www.heatingandventilating.net
UNDERFLOOR HEATING
boilingpoint M
ost of us are now aware that the plumbing and heating industry is facing a skills gap amongst its workforce. Research is showing that the demand for qualified plumbing and heating contractors is
growing but there are fewer skilled workers entering the industry. If you or your business are one of those that are struggling to fill their
hassle free dry-fix solution which turns your whole floor into a radiator of warmth. Input temperatures can be as low as 45°C, using half the energy required to heat a radiator at 70-80°C. This allows users to only heat the rooms they’re using, removing the need to leave the heating on at all times, as is the case with traditional screed systems which take days to heat and cool. When compared to even the fastest of screed systems using close pipe systems and modern anhydrite concrete screeds, the reaction time is in a league of its own. Instead of the 24-72 hours a screed system can take to heat up, this system can be turned on or off, or adjusted, to reach desired temperatures in as little as 30 minutes. The solution is based on a lightweight, extremely strong grooved board which
is covered with a thick aluminium foil and the grooves hold a special 16mm plastic pipe with a core of aluminium. This combination results in responsive use and lower energy requirements, making it a low carbon solution that makes current heating technology like gas/oil boilers 40-50% more efficient; as well as working efficiently with alternative fuels of the future like hydrogen boilers and air & ground source heat pumps. The solution is compatible with any heat source, including future heat pumps which have an efficiency rating of 270% - 400%. Our underfloor heating system is ‘heat pump ready’ which means you will
easily be able to switch to this alternative heating source whenever you are ready. Heat pumps operate most efficiently at lower temperatures meaning underfloor heating, which runs at around 45°C, is extremely compatible with a heat pump compared to radiators which require temperatures of 70-80°C. Using an underfloor heating system with a heat pump will result in less money spent and less energy used. Alternatively, simply turning down the thermostat on your boiler to 45-50°C will save you up to 50% in energy bills in the long run as this ensures your underfloor heating system is running as efficiently as possible.” The solution has many benefits, including improved energy efficiency, better insulation, silent operation, and even minimises the movement of dust around the home. Opting for a wet-based system will have more energy and cost saving benefits than an electric system – a Wundatherm underfloor heating system will cost on average 60% less to run than electric floor heating. Intuitive smart controls are also available which are completely compatible with the system which allows you to control, schedule and zone your heating room by room through your smartphone or via thermostats for even greater efficiency. Over 30,000 systems have already been sold. Customers can rest assured they
will be guided along the way and pointed in the direction of installers experienced in the system while the company can work in collaboration with builders and offer support with floor plans on where to lay materials boards and pipe.
vacant roles, then we have put together some tips on how you can recruit qualified employees for your plumbing and heating business. 1. Job boards This route of recruitment is a traditional and popular method which many businesses use if they are hiring. It’s best to advertise across a variety of job boards such as Indeed, Reed and Total Jobs. By using more than one job board you can reach a wider audience. Be mindful that job board listings do cost so look at your recruitment budget before you start. 2. Word of mouth Using word of mouth to recruit can be extremely fruitful. Use your industry contacts and ask them to spread the word of your vacancy and/or recommend candidates. You can also use your current workforce to refer potential candidates that they believe may be suitable for the business. Word of mouth is a free and simple route to recruitment. 3. Social media One of the biggest contributing factors to the skills gap is the ageing workforce and the fact that there are fewer young people entering plumbing and heating jobs. In order to target the younger plumbers and heating contractors you should utilise your social media channels to promote any job vacancies you have. Using Twitter and Facebook can help you to reach a wide audience quickly and the content can easily be shared by people you know in the industry. This type of advertisement is usually free, but you can pay for sponsored ad too. LinkedIn is another great social media platform which is a more
professional environment. With LinkedIn you can pay to post a job and the platform will then target your listing to people already working in the industry. 4. Use your contacts Is there potential to reach out to past applicants of previous vacancies? If the timing was not right the first time around then it’s a possibility that circumstances may have changed. This also goes for past employees too, if they left on good terms, it might be worth reaching out. 5. Look to your current workforce If you assess the gaps that you need to fill with your vacancies it might be worth investigating whether you can plug these gaps with your current workforce. The money you plan to spend on recruitment might be better spent in developing and re-training your current employees. You could put together development plans to encourage development and create multi-skilled workers who can all undertake the work required. Overall, it’s important to remember you can’t just hire anyone. You need
to ensure you are recruiting professional, qualified, and talented contractors who will be able to undertake work a satisfactory standard. If you are thinking about training and upskilling yourself or your current employees then take a look at the range of plumbing training courses we offer at
https://www.aphc.co.uk/training-courses/
How to recruit the best employees
DOWNLOAD THE HVR APP NOW
May 2022 25
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32
