloud. Both variants are managed remotely and updated over the air. IoT paves the way to a healthy and zero-emission building stock Even for smaller and medium-sized buildings that have been run without building automation up to now, it is becoming increasingly important to operate in an energy-efficient and climate-neutral way. On the one hand, for intrinsic cost reasons, on the other hand, because more and more regulatory requirements have to be fulfilled which demand sustainable operations. In Europe, for example, the EPBD (Energy Performance for Buildings Directive) is supporting the EU’s goal to achieve climate-neutral building operations by 2050, forcing building owners and operators to take action. From a technical point of view, IoT-based building solutions not only provide what is needed to implement such requirements, they also pay off: Energy and emissions savings of up to 30 percent are possible thanks to Connect Box’s key building management features. For further information on Siemens Building Products www.siemens.co.uk/buildingtechnologies For further information on Siemens Smart Infrastructure, please seewww.siemens.com/smart-infrastructure Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Wakefield-based granite and quartz worktop supplier, Roann Limited, has been appointed by Hertfordshire-based contractor Midgard, part of the JRL group, to supply kitchen worktops across three projects totalling almost half a million pounds. “We’re delighted to have been appointed by Midgard to work across these three projects! We’ve been working with Midgard for many years now, so we’re thrilled this relationship continues to grow – as do our wider business partnerships. We’re looking forward to getting started,” commented Richard Silverwood, Director of Special Projects, at Roann Limited. The three projects, located in Brent Cross Town, London and Preston Road, Brighton, are utilising 20mm Silestone Blanco Norte and 20mm Caesarstone Frozen Terra products throughout all kitchen areas, provided by Roann Limited as the exclusive worktop supplier. The Preston Road project will begin in April/May 2023, on the RIBA stage 4/5 full design on the redevelopment of ‘Brighton’s ugliest building’ on Preston Road. This consists of 229 apartments spread across three tower blocks, with one to three-bedroom apartments. The two Brent Cross projects will begin in September 2023, as part of the Brent Cross Town mega-development, which will see 800 new homes for sale and rent, alongside new retail and dining spaces, which is set to complete in 2025. These appointments from Midgard come shortly after the news that Roann Limited had invested in a sustainability initiative and is replacing all single use plastic, with recyclable cardboard, and reported on a record-breaking year in 2022. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Baxi will be supplying its 100% hydrogen boilers for the H100 Fife Project, a world-first hydrogen-to-homes demonstration delivered through a partnership between gas distribution company SGN and Fife Council in cooperation with industry regulator Ofgem. Baxi attended an event hosted by SGN on 8 March to mark the beginning of construction of the H100 Fife hydrogen homes demonstration facility. Due to open to the public this summer, the new facility will comprise two hydrogen show homes where visitors will be able to try out domestic hydrogen appliances, including Baxi’s 100% pure hydrogen boilers. The H100 Fife project enables households in the Buckhaven and Denbeath areas of historic Methil on the south Fife coast, to opt-in to be supplied with hydrogen through a new network which is due to go live in 2024. The scheme has already signed up over 300 householders who want to be part of the first 100% green hydrogen-to-homes zero carbon network anywhere in the world. Their participation will provide important behavioural and social evidence critical to help the UK decarbonise home heating. Green hydrogen will be supplied via the dedicated ORE Catapult 7MW wind turbine connected to an on-site electrolyser and storage facility. Modelling shows the turbine could provide the energy to produce enough hydrogen for up to 900 homes a year. The H100 Fife Project is the latest in a line of hydrogen projects to benefit from Baxi’s involvement, with the leading heating specialist having already supplied its full hydrogen and 20% blend compatible boilers to residential projects such as HyDeploy, Hy4Heat, HyStreet, Northern Gas Network’s 100% Hydrogen Home near Gateshead. In the commercial heating space, Baxi also recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with H2GO Power to deliver the world-first commercial hydrogen boiler and demonstrate the technology’s potential to decarbonise multiple industries. Karen Boswell, managing director of Baxi UK and Ireland, said: “We are thrilled to be providing our 100% hydrogen boilers to another innovative, world-first demonstration project. It’s great to see the support for this project from the local community and hands-on involvement from Fife council and other important stakeholders in the area. With such projects, we can help the public, Government and wider heating industry to better understand the potential of hydrogen to provide safe and low-carbon heating in the future, alongside other options available today such as heat pumps, hybrid systems and heat networks.” For more information, visit www.baxi.co.uk/about-us/the-future-of-heat Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The UK is making progress in decarbonising its economy. In 2022 total emissions fell by 3.4%, and the nation is currently only 19% short of the 2030 target of a 68% reduction of 1990 levels. To achieve the UK’s 2050 net zero obligation, large parts of the economy still require further decarbonisation, especially commercial and domestic heating. According to the Climate Change Committee (CCC) parliamentary report, half of current heat demand must be low carbon by 2035 to reach the 2050 target. Like many sectors, the transition to low carbon is happening through electrification. Gas boilers are already being phased out, and in 2025 the Future Homes Standard will come into force, effectively shutting them out of new build homes. This will make low carbon, sustainable heating a necessity for installers. Electric heating is a future-proof, low carbon solution that will survive the further significant changes in energy mix, market reform, and greater grid flexibility that are bound to come. Energy mix and market reforms demand future-proof electric heating More renewable energy is coming online across the UK. In 2022 40% of electricity was produced from renewable sources. And in May 2022, 73% of the grid’s power came from renewables. This means the overall share of electric energy in the UK is becoming greener. As this trend continues, commercial and residential heating must be prepared to adopt more electric heating. The increase of renewables in the energy mix isn’t the only significant change that will drive the transition to low carbon electric heating methods. The UK government announced and concluded its Review of Electricity Market Arrangements (REMA) last year. The review, touted as the “biggest electricity market reform in a generation,” aims to enhance energy security and cut electricity costs as the UK moves to a cleaner energy system. One of the biggest consequences of the review will be the decoupling of the gas and electricity markets. Currently, the highest gas prices determine the wholesale price of electricity. The consequence is much higher electricity prices, including renewable electricity, which should be significantly cheaper. When the decoupling reforms are enacted, the price of residential and commercial electricity should drop significantly, especially as the renewables mix continues to increase past 40%. This would make electrical heating one of the least carbon intensive forms of heating, as well as the least expensive. Making the most of this by deploying electrical heating is important to ensuring future-proof heating in commercial and residential buildings. Direct electric is best fit for a more flexible grid and the varied UK building stock Future-proofing also requires the right product for the right property. Heat pumps and direct electric are the two most popular forms of low carbon electric heating and the UK’s varied building stock requires both. New homes built after 2025 and spacious, two-storey buildings are suitable for heat pump installation. However, large swathes of the UK building stock are made up of smaller, older, and multi-storey buildings where heat pump installation is not practical. And as former commercial buildings are transformed into residential flats in the wake of the shift to hybrid work, retrofitting increasingly involves smaller heating solutions for multi-storey properties. Research carried out by electrical heating company, ThermoSphere, shows 54% of construction professionals reported that the best low carbon heating solution for smaller homes, apartments, and multi-storey buildings is direct electric heating because it does not require external equipment and has a minimal footprint. The potential REMA reforms will also lead to “increases [in] the participation of low carbon flexibility technologies”, including more electricity storage and wider use of demand side response (DSR). UK homes have recently experienced this with the limited roll out of the National Grid ESO Demand Flexibility Scheme, a residential DSR technology ending in March 2023. As demand side activity increases, giving domestic and commercial properties the ability to receive financial rewards for temporarily reducing their electricity consumption, buildings with low carbon electric heating have the potential to receive the most benefit as they have the most capacity to shut off. In addition, because DSR requires reducing consumption by turning off electrical systems, buildings with direct electric heating can manage this with greater control as direct electric heating does not operate on a central heating system, unlike gas or air-to-water or ground-source heat pumps. This allows for more localised, zone-specific heating. When turning off is required, buildings that don’t use centralised heating systems can choose to shut down specific areas and keep others heated. What’s more, with new underfloor heating products, on average it only takes approximately 20-30 minutes to heat a room, meaning temperature and comfort levels can be quickly restored after a shut off. As the UK continues to further electrify in order to decarbonise, electric residential and commercial heating will be able to endure future changes in energy mixes and market reform. Smaller, older, and multi-storey buildings will also benefit from direct electric heating as the grid becomes more flexible. www.thermosphere.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Heating and hot water solutions provider Baxi and H2GO Power, hydrogen-based software and hardware solutions innovators, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) formalising their commitment to develop innovative green hydrogen-based technology that will tackle both heat decarbonisation and energy reliability. The MoU was signed by Baxi’s MD Karen Boswell and Enass Abo-Hamed, H2GO’s CEO, at a presentation of their carbon-neutral heat-in-a-box system held at Baxi’s Dartford Training Centre. The partnership includes an upcoming industrial scale trial of this unique containerised pre-heating solution which will be hosted by Northern Gas Networks (NGN) at its Low Thornley test facility. Pre-heating is an essential part of distributing gas. Before it can be transported to homes and businesses through the network, the pressure of the gas must be reduced. This process can cause it to freeze, so pre-heating takes place to allow the gas to flow. Traditional pre-heating units are highly energy and cost intensive. Heat-in-the-box will lower the cost of pre-heating, while delivering the supply at much lower costs for applications at a massive scale. The aim of the trial is to demonstrate how the heat-in-a-box system can supply heat for gas pre-heating in a safe and carbon-neutral manner, with the potential to supply renewable heating for other operations. Heat-in-a-box combines electrolysis, hydrogen storage technology and Baxi’s hydrogen boiler, the first-ever pure hydrogen boiler for commercial applications. The end-to-end system will be powered by solar photovoltaics and supported by an AI-enabled optimisation software platform. As heat-in-a-box can help maximise self-generated renewable electricity, it offers an interesting solution for multiple use cases – including decarbonising heat in off gas grid non-domestic buildings. Karen Boswell, Managing Director at Baxi UK & Ireland, said: “This partnership will deliver the world’s first commercial pure hydrogen boiler that will provide customers with greater flexibility in meeting their emissions reduction targets. Innovation projects like this are critical to understanding the role hydrogen can play in helping to decarbonise a range of sectors – including the difficult ones like heat.” Dr Enass Abo-Hamed, H2GO Power CEO, said: “We are pleased to be part of this world-first initiative. Today’s demonstration is a significant step as we explore the opportunities that could be unlocked through Heat-in-the box. Demand for heat is three times higher than the demand for power, while responsible for 40 percent of all global emissions. And we are determined to deliver a carbon neutral solution without compromising on cost and productivity to be used across key industries including as ceramics, glass, cement, food and beverage and chemicals.” For more information visit the Baxi and H2Go Power websites. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A new homes development in Leicestershire is the first by Bloor Homes to have energy efficient air source heat pumps installed. The technology is being used for every home at the housebuilder’s Brooksby Spinney development in Brooksby, north-east of Leicester. Air source heat pumps are a low carbon technology, that uses the environment to generate 75 per cent of heating and hot water. Just 25 per cent comes from electricity, which also means that the user is not reliant on other forms of energy. Mike Kelly, Managing Director for Bloor Homes East Midlands, said: “The air source heat pumps are exciting for a number of reasons. Firstly, the heating system will protect homebuyers’ from spiralling energy bills, removing the stress and strain so many are feeling. “The technology is also more sustainable, allowing buyers to reduce their carbon footprint – an aim that many of us share. 75 per cent of the energy that a buyer will use comes from a sustainable source, which makes a huge difference. “We are also very pleased to be building the first development for Bloor Homes which will use the technology here in the Midlands. It’s a blueprint which may well become more prevalent in the coming years, so we are delighted to spearhead the use of the technology here.” The Vaillant aroTHERM plus air source heat pump is designed for a peaceful home, with sound levels as low as 54 decibels. The technology will also be compatible with apps, meaning that users can control their heating on the go. Steve Cipriano, Commercial Director at Vaillant adds: “Ahead of the introduction of the Future Home Standard in 2025, it’s encouraging to see national housebuilders, such as Bloor Homes, already leading the charge when it comes to creating homes that have energy efficiency and low-carbon technologies at their heart. “The Brooksby Spinney development is a shining example of the how UK homes will support a sustainable future, and we’re delighted to have worked alongside Bloor Homes on this project.” For more information on the homes at Brooksby Spinney, visit bloorhomes.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Primary school teachers in the Preston area are set to introduce the world of engineering to Key Stages 1 & 2 children through a series of engaging classroom projects created by Primary Engineer in partnership with Baxi. This is the second year running that Baxi is supporting the Primary Engineer programmes in Preston. Working with Primary Engineer, the company’s engineers will support teachers as they deliver the Primary Engineer Construction project to children in ten local primary schools. The first milestone of the project was a training session for the participating teachers on the Construction projects, held at Preston College and joined by Baxi engineers. These projects have been carefully designed to help the children develop skills such as visualisation, creative problem-solving, testing and evaluation, and teamwork and communication. The Mayor of Preston, Neil Darby, came to watch as together the teachers and Baxi engineers built the projects which will bring engineering to a new generation. Nathalie Cachet-Gaujard, Head of Partnerships for North of England at Primary Engineer, said: “We are delighted to have the support and commitment of Baxi to help raise awareness of engineering and the career opportunities it offers, whilst helping to build a diverse generation of future engineers.” Baxi is at the forefront of heating and hot water design solutions. But the industry is undergoing considerable transformation, and creative engineering experts are in high demand. Karen Boswell, MD of Baxi UK & Ireland, said: “Baxi has been part of the Preston community for over 150 years and we’re delighted to continue supporting local schools with this programme. Engineering offers so many varied and exciting opportunities, including designing and building products and services that help decarbonise heat for communities and the environment. Initiatives such as Primary Engineer give us the confidence that we can continue to commit investment in capable and career focused school leavers and graduates to help us grow in the years ahead.” Harrison Carey, Product Design Engineer at Baxi, is one of the ten Baxi engineers who volunteered to take part in the Primary Engineer’s programme. He said: “Primary Engineer is a fun and hands-on way to introduce children to the world of engineering. It’s fantastic to see the children unleash their imagination using skills they’ve learnt in the classroom! This will be my second year working with Primary Engineer and I hope to contribute for many more to come. Engineering plays such a vital role in our communities and it’s rewarding to see children showing interest from such a young age.” To find out more about how Baxi is supporting the next generation of engineers, click here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs) are becoming an increasingly popular option for homeowners in the UK who are looking for a sustainable and cost-effective way to heat their homes. Unlike traditional fossil fuel-based heating systems, ASHPs use heat from the air outside to heat the home or building, making them a great investment as a renewable energy source. Another benefit of ASHPs is their high efficiency, measured by the Coefficient of Performance (COP), which is the ratio of heat output to energy input. Modern ASHPs have a COP of 4, meaning that for every unit of electricity used, the system produces 4 units of heat, making them significantly more efficient than traditional heating systems which can have a COP as low as 0.8. In addition to the environmental and efficiency benefits, ASHPs can also save homeowners money on their energy bills in the long run. While the initial installation costs can be high, the long-term savings on energy costs and less frequent maintenance make this more cost efficient than traditional heating systems. When considering investing in an Air Source Heat Pump, it is important to consult a professional to determine if the system is a good fit for your home or building. Factors to consider include: Make sure that the installer is also properly qualified and that the system is installed to the highest standards. There are three main types of Air Source Heat Pumps: The monobloc system has all the components housed in one unit, usually installed outside of the home. Its benefits include: The split system has an outdoor unit that houses the compressor and heat exchanger, and an indoor unit that circulates the heat around the home. The outdoor unit is connected to the indoor unit through pipes and electrical cables. Benefits of this system include: Finally, the hybrid system combines a conventional boiler system with an air source heat pump. The benefits of this system include: by David Johnson, Technical and Category Manager at The Underfloor Heating Store Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Often overlooked, the electric cable is a fundamental ingredient in any Infrastructure project globally. The greater need for more power, more data transmission and more of everything, in general, has driven significant development of cable technology over the years, as illustrated here: Material developmentsIn the 1880s, the first cables were insulated with gutta percha, a natural latex material produced from the sap of trees of the same name. In the late 19th century, paper cables were becoming more popular and could operate at Voltages up to 10KV. However, in the 1930s in Germany, the evolution of the numerous polymeric insulation materials in use today started to gather pace, and by the 1950s, PVC cables were more commonplace. Other materials, such as chlorosulphonated polyethylene (CSP), were developed. From this time onwards, the development and progression of cable technology to fulfil the ever-growing requirements of power and a data-hungry world have continued. In the 1970s, using XLPE as an insulating material significantly developed in the power transmission and distribution sector, replacing paper-insulated cables with a much-improved dielectric property. At this time, the use of PVC and XLPE was widespread; though, in the growing uses of cables in a wide range of applications with high power requirements, the suitability of some of these materials was brought under scrutiny. Tragedy driving changeFollowing several high-profile tragedies, such as HMS Sheffield going down in flames during the Falkland war (1982), the Kings Cross station disaster in 1987 resulted in the loss of 31 lives, along with the Dusseldorf airport fire in 1996. In all these instances, the presence of choking black smoke and acidic gases were deemed to be a significant contributor to the loss of life due to the inability to evacuate and respiratory issues caused by the smoke and fumes, with burning PVC cabling cited as one of the contributory factors in the smoke and fume production. The Evolution of Halogen Free, Flame RetardantThe detrimental effects of PVC and other halogenated materials in the form of the evolution of acidic, choking, dense smoke-producing fumes and gas in the event of fire have led to the development of materials which offer a much cleaner burn. This is particularly important in areas where public evacuation in the event of a fire is of the utmost importance, and hence there has become greater regulation and de-facto regulation in airports, high-rise buildings, and hospitals, to name a few. This material evolution has been a journey, though, with several advances. The primary reason for this is that halogenated flame retardant materials chemically disrupt the production of free radicals and effectively shut down the combustion process. Halogen free materials rely on inorganic materials (such as aluminium trihydrate ATH or magnesium dihydrate MDH) which works by withdrawing heat from the plastic during its decomposition into metal oxide and water. The Water vapour propagates and reduces the fuel supply to the flame. This creates formulation problems in that the polymer is required to accept a large amount of mineral filler and maintain some mechanical and electrical properties – mutually exclusive, as adding the filler inherently reduces both. In particular, with the maintenance of electrical properties, the inorganic materials significantly reduce the dielectric properties of materials such as polyethylene, considered the best polymeric insulator available. This makes using halogen free low smoke compounds as insulators more difficult, as the primary function of the insulator is compromised. The current state of playOver the years, there have been many advances in the properties of halogen free materials in cables. The dichotomy between electrical/mechanical performance and flame retardancy has been addressed in a number of ways, with chemical additives allowing increased use of mineral fillers, polymer composition and the development of “thermoplastic elastomers” such as Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Copolymer (EVA) – these materials allow significantly higher amounts of mineral filler to be incorporated into the compound to give a higher flame retardant performance. This does, however, reduce the dielectric properties. Due to this, the usual mechanism for reduced flammability in halogen free cables adopts the approach that the cable is protected from fire from the outside. High-performance, low-flammability cable sheaths are employed to prevent the interior of the cable from becoming compromised by the fire. In this way, better dielectric materials such as polyethylene and cross-linked polyethylene can be used as insulation – allowing for better data transmission in data cables (where data speed and integrity are becoming more and more prominent in a data-driven world). Likewise, smaller wall cables for medium voltage cables are used in buildings – which is becoming increasingly popular. So why BASECHigh-performance flame-retardant materials allow an improved reaction to fire performance, although it is critical to the cable performance that these are used in suitable applications. The fact that the technology employed in these materials comes at a higher cost means that the manufacturer must use more expensive materials in their cable designs. In today’s ultra-competitive world, this leads to the typical discussion around “golden samples,” where high-end materials are used for type approval tests, and a cheaper, less effective material is used for ongoing production. This potential risk can be mitigated with a BASEC product approval, where all cable designs are tested annually and materials are fingerprinted to ensure that the approved materials are used on an ongoing basis. This type of product approval, along with the CPR/UKCA approach to product selection, means that building designers and specifiers can have peace of mind when it comes to cable selection of BASEC approved products. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Air conditioners provide great comfort at home. However, like any other machine, it’s susceptible to damage. Although some issues can still be fixed, there may come a time when replacing the air conditioner is a better option. The question is how to determine if it’s time to replace the AC unit. We listed some signs that you need an air conditioner replacement. Your unit is too old According to experts from air conditioning Brighton companies, most air conditioners can last anywhere from 15 to 20 years. If your unit is this old, it may be time to replace it. Appliances are prone to wear and tear, and due to this, they get less efficient in the long run. However, various factors could also affect its longevity. So, depending on these things, there’s a chance that your air conditioner could break down beyond repair. One of these factors is the AC installation. If it’s not properly installed, it could damage its parts and result in an early replacement. How extensively you use it also affects its lifespan. If you live in an area with a higher temperature, your AC needs to work harder to cool the air inside the house. The harder it works, the more susceptible it is to breaking. Maintenance is another factor. Without proper maintenance, your AC may not last that long. Get professional service at least yearly to ensure it is in top condition. Also, get it checked immediately on the first sign of a problem to prevent it from worsening. Proper care and maintenance will help your unit achieve its maximum lifespan. It’s not energy-efficient New air conditioner models are designed to be energy-efficient. It is one of the things that homeowners look for nowadays as it saves money from electric bills and benefits the environment. So, if your AC unit does not have this feature yet, and you experience a significant increase in your power bill, it may be time to replace it. It is also essential to get an AC that’s the right size for your home, so it won’t have trouble cooling your space. It requires frequent repairs You may encounter various concerns with your air conditioner throughout its use. The most common issues are loud noises and the unit blowing warm instead of cold air. You can have them fixed by getting a professional repair service. However, if your unit requires more frequent repairs, consider a replacement. Besides the inconvenience it brings, the amount you spend on the repair could pile up. Buying one is a more practical approach. It uses R22 R22 is the Freon used in some air conditioners, especially older models. However, since 2004, this gas has been banned in the use of appliances in the UK. So, if your AC still uses this, it’s time to get a new one. Remember to get the right size of air conditioner and ensure proper installation for efficiency and longevity. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
