   |
|
|
|
Suppliers & i nstallers for all major manufacturers |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
We will help you choose what best suits your requirements and budget |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
SPECIALISTS FOR ALL TYPES
OF AIR CONDITIONING |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
           |
A SIMPLE INTRODUCTION TO AIR
CONDITIONING |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Heating & Cooling or Just Cooling?
The modern office
would use the air conditioning for both whereas a computer room
might require cooling only. Both systems operate on a
thermostat and a unit with heating and cooling can maintain a
constant pre-set temperature. A cooling only unit can
maintain a pre-set temperature providing this can be achieved
through cooling. If the room becomes too cold it can not
provide heat The Systems The smaller system is called a Split System and consists of one indoor unit and one outdoor which are connected via copper pipes, which carry pressurised refrigerant gasses, and electrical wiring. This system suits a small installation to one or a few offices/rooms. For a larger requirement there are the Multi Systems which enable more than one indoor unit to be connected to one outdoor unit. A ducted unit can be used when the indoor unit is sited away from the room/office it serves, and the hot/cold air is fed to the room via flexible or rigid ducting, terminating at an outlet in the actual room which is covered by a grill. These units can have single or multiple outlets Indoor Unit Types The indoor units are designed to fit into a suspended ceiling, under a ceiling, on a wall, or floor standing and the type chosen is largely dependant on the room & furniture layout, and ceiling design. The styles vary between the manufacturers but the pictures provide examples of these main types
Outdoor Units
These
have to be literally sited outdoors or in a
location where there is free external natural air-flow. Common
locations are on a flat roof (Providing it will take the
weight), bolted to an external wall, or at ground level in a
compound or cage. They can not be sited near a source of
polluted air. The aesthetics of the building, potential
for vandalism, safety of the public, distance from the indoor units, and the
weight of the units all have to be considered when choosing
the outdoor unit location. The Holiday Inn and
Other Installs pages
on this site show photographs of larger multi systems
Controllers
There
are a variety of options for controlling the systems and these
include wired controllers fixed to a wall either near the unit
or for convenience of use. Infrared
controllers provide even greater flexibility although there is
more potential for damage or loss by the user. Central
controllers enable a large system to be controlled from a
central point and this is useful for such as hotels.
Central controllers can be combined with individual room
controllers which enable the unit to be controlled from within
the same room or from a remote distance. The controllers
provide a variety of features which include temperature
settings, cooling or heating only, humidity, fan only, and
timing facilities
Drainage In Cooling mode, the indoor unit produces water and this needs to be drained away. A gravity drain is used where possible which entails a pvc pipe being routed from the unit into the nearest drain e.g. a nearby sink drainage pipe, or through the wall and into a drainage stack. Sometimes the nearest drain is above the actual unit or it might be unsightly to have a pipe running from the unit down the interior wall. In that situation a pump is fitted which pumps the water through the drain pipe regardless of the angle Capacity The cooling and heating capacity is measured in kilowatts and the same cabinet size can be obtained in various different capacities. The capacity required is calculated from such factors as the size of the room, the usage of that room, the location of the room which affects heat gain or loss and a number of other similar factors. It is well worth considering the future as if an office has only 2 people and 2 computers at the moment, could it be that as your company grows the office might eventually have 10 people and 10 computers? A Reception area may need greater cooling or heating capacity than a similar sized room elsewhere if the door is constantly being opened letting in either cold or warm air Portable Units (Our Portable Range will be available for on line purchase soon) This type of unit is self contained and can be bought off the shelf and operational within minutes. It is not as efficient as the separate indoor/outdoor type but it does offer immediate relief for the odd hot day. One consideration is that most units expel water and therefore either the water container has to be emptied on a regular basis, or the flexible drain outlet has to be positioned over such as a sink. New models are coming to the market which evaporate the water instead of the regular emptying but obviously this vapour is still expelled to the room. Some units are unable to draw external air and can only merely re-process the air within the room. Other types have a flexible duct inlet that can be used to introduce natural air from outside. Such a duct may require a window to be open slightly. If your cooling needs are infrequent then this is a solution you might consider. Units are available for heating and cooling or if you want cooling only and don't want the space taken up in the winter then you might consider hiring when the need arises Maintenance The systems should have a maintenance visit approximately twice per year depending on usage. A dusty environment may need more maintenance whereas a cooling system only used in the hot summer months may need less. The systems have refrigerant gas and the amount of gas and the pressure it is operating under need to be checked to ensure there are no leakages or some other fault which is causing a lack of pressure which will reduce the efficiency of the system. The indoor units have filters fitted which collect dust and bacteria from the air. If the filters are not cleaned regularly they can begin to emit dust and bacteria into the atmosphere instead of capturing it. It is part of the system warranty that the maintenance is carried out by a competent industry professional and you will be offered a package that includes this during the initial installation Prices & Manufacturers
There are various
manufacturers to choose from and price range varies between
them as does specification. The most expensive isn't always
necessary e.g. greater noise levels from cheaper units are
usually not a problem in an unmanned room. There's no
point in paying for features you won't use or don't need e.g.
hospital filter specification isn't necessary for most rooms.
Cabinet designs for indoor and outdoor units vary between
manufacturers and some offer ultra slim-line, some require
less void depth for ceiling cassettes therefore your choice
may be limited due to your specific needs. Styles of indoor
unit types are not dissimilar between the manufacturers but if
style is particularly important then it may come down to pure
looks. If you want information on a particular manufacturer
then they all have internet sites. The technical
information may or may not mean a great deal depending on you
having any expertise in this field, but you can see what the
various styles look like including when fitted, and there's a
wealth of information on decibel noise level, filtration and
everything else if you wish to do some of your own homework.
AlterTherm has no allegiance to any particular manufacturer
and we look to design the system which best fits your needs
within your budget and you'll find us happy to work with you
to achieve that aim including answering any questions, and
providing any details necessary |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
[Home]
- [About Us] - [Contact]
- [Map] - [Installations
List] - [Holiday Inn Install]
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Registered Office: Chapel
House, Brickbridge Road, Marple, Cheshire, SK6 7BQ. Registered No.
5849241 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
