BSEE-JUN21-P14 Aspen_Layout 1 20/05/2021 16:14 Page 14


BSEE


The cool approach to rising temperatures at home


There’s one good reason why nearly 90 percent of American


households have some form of air conditioning: the climate. New York averages 29°C in the summer months, Florida 34°C and Death Valley, Southern California 46°C, so keeping cool is just part of their everyday.


his has never been much of an issue in the UK; we’d just open the window a little wider when temperatures finally reached double figures and, for the two weeks of summer when we basked in temperatures pushing 25°C, some of us would invest in a portable air conditioning unit. Global warming has changed all that. Our ten warmest years on record have all occurred since 2002 and heatwaves, like the one in the summer of 2018, are now 30 times more likely to happen, so air conditioning, the former preserve of offices, retail outlets, gyms and our cars is no longer regarded as an emergency purchase, but an invaluable addition to our homes.


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The nation’s growing attachment to these appliances is borne out by the inexorable rise in sales, and are expected to grow, globally, at an annual rate of 12%, reaching a market value of USD 310 billion by 2026. This comes as no surprise to many of us in the HVAC industry, as home working, the new normal for many of us, combined with a greater focus on home improvements (there’s been a 15% increase in UK spend in 2019 on 2018), will have had an undeniable effect on future sales.


Spoiled for choice When it comes to selecting the


appliance and the brand, the homeowner is spoiled for choice. Should it be portable, fixed or split? Wall, window or ceiling mounted? What about the features: should it heat and cool or cool and dehumidify? Have modified fans to attain optimal energy performance or motion sensors to enhance comfort levels? Pure air filters to ensure clean air or insulation that ensures whisper-quiet operation? And the property, is it an area of high traffic, does it have high ceilings, does it need zonal control? Then of course, as with every appliance in the home, there’s its energy efficiency to be considered. The HVAC industry is progressively improving efficiency ratings for all


HVAC appliances, including air conditioning. As we shift to a more electric focused economy, appliances are getting smarter too - which help the national grid cope with demand.


Whether a home is new or old, everyone wants their interiors to make a statement, so we hide appliances we don’t want to see, like boilers and cylinders, and make those that can’t be hidden, like radiators and fridge freezers, either as unobtrusive as possible or a thing of beauty. Well air conditioning units definitely fall into the ‘blend in’ category, which means gravity drain systems, which involve installation on an exterior wall and unsightly pipe runs to remove the excess condensate water, can be avoided altogether by using a condensate pump. A condensate pump will not only move the condensate water generated by the unit up and away to a water tank or exterior pipe, it also gives the homeowner the freedom to fit the unit anywhere in a room.


Pumps such as the Aspen Silent + mini orange can pump the condensate water up to a height of 10 metres, ideal for installation in a house, basement flat or one on the 30th floor and is quiet as 19dBA.


The Silent+ mini lime is perfect for the home office: it fits inside the trunking, is hassle-free to install and maintain, has improved motor and sensor technology and, as its name suggests, only has a dBA of 20 thanks to its anti-vibration damper and built- in sound-absorbing materials.


How well do you know


your air conditioning? As the air conditioning market continues to grow at pace, engineers need to be ahead of the game in terms of experience, expertise and product knowledge; qualified to advise their customers on the best system for their needs and able to achieve excellence in its installation. We as an industry need to support our engineers by providing more training in domestic applications, as condensate pumps are the only way to deliver a clean and unobtrusive look; while preventing the frustration and repair bills caused by leaks and blockages that are inevitable with a gravity system.


Aspen has an online information resource that engineers can access at any time for advice and the technical team is only a phone call away; Plus the company is already


Aspen Pumps Group


For nearly 30 years, the Aspen Pumps Group has had one mission; to champion innovation that will make the engineer’s life easier. Founded by 3 engineers in 1992, the Group has evolved into a modern global business with branded categories including, condensate removal pumps, tools, installation accessories, roof top support systems and specialist chemicals.


Global award winning business


Aspen Pumps Group is unique in its global reach, trading in over 100 countries worldwide. However, Aspen is not purely an export business; it is a multi- national organisation with sales teams across the world and offices in 4 continents. Our continuous investment in people and warehouse infrastructure means we are a leader in the provision of service quality and customer support. This approach to business means we have the most extensive and well supported wholesaler partnership network in the world. The Aspen Pumps Group takes pride in its business performance, celebrating success in its core capabilities of Enterprise, Innovation and International Trade through winning Queen’s Awards for each (2009, 2012 and 2019).


14 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER JUNE 2021 Read the latest at: www.bsee.co.uk ‘When it comes


to selecting the appliance and the brand, the homeowner is spoiled for choice. Should it be portable, fixed or split? Wall, window or ceiling mounted?


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supporting HVAC/R colleges around the country by providing equipment and digital aids for apprentices, our engineers of the future, to train on. This emphasis on best practice is deliberate because the customers of today are no longer passive targets, they’re active hunters, looking for the very best system for their needs; they’ve done their homework and now they want to be impressed.


HEAT PUMPS


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