Frequently Asked Questions on Heat Pumps
So, you want to learn more about residential air conditioning? Below are some of the more Frequently Asked Questions, along with some answers.
If you do not see what you're looking for here, please submit your enquiry through our contact page. We are more than happy to answer any of your questions.
What exactly is air conditioning?
As the name suggests, air-conditioning is the process of conditioning (altering) the air within a chosen environment. The term 'conditioning' can refer to the control of the temperature, humidity or cleanliness of the air, in order to achieve desired conditions.
Certain commercial processes require some very specific conditions to be maintained, however in the home we simply need to achieve a general level of comfort for the occupants.
How will I benefit from installing air conditioning at home?
Most of us take the ability to warm our homes for granted, but few appreciate the benefits of being able to remove unwanted heat during the summer months.
When outside air temperatures reach uncomfortable levels, the coolest temperature we can hope to maintain within our homes is the same, despite any amount of ventilation through the use of conventional fans. In reality, our homes become even warmer than the outside air temperature, through solar gains and additional heat-loads from within.
With air-conditioning equipment installed, we can quickly reduce the temperature within any of the rooms within the home to a comfortable level, whilst at the same time reducing the humidity to eliminate the 'stickiness' associated with our UK summers.
Conservatories and loft conversions that are typically too hot in the summer and difficult to keep warm in the winter, can be enjoyed at a constant level of comfort, throughout the entire year.
Doors and windows can be kept closed improving the security of your home, whilst at the same time keeping out nuisance insects and any external noise pollution.
The air within the room is recirculated through filters to trap dust and pollens, in turn benefiting people suffering from allergies and respiratory problems.
What equipment is typically required?
As with most things in life, the 'you get what you pay for' rule applies. Rooms at home can be cooled with portable cooling units or 'through the wall' type air-conditioners (both of which are detailed elsewhere on our website), however with a more refined solution in mind, the installation of 'fixed' type equipment is required.
The split type system is the most commonly used form of air-conditioning system. As the name suggests, the refrigeration circuit is split into two halves, with each half being contained within separate indoor and outdoor units. The indoor units are attractive in appearance and available in varying styles to suit the surroundings. They contain a heat-exchanger and low-noise fan, and are generally wall-mounted, floor-standing or concealed within attic spaces or radiator cases.
The outdoor units are responsible for rejecting the unwanted heat to outside. They are again compact in design and operate with extremely low noise ratings. They can be sited anywhere outside, either floor-standing on patio areas or flat roofs, or wall-mounted on suitable brackets.
The indoor and outdoor units are connected via insulated refrigeration pipework and the necessary cabling to restore the complete refrigeration circuit. The separation between the indoor and outdoor unit can be anything up to 30 metres.
How do I know what size of system I require?
This task is more accurately carried out by one of our qualified sales engineers, however there are 'rule of thumb' guides to calculating heat-loads in residential applications.
If no excessive solar gain into the room exists, and there is no heat output from electrical equipment, take the floor area of the room in square metres and multiply it by 100 watts. i.e. (4m x 5m) = 20 sq m x 100 watts = 2000 watts or 2 kilowatts.
If the room is within an attic space, has sizeable south-facing windows or contains a substantial amount of heat-generating electrical equipment, then these additional heat-loads must also be considered, increasing the factor up to anything around 200 watts per square metre.
i.e. (4m x 5m) = 20 sq m x 200 watts = 4000 watts or 4 kilowatts.
Many other factors are considered by our sales engineers during a survey visit, in order to correctly assess your requirements.
Can the equipment heat as well as cool?
It certainly can, and very efficiently too. The systems that heat as well as cool are referred to as 'heat-pump' systems. These systems are fitted with additional valves within the outdoor unit that can reverse the flow of the refrigerant cycle. In effect, the system then tries to cool the outside air, and rejects the heat which is collected (and amplified) to inside.
The rated heating capacity of a 'heat-pump' system is generally slightly higher than its rated cooling capacity, and provides a huge saving in electrical consumption over any other form of electric heating.
An electric fire, heater or underfloor heating system that has a rated heating capacity of 3 kW, consumes a directly proportional 3 kW of electrical power. Some of the latest energy-efficient 'inverter' heat-pump systems can produce more than
5 kW of heat from 1 kW of electrical power, in turn providing an electrical saving of more than 80%.
Can I air condition more than one room in my home?
Yes. Most of the leading equipment manufacturers produce 'multi-split' systems. These systems remain within the residential equipment range and comprise of a single outdoor unit that is capable of serving two, three, four or five indoor units. The selected indoor units can be of varying styles, and can all operate independently of each other.
If you have a requirement to air-condition more than one room, a cost saving can generally be made by utilising a multi-split system as opposed to installing a number of individual split-type systems.
As with the individual split-type systems, the multi-split systems are available in both cooling-only and heat-pump formats.
Is it expensive to run?
The indoor section of a split-type system contains a low-noise fan and some electronic controls, and consequently has a low power consumption, comparable to that of a light bulb. The compressor within the outdoor section consumes the greater amount of electrical power, which is required to run during cooling (or heating) operation. Once the room has reached the desired temperature, the outdoor unit cycles off until the temperature within the room has deviated by two degrees, where it will then start again. With a correctly sized system, we would expect pretty equal on and off periods, and in turn have based the following calculation on a diversity factor of 50%.
This calculation has been based upon a small Toshiba split-type system having maximum power consumption of 1.12 kW, and a rated cooling capacity of 3.6 kW.
Example
Running cost = Maximum power consumption x Diversity factor x Current tariff
Running cost = 1.12 kW x 50% x 6.1 pence per kW hour
Running cost = 3.41 pence per hour
Is the equipment noisy in operation?
No, one of the most important design criteria for the equipment manufacturers, is a low operating noise level. Many systems incorporate 'quiet' or 'silent' modes, which provide sound levels as low as 20 dB(A) from the indoor unit and 43 dB(A) from the outdoor unit. In basic terms, you have to be within 2 metres of these units in the quietest of environments, to hear any indication that they are running.
How long does it take to install?
This is dependent on the type of equipment selected and the complexity of the installation. A rough 'rule of thumb' would be one full day, per room, with maybe a few hours the following day to commission, demonstrate and hand over.
How much does it cost to install?
Believe it or not, the Government has given a little help here in an attempt to promote the use of energy-efficient heat-pump air-conditioning systems. They have awarded a reduced Vat of 5% to the installation of heat-pump air-conditioning equipment into residential dwellings. You can read more about this tax concession at our 5% Vat page.
A small split-type system can be supplied and installed from as a little as £1000 ex 5% Vat. Prices increase as the required capacity of the equipment increases or when the layout of the installation becomes more complex.
What kind of warranty is provided?
We provide a full 12-months fully comprehensive warranty, and up to 5-year parts warranty.
Where can I find out more about the systems that are available?
We hold product brochures for the current product ranges of all of the leading equipment manufacturers. Should you require information on any of these products, please ask and we will happily send them to you with no obligation.
Why should I choose Gelidus to supply and install air-conditioning into my home?
As a company grown on recommendation and reputation, we simply can't afford to get it wrong. Your requirements will be accurately assessed by one of our friendly sales engineers, who are continously reviewing current product ranges and new developments from all of the leading manufacturers.
Our installation teams are extremely experienced and fully accustomed to the precise requirements of residential installations. They pride themselves in an attention to detail that we are confident you just won't find elsewhere.
As for aftersales service, we offer varying levels of affordable maintenance agreements, and are always at the end of a phone to offer friendly advice or to help out with any of your future requirements.
I'm interested in installing air-conditioning at home - what do I do now?
If you like the idea of being comfortable at home throughout the entire year and would like to arrange an obligation-free survey visit, please forward your enquiry either through our contact page, or by calling 0118 930 4404.
We look forward to speaking with you soon.
