Make sure that you use a engineer/company affiliated to the FGAS scheme. It is illegal to buy/use refrigerant gas if you are not correctly certified.

find us on the fgas register http://www.refcom.org.uk

From the the start of 2015 it has become illigal to use/handle R22 refrigerant gas, Although all air con systems presently installed and functioning can continue to operate, no repairs or works will be able to be carried out to faulty equipment.

Therefore consideration for replacement of equipment is recommended, most R22 plant now is approx inexess of 12-15 years old. Replacement early will in some cases lend to cheaper installation costs with the re-use of pipe work and cabling.

Most, nearly all air conditioning systems are reverse cycle i.e. can heat and cool as standard for the same price. It is also a very energy efficient way to heat a room or building, see COP-EER.

Your air conditioning unit can also most probably run in fan only and dehumidify.

We still offer for sale specific cooling only system for comms/IT rooms and areas that require this sole function.

Air conditioning is like any other mechanical item, it needs to be maintained regularly to keep it working effectively and efficiently. Unmaintained air conditioning systems will cost more to run and have a reduced service life, A modern well maintained air conditioning system can be up to 4 times more efficient then a gas system in heating mode.

We offer servicing and planned preventative maintenance contracts from 1 unit to 100+

We will even offer the 1^st year free servicing on some installations. [please ask for details]

All our air conditioning installation are guaranteed for 3-5years on parts and labour depending on the type of system and manufacturer. All air conditioning is mechanical and like a boiler or a car need to be maintained/serviced by a certified competent engineer to satisfy the manufactures warranty.

The terms COP (coefficient of performance) and EER (energy efficiency ratio) describe the heating and cooling efficiency of air conditioners. They indicate the ratio of heating or cooling provided by a unit relative to the amount of electrical input required to generate it. Thus, if an air conditioner generates 5kW of heat from a 1kW electrical input, its COP is said to be 5.0. Similarly, if an air conditioner generates 5kW of cooling from a 1kW electrical input its EER is also said to be 5.0. The higher the COP and EER, the more energy efficient is the equipment.

The inverter technology is integrated in the outdoor unit. The inverter technology can be compared to the technology in a car: " The harder you push your accelerator, the faster you go."

An inverter unit will gradually increase its capacity based on the capacity needed in the room to cool down or heat up the room. The non-inverter can be compared with switching on or off a lamp. Switching on this type of unit will start to run on full load.

Advantages of the inverter technology:

• You reach much faster the comfort temperature you want
• The start-up time is reduced by 1/3
• You save a lot of energy and also money : 30% less power consumption
• Avoids cycling of the compressor meaning that there are no voltage peaks
• The energy consumption cost is reduced by 1/3 (compared to normal on/off units)
• No temperature fluctuations

Throughout the ages, we have sought to improve the level of comfort offered by our surroundings. In colder regions, we have tried to heat our dwellings and in warmer climates, to cool them down because if we are not comfortable, we can neither work nor relax. But thermal comfort vital to our well being, is subject to three basic influences:

The human factor
our clothing and activity level and how long we remain in the same situation

Our space
radiation temperature and surrounding temperature

The air
its temperature, velocity and humidity

Among these influences, the human factor is somewhat unpredictable.
The others can be controlled in order to provide that much sought after feeling of well being.
Changing patterns in construction, working practises and internal occupancy levels have created
new parameters within which designers must operate.
Modern buildings for instance, generate far more heat than their predecessors of say, 50 years ago and there are several reasons for this:

Solar Infiltration Developments in building technology have also given rise to an increased use of glass - even when solar protective glazing is fitted, solar gains can be considerable.

Occupants
Increasing numbers of occupants, each generating some 120W/h of heat, are routinely stuffed into office areas

Electrical Appliances
Computers, printers and photo copiers, all part of the modern offices scenario, also generate substantial heat loads.

Lighting 
Many modern shops could be adequately heated by their
lighting alone heat gains in the order of 15-25W/m² are not uncommon in Europe.

Ventilation 
Introducing the outside air into a building also introduces its temperature something of a problem if it's 30ºC outside!

An air conditioner works similar to a refrigerator. The refrigerant flows through the system, and changes in state or condition. There are four processes in the 'refrigeration cycle'.

Processes:
1 The compressor which pumps the refrigerant around the system, is the heart of the air conditioner. Before the compressor, the refrigerant is a gas at low pressure. Because of the compressor, the gas becomes high pressure, gets heated and flows towards the condenser.

2 At the condenser, the high temperature, high pressure gas releases its heat to the outdoor air and becomes subcooled high pressure liquid.

3 The high pressure liquid goes through the expansion valve, which reduces the pressure, and thus temperature goes below the temperature of the refrigerated space. This results in cold, low pressure refrigerant liquid.

4 The low pressure refrigerant flows to the evaporator where it absorbs heat from the indoor air throught evaporation and becomes low pressure gas. The gas flows back to the compressor where the cycle starts all over again.

In case of a heat pump the cycle can be reversed.

Heat always flows from a warmer substance to a cooler one. In reality, the faster moving molecules transfer some of their energy to slower ones. Thus the faster molecules slow down a little and the slower ones speed up. Expressed simply, this means that when it is hot outside, the heat attemps to 'invade' colder interior spaces.

Heat can be transferred from one body to another by any of the following methods:
Radiation
By a wave in motion (similar to light waves) in which energy is transmitted from one body to another without the need for intervening matter.

Conduction
By the flow of heat between parts of a substance or from one substance ot another in direct contact.

Convection
By transfer via a fluid or air.