Yesterday was officially the start of spring but it still feels like winter although we like the fact that it is staying lighter for longer!
This time last year, we were all in our gardens with flip flops and the air conditioning on. This year we still have the heating and jumpers on. This doesn’t look like it is going to change in the near future as this week it is predicted that we may see some small snow falls in some parts of the country. The rest of us will see sunny spell with the odd patches of rain. It is also predicted that we will have fog and frost and the most noticeable will be the wind chill towards the end of the week.
As we live in hope for warmer weather we can be thankful for the clocks going forward which will mean longer days so we will at least have the impression that summer is nearly here. The north will be worst affected by the cold and the south may see some resemblance to a spring time in terms of temperature.
Although predictions can’t be accurate this far in advance there are indications that April will have a chill to it which after the lack of sunshine last summer time this will be disappointing. We hope to see the sunshine soon! Let us know your plans for the summer buy tweeting us @GTRefrigeration
Last week we wrote about how you can personally maintain your air conditioning systems but there is a time when you will need to call a professional in. Well we are going to give you a few tips that will help you choose the right air conditioning tech for you.
Mechele Agbayani Mills has highlighted the importance of proper care by saying, “Residential heating and cooling units are expected to last 15 to 20 years, s choose a good HVAC tech is vital to your homes comfort for years to come.
One of the most common problems that occur for consumers and business owners is that they hire the first contractor that they come across because they don’t have enough information to make an informed decision as a result of a lack of research.
Before you choose a contractor it is essential that you research the company and their licensing. Word and mouth is often a great way of referrals but you also need to do your research into them. If not it could mean costly repairs for damage they create or small problems they have quoted too much for. Another thing to research is what the problem could be. Make sure you have a rough idea of what could be wrong with you air conditioning system so you can talk to a prospective contractor with some knowledge. This could also save you money.
It is advised that you get at least three quotes for any repair work you want doing to your HVAC system but don’t just compare the cost of each of them. Cheapest isn’t necessarily best. If you are unsure on what each contractor is proposing, ask them and then you can make an informed decision.
Some companies may offer warranty for the maintenance they carry out. If this is the case, make sure that you have completely read and understood the terms and conditions. It is also a good idea to check the terms and conditions of the actual air conditioning unit, if warranty was included in the purchase, you may be covered for maintenance.
Overall it is essential to have some information and knowledge on what you want repaired. This will help you communicate with contractors better and therefore can get the best price and the best service for the work.
As we all know by now, this has to be one of the wettest summers we have experienced for a long time. However, things don’t look like they are about to brighten up anytime soon.
For the rest of August it is predicted to be sunshine and showers again, so don’t put away your raincoat or umbrella away anytime soon. In the north it looks like it is going to be more rain than in the rest of the country.
If we are to see any sunshine this summer it will be the south that gets the full benefit but rain is still likely during the rest of the month.
The good news is that there are no weather warnings around the country which means that August is already shaping up to be a better month than June.
Many are still finding use for their air conditioning units though as these constant sunny and rainy spells are causing the air to become muggy and uncomfortable. Remember to make sure your air conditioning unit has been properly serviced in case the summer suddenly bursts forwards and we are overwhelmed by a heat wave.
Even if this isn’t the case it is essential to make sure they are properly maintained especially with a few cases of legionnaires disease reported over the last few weeks.
If you are managing to escape the wet weather here in England let us know below or on Twitter.
Here at GT Refrigeration we love all things air conditioning but even we think this is brilliant and bizarre all at the same time!
The Japanese have created trousers with built in air conditioning systems to keep you cool in the summer (if it ever turns up).
With the heat over the last couple of days this might not sound like such a bad thing but there are two disadvantages. The first is the noise the trousers make. They have a whirring sound as the air circulates around the legs, which is definitely not a desirable attribute to a pair of trousers!
The second is that they inflate and deflate as the air is sucked in and out of the trousers. The makers have described it as “like a Michelin man”.
The trousers have two fans built into the sides and are powered by batteries. They are built into the pockets and the trousers only come in the colour Khaki.
There is also a matching jacket. Yes you can buy a fully air conditioned outfit! All the electrical parts to the jacket can be removed for washing. Again the disadvantage to this item of clothing is the balloon effect that occurs when the air is circulated.
The creator of the products has said that these are not fashion items; this is certainly something we can agree with. However these may be a good purchase for a long train ride home from work on those ever rare sweltering days.
As we see the hot temperatures of the last week and a half slowly disappearing over the weekend, we have to wonder, was that our summer and is over?
Here in Britain our heat waves never last very long and last week was no exception. The weather is predicted to go back to typical May/June weather at the weekend. Forecaster Charlie Powell is saying June will carry on being fairly predictable. The weather is going to be just as expected over the next month, sunny spells interspersed with rainy spells.
If there is going to be any dramatic weather changes over the summer this year then the forecasting team will know about it well in advance and as of yet there are no signs of an extraordinary summer.
The reason for us never having exceptionally warm weather or exceptionally wet weather during the summer months is due to our position on the globe and it just isn’t possible. Although, Cumbria is situated in an area which means it is subject to winds coming from three different directions which all bring along different types of weather.
There is no way of accurately predicting what the weather will be like this summer as anything after a five day prediction isn’t reliable, although all the signs look like we are in for a traditional English summer.
Last year the hottest day of the year came in October when the surprisingly warm spell came and many dubbed it an Indian summer. As we can never be sure when the hot weather will strike us here in Britain, it is always best to ensure your air conditioning unit is working all year round. This will not only prolong the life of it but also its effectiveness, which can be vital on those muggy days in the office.
In one of our previous blog posts that we wrote a couple of weeks ago, we mentioned how much of a disappointing summer we’ve had and how it was now officially over. However, reports and predictions reveal that we now face one of the hottest autumns for 25 years.
The best weather has been predicted to grace us at the end of this week and around the beginning of October. However, the UK Met Office Chief Forecaster, Chris Tubbs, said “It’s too early to give precise detail, but the dominant signal is for much of the UK to get some fine weather from Tuesday onwards. Temperatures could be unseasonably warm in places, certainly well above the average for this time of year.”
He carries on to say that “The settled weather is set to last for several days and could carry on into the start of October, giving us a welcome respite from the windy and wet conditions which have dominated for the past few weeks”.
According to predictions by the UK Met Office, the south and east of England will see the best of the weather, where temperatures could reach 27C, hotter than Hawaii!
I’m sure that most people will be planning some daytrips or weekends away to the seaside or park, but it’s definitely not time to put the barbeque or air conditioning in south east London away just yet.
If you are planning on enjoying the sunshine, remember to protect yourself from the strong UV rays by avoiding the midday heat and covering up your skin with a high factor sun cream.
We may not have had much of a summer in Britain this year but when we have had hot weather, everyone is cheery and happier. However, new research by Kia Motors shows that it somehow affects our driving skills.
The research shows that during the summer, over a third have had an accident whilst nearly 1 in 10 speed when the heat rises. With this report, it could be safer that we don’t get much hot weather in Britain!
The most common reason why motorists drive badly when the sun is shining is because they get too flustered and hot. 14% of drivers own up to driving worse in the heat and have had their anger levels rise as the heat does, as well as get a short temper when more cars are on the road.
Nearly half of UK motorists get distracted by other bad drivers on the roads during the summer months, according to the report. Another distraction for 1 in 5 people is singing along to music!
Communications director at Kia Motors UK, Steve Kitson, says, “Whilst the summer sun is guaranteed to life the mood of the natin it is clear that Brit’s can’t take the heat.”
Kitson explains that “Although hot weather in the UK is often rare, it has the effect of getting drivers flustered as there are more distractions on the road. Kia urges all drivers to show care and diligence at all times no matter what the weather or in fact whatever day of the week.”
24% of motorists confess to being distracted if they see an attractive person walking along, so it’s not just the excitement of speeding in the sunshine that makes people drive badly.
According to the report, 85% of the nation has experienced one or more accidents on the road in their lifetime and the average UK driver is distracted 1.84 each day.
The average bill is £635 to repair a car after damage caused in an accident and there’s also an increase of the driver’s next motor insurance quote premiums to think about, so getting behind the wheel and getting hot and bothered is the cost of an impact.
Make sure that you remember to turn up your cheap air con units or wind down the windows to keep cool, to avoid getting angry in the driving seat!
Our air conditioners can be neglected until we desperately need them over the summer. Not keeping up with maintenance on your unit can run up a huge bill for some consumers. It is said that air conditioners can lose up to around 5% of its overall efficiency if they go without maintenance each year. Air conditioner lovers can avoid unexpected failure during the hot summer by looking out for signs that their air con units are due for service.
Check out for obvious signs
Obvious signs that air conditioning units aren’t running to their full potential include; when the humidity in your home or office has increased and if it hasn’t been cooling your rooms as effectively as it has done in the past.
Not always recognisable
We understand that it isn’t always easy to know if your air conditioning unit has a problem, which is why maintenance every year can be important. Maintenance and inspections may include; checking the refrigerant levels to make sure there are no leaks, inspect safety controls, cleaning or changing the filters, cleaning and checking the compressor and electrical components, cleaning the outdoor coil and checking the air flow and temperature. Customers should make sure that they call a professional to clean, inspect and tune their air conditioning units. This ensures that your air conditioning unit is in safe hands and will be maintained property.
Is it time to replace your air conditioning unit?
If your air conditioner unit is over 10 years old, it’s more than likely that you’ll have an expensive bill for maintenance repairs. If so, it could be time to start thinking about replacing your old air conditioning unit. With the new technology around, it’s possible to get more energy efficient and environmentally friendly model. Even though they can be more expensive to buy, they can use less energy which may save you money in the long run.
Yesterday was officially the start of spring but it still feels like winter although we like the fact that it is staying lighter for longer!
This time last year, we were all in our gardens with flip flops and the air conditioning on. This year we still have the heating and jumpers on. This doesn’t look like it is going to change in the near future as this week it is predicted that we may see some small snow falls in some parts of the country. The rest of us will see sunny spell with the odd patches of rain. It is also predicted that we will have fog and frost and the most noticeable will be the wind chill towards the end of the week.
As we live in hope for warmer weather we can be thankful for the clocks going forward which will mean longer days so we will at least have the impression that summer is nearly here. The north will be worst affected by the cold and the south may see some resemblance to a spring time in terms of temperature.
Although predictions can’t be accurate this far in advance there are indications that April will have a chill to it which after the lack of sunshine last summer time this will be disappointing. We hope to see the sunshine soon! Let us know your plans for the summer buy tweeting us @GTRefrigeration
Choosing the Right Contractor
Last week we wrote about how you can personally maintain your air conditioning systems but there is a time when you will need to call a professional in. Well we are going to give you a few tips that will help you choose the right air conditioning tech for you.
Mechele Agbayani Mills has highlighted the importance of proper care by saying, “Residential heating and cooling units are expected to last 15 to 20 years, s choose a good HVAC tech is vital to your homes comfort for years to come.
One of the most common problems that occur for consumers and business owners is that they hire the first contractor that they come across because they don’t have enough information to make an informed decision as a result of a lack of research.
Before you choose a contractor it is essential that you research the company and their licensing. Word and mouth is often a great way of referrals but you also need to do your research into them. If not it could mean costly repairs for damage they create or small problems they have quoted too much for. Another thing to research is what the problem could be. Make sure you have a rough idea of what could be wrong with you air conditioning system so you can talk to a prospective contractor with some knowledge. This could also save you money.
It is advised that you get at least three quotes for any repair work you want doing to your HVAC system but don’t just compare the cost of each of them. Cheapest isn’t necessarily best. If you are unsure on what each contractor is proposing, ask them and then you can make an informed decision.
Some companies may offer warranty for the maintenance they carry out. If this is the case, make sure that you have completely read and understood the terms and conditions. It is also a good idea to check the terms and conditions of the actual air conditioning unit, if warranty was included in the purchase, you may be covered for maintenance.
Overall it is essential to have some information and knowledge on what you want repaired. This will help you communicate with contractors better and therefore can get the best price and the best service for the work.
A Very British Summer
As we all know by now, this has to be one of the wettest summers we have experienced for a long time. However, things don’t look like they are about to brighten up anytime soon.
For the rest of August it is predicted to be sunshine and showers again, so don’t put away your raincoat or umbrella away anytime soon. In the north it looks like it is going to be more rain than in the rest of the country.
If we are to see any sunshine this summer it will be the south that gets the full benefit but rain is still likely during the rest of the month.
The good news is that there are no weather warnings around the country which means that August is already shaping up to be a better month than June.
Many are still finding use for their air conditioning units though as these constant sunny and rainy spells are causing the air to become muggy and uncomfortable. Remember to make sure your air conditioning unit has been properly serviced in case the summer suddenly bursts forwards and we are overwhelmed by a heat wave.
Even if this isn’t the case it is essential to make sure they are properly maintained especially with a few cases of legionnaires disease reported over the last few weeks.
If you are managing to escape the wet weather here in England let us know below or on Twitter.
Air Conditioned Outfit
Here at GT Refrigeration we love all things air conditioning but even we think this is brilliant and bizarre all at the same time!
The Japanese have created trousers with built in air conditioning systems to keep you cool in the summer (if it ever turns up).
With the heat over the last couple of days this might not sound like such a bad thing but there are two disadvantages. The first is the noise the trousers make. They have a whirring sound as the air circulates around the legs, which is definitely not a desirable attribute to a pair of trousers!
The second is that they inflate and deflate as the air is sucked in and out of the trousers. The makers have described it as “like a Michelin man”.
The trousers have two fans built into the sides and are powered by batteries. They are built into the pockets and the trousers only come in the colour Khaki.
There is also a matching jacket. Yes you can buy a fully air conditioned outfit! All the electrical parts to the jacket can be removed for washing. Again the disadvantage to this item of clothing is the balloon effect that occurs when the air is circulated.
The creator of the products has said that these are not fashion items; this is certainly something we can agree with. However these may be a good purchase for a long train ride home from work on those ever rare sweltering days.
How Long is this Weather Set to Last?
As we see the hot temperatures of the last week and a half slowly disappearing over the weekend, we have to wonder, was that our summer and is over?
Here in Britain our heat waves never last very long and last week was no exception. The weather is predicted to go back to typical May/June weather at the weekend. Forecaster Charlie Powell is saying June will carry on being fairly predictable. The weather is going to be just as expected over the next month, sunny spells interspersed with rainy spells.
If there is going to be any dramatic weather changes over the summer this year then the forecasting team will know about it well in advance and as of yet there are no signs of an extraordinary summer.
The reason for us never having exceptionally warm weather or exceptionally wet weather during the summer months is due to our position on the globe and it just isn’t possible. Although, Cumbria is situated in an area which means it is subject to winds coming from three different directions which all bring along different types of weather.
There is no way of accurately predicting what the weather will be like this summer as anything after a five day prediction isn’t reliable, although all the signs look like we are in for a traditional English summer.
Last year the hottest day of the year came in October when the surprisingly warm spell came and many dubbed it an Indian summer. As we can never be sure when the hot weather will strike us here in Britain, it is always best to ensure your air conditioning unit is working all year round. This will not only prolong the life of it but also its effectiveness, which can be vital on those muggy days in the office.
Prepare Yourselves for the Hottest Autumn
The best weather has been predicted to grace us at the end of this week and around the beginning of October. However, the UK Met Office Chief Forecaster, Chris Tubbs, said “It’s too early to give precise detail, but the dominant signal is for much of the UK to get some fine weather from Tuesday onwards. Temperatures could be unseasonably warm in places, certainly well above the average for this time of year.”
He carries on to say that “The settled weather is set to last for several days and could carry on into the start of October, giving us a welcome respite from the windy and wet conditions which have dominated for the past few weeks”.
According to predictions by the UK Met Office, the south and east of England will see the best of the weather, where temperatures could reach 27C, hotter than Hawaii!
I’m sure that most people will be planning some daytrips or weekends away to the seaside or park, but it’s definitely not time to put the barbeque or air conditioning in south east London away just yet.
If you are planning on enjoying the sunshine, remember to protect yourself from the strong UV rays by avoiding the midday heat and covering up your skin with a high factor sun cream.
Summer makes motorists angry on the roads
The research shows that during the summer, over a third have had an accident whilst nearly 1 in 10 speed when the heat rises. With this report, it could be safer that we don’t get much hot weather in Britain!
The most common reason why motorists drive badly when the sun is shining is because they get too flustered and hot. 14% of drivers own up to driving worse in the heat and have had their anger levels rise as the heat does, as well as get a short temper when more cars are on the road.
Nearly half of UK motorists get distracted by other bad drivers on the roads during the summer months, according to the report. Another distraction for 1 in 5 people is singing along to music!
Communications director at Kia Motors UK, Steve Kitson, says, “Whilst the summer sun is guaranteed to life the mood of the natin it is clear that Brit’s can’t take the heat.”
Kitson explains that “Although hot weather in the UK is often rare, it has the effect of getting drivers flustered as there are more distractions on the road. Kia urges all drivers to show care and diligence at all times no matter what the weather or in fact whatever day of the week.”
24% of motorists confess to being distracted if they see an attractive person walking along, so it’s not just the excitement of speeding in the sunshine that makes people drive badly.
According to the report, 85% of the nation has experienced one or more accidents on the road in their lifetime and the average UK driver is distracted 1.84 each day.
The average bill is £635 to repair a car after damage caused in an accident and there’s also an increase of the driver’s next motor insurance quote premiums to think about, so getting behind the wheel and getting hot and bothered is the cost of an impact.
Make sure that you remember to turn up your cheap air con units or wind down the windows to keep cool, to avoid getting angry in the driving seat!
Love your air conditioner
Check out for obvious signs
Obvious signs that air conditioning units aren’t running to their full potential include; when the humidity in your home or office has increased and if it hasn’t been cooling your rooms as effectively as it has done in the past.
Not always recognisable
We understand that it isn’t always easy to know if your air conditioning unit has a problem, which is why maintenance every year can be important. Maintenance and inspections may include; checking the refrigerant levels to make sure there are no leaks, inspect safety controls, cleaning or changing the filters, cleaning and checking the compressor and electrical components, cleaning the outdoor coil and checking the air flow and temperature. Customers should make sure that they call a professional to clean, inspect and tune their air conditioning units. This ensures that your air conditioning unit is in safe hands and will be maintained property.
Is it time to replace your air conditioning unit?
If your air conditioner unit is over 10 years old, it’s more than likely that you’ll have an expensive bill for maintenance repairs. If so, it could be time to start thinking about replacing your old air conditioning unit. With the new technology around, it’s possible to get more energy efficient and environmentally friendly model. Even though they can be more expensive to buy, they can use less energy which may save you money in the long run.