Air Conditioning in the Home
Domestic air conditioning in the UK is increasing in popularity boosted by improving running cost and energy efficiency. Self-contained units are now commonly installed in new residential developments to provide comfort cooling particularly to avoid excess night-time overheating in bedrooms, for example.
There are several international manufacturers producing a wide range of products to meet demand. With remote control, occupants can not only control temperature and humidity but also enjoy improved air quality by filtration with de-odourisation and sterilisation. These systems require the installation of an externally mounted inverter or compressor units form in which flow and return pipework is routed to either wall or ceiling mounted units; split systems allow up to three rooms to be served by a single external unit.
With air-to-water heat pumps these systems also offer the prospect of cheaper and more energy efficient space heating and domestic hot-water. Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP) take low grade energy from surrounding air by means of a fan pulling air over the heat exchanger (evaporator) this energy is then upgraded and the higher temperature refrigerant vapour, is released by means of another condensing heat exchanger.
ASHP’s operate more efficiently where the source air temperature is high. Backup systems may therefore need to be considered for some UK applications. Having a typical operating temperature of 55oC water, based systems are best suited to low temperature distribution systems such as under floor heating (UFH).
Look for units with an A-Rating for Energy efficiency and manufacturers that use only non-ozone depleting refrigerants such as R410-A
Domestic air conditioning in the UK is increasing in popularity boosted by improving running cost and energy efficiency. Self-contained units are now commonly installed in new residential developments to provide comfort cooling particularly to avoid excess night-time overheating in bedrooms, for example.
There are several international manufacturers producing a wide range of products to meet demand. With remote control, occupants can not only control temperature and humidity but also enjoy improved air quality by filtration with de-odourisation and sterilisation. These systems require the installation of an externally mounted inverter or compressor units form in which flow and return pipework is routed to either wall or ceiling mounted units; split systems allow up to three rooms to be served by a single external unit.
With air-to-water heat pumps these systems also offer the prospect of cheaper and more energy efficient space heating and domestic hot-water. Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP) take low grade energy from surrounding air by means of a fan pulling air over the heat exchanger (evaporator) this energy is then upgraded and the higher temperature refrigerant vapour, is released by means of another condensing heat exchanger.
ASHP’s operate more efficiently where the source air temperature is high. Backup systems may therefore need to be considered for some UK applications. Having a typical operating temperature of 55oC water, based systems are best suited to low temperature distribution systems such as under floor heating (UFH).
Look for units with an A-Rating for Energy efficiency and manufacturers that use only non-ozone depleting refrigerants such as R410-A
Where to buy domestic air conditioning
- Vortice Limited - Beeches House, Eastern Avenue, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire, DE13 0BB, 01283 492949
- Comfort Control Airconditioning - 77 Unicorn Lane, Coventry, West Midlands, CV5 7LN, 024 7647 4446
- Airkool Contracts Ltd - 10 Rotterdam Road, Sutton Fields Industrial Estate, Hull, East Yorkshire, HU7 0XD, 01482 371888