Tag Archives: Air Conditioning

Stephen Fry’s shows us his 100 Greatest Gadgets

For those of you who turned in to Stephen Fry’s Channel 4 count down of the 100 greatest gadgets, and watched it until the end, would have discovered Fry’s number 1 greatest gadget ever to be the cigarette lighter. It took 3 hours for the number 1 gadget– I could see why Fry chose it as the greatest gadget, but it was a bit of an anti-climax for someone who doesn’t smoke.

“It’s not the order in which things are invented that makes them the most impressive, it’s the importance they have to humanity. So my number one is this: fire with a flick of the fingers,” Fry explains.

Other gadgets in Fry’s list included the Nintendo Wii, telephone, kettle, karaoke machine, iphone, ipad and ipod, which made some people to believe that the TV show was sponsored by Apple.

We were surprised that air conditioning was not seen on the list of the greatest gadgets, however, the fan came in number 68, which shows people do appreciate keeping cool in the UK! One of the fans that were mentioned was the innovative Dyson bladeless fan.

There are many polls and countdowns on Channel 4, which are usually open to public voting beforehand, however all the gadgets for ‘Stephen Fry’s 100 Greatest Gadgets’ were chosen by Stephen Fry himself, as the title of the show suggests.

Some presenters and comedians also featured in the show, by giving their views and opinions on a few of the gadgets. Al Murray, a comedian said he couldn’t imagine life without a toaster and Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen said he would struggle to imagine life without scissors.

People who watched the programme may be been unsure what Fry’s definition of a gadget was as among the list was a corkscrew, whistle and a pen.

What is your favourite gadget?

Is your air conditioning unit keeping its cool?

With August getting us hot under the collar in Britain, some people are turning to their air conditioning and have only just realised that their units doesn’t seem to be working anymore. People who have air con units don’t have to spend a lot of money to have ensure a longer life for their unit. Here are a few of our top tips-

As the key component of your homes air con system relies on the coils within the unit to remain free to cool the incoming air, you should keep in clear of debris by removing grass and weeds, as well as keeping a lookout for any insects.

To do this, switch off the electric power, remove the sheet metal screws and lift off the housing. Remove the debris and use a cloth to clean off the coils, some people use a garden hose but this is at your own risk. If you do choose to use a garden hose, do your best to avoid the electronics as there is a risk of electric shocks. Check for any bent coils and straighten them as well as you can before replacing the housing and tighten all the screws carefully.

Next, check for insects, especially for ants as they can be a dangerous intruder. Ants will take up habitation in your air conditioner as they seek shade and water, which can cost you a lot of money. You could have your ducts sealed which could help keep insects out and also puts a stop to hot air leaks into return ducts, which can overburden your air conditioning unit.

Don’t forget to check your filters and clean them on a regular basis (depending on how much you use them) as well as keeping an eye out for leaks as early as possible.

Following these tips and maintaining your air conditioning unit should help ensure a longer life for them.

Hoorah! Summer has arrived!

August has kicked off to a promising start, even if July was a bit of a letdown with the weather. However, the weatherman still warns us to keep an umbrella in reach.

After swapping our T-shirts for jumpers, not using sunscreen for the past few weeks and even seeing Autumn/Winter 2011 clothes pop up in shop windows, we have finally enjoyed some much needed heat over the weekend and more is on its way.

So far we have had 26c, with the promise of up to 28c (82f) in some areas of Britain in the coming days.

Millions of Britons took advantage of the hot spell and headed to British beaches over the weekend, to paddle in the sea and soak up the sun. Some areas saw their car parks full by Sunday morning and hotels also had “no vacancies” in their windows.

However, we all know what the weather is like in Britain and good things have to come to an end. The hot spell will be short lived and we could see thunderstorms in many areas, along with swarms of flying ants, forecasters have warned.

“In the next few days the conditions are likely to set off thunderstorms just about anywhere in the country. That will herald low temperatures for most parts. People should make the most of the weather while they can”, said Andy Bodenham, Met Office forecaster.

Bournemouth’s seven miles of beaches was full of deck chairs on Sunday.

“It’s glorious today. The beach is really busy and I expect people have come because they don’t know if the warm weather will last”, said Charles Baker, 36, from Hordle, Hampshire, who was visiting Bournemouth with his partner Aileen Simpson and one-year-old daughter Alice.

Unsettled weather is said to return to most areas by the end of this week, where temperatures are expected to slide back to the 70s. It’s still expected to be muggy and people without air conditioning at home may feel uncomfortable, especially at night time.

The muggy conditions has already encouraged millions of mating flying ants, the phenomenon has been described by pest control experts as “the biggest annual one-night stand in the UK”.

Managing director of Cleankill, Paul Bates said the insects don’t bite or sting people, he explains “the problem normally disappears on its own within a few hours”. He added that people shouldn’t waste their money on calling someone out to eradicate them.

Choosing air con instead of wound down windows could save you money

A recent study carried out by ICM research, which surveyed 2003 adults, indicates that in hot weather 28% of the national total, choose to open their windows during hot weather, rather than turning their air conditioning on. However, this is false economy – the drag created by the open window can affect a car’s aerodynamics and therefore fuel consumption.

Kwik Fit admits that an open window is a better option when you’re stuck in traffic, however once moving they advise to turn on your air conditioning instead. They state that an open window can decrease fuel efficiency by 5% and that the nation’s fuel bill could be increased by over £650,000 with the ‘windows down’ approach.

Customer services director at Kwik Fit, David White, said “With fuel prices higher than ever, it’s understandable that motorists are looking for ways to squeeze every last mile out of their tank”. However, he advises that we need to be careful and make the right choices. “Using air conditioning is far more fuel efficient on the open road and a whole deal more pleasant too”.

The research shows that those in Birmingham, Manchester, Norwich and Sheffield are big air con fans and are more likely to keep their windows shut. But motorists in and around London, Liverpool, Oxford and Edinburgh are most likely to have their air con off and have their windows down.

For the lucky ones of us who have air conditioning in our cars, we need to remember to give the air con systems a regular service and maintenance, just like the other parts of our car. This makes sure that it’s working effectively, as it needs to be recharged every two years because of gas naturally leaking from the system.

Love your air conditioner

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.

Straining your Back with the Air Conditioning Unit

For offices that don’t have permanent air conditioning in their building, most still have portable air conditioning units to keep their staff cool while at work. The portable air conditioning units can be a struggle to drag to the window and most people will wonder why they weigh so much.

The answer to why they are so heavy is because of the copper that’s inside of them. The systems have three important components including a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator. They are all loaded with copper which is weighs an enormous 558 pounds for each cubic feet of metal – pretty heavy! You may wonder what the components actually do. The condenser helps ready the system’s refrigerant for the cooling process, the evaporator helps cool the air and the compressor helps move refrigerant back and forth between them. These copper components make up almost 60% of the weight of the air conditioning unit!

Copper is the number 1 choice among air conditioning manufacturers as it’s abundant, a good conductor of heat and it’s relatively inexpensive which enables us to have access to cheap air conditioning units to help keep us cool in the heat.

With air conditioning units being around for some time, we would have thought that lighter, smaller, powerful units would have been invented by now. However, engineers are more interested and focusing on making the units more environmentally friendly. A technique called ‘dew-point cooling’ is being experimented on at the moment. Rather than using fossil fuels, this technique relies on the natural energy produced by evaporating water. Greener units may become available in the future, but it’s not clear if they’ll be significantly lighter.

In need of some summer cooling?

The heat, sun and rain are making most of us feel stuffy in our environment at the moment, especially at work. If you have one of those portable air conditioning units that stick out the office window, it may be time to think about getting a permanent cooling fixture. At GT Refrigeration, we install different types of refrigeration units in London and also out of London. The following is just a few of the different types of air conditioning units we offer:

Cassette Range

The cassette ranges are popular air conditioning units for offices or large open plan homes, as they deliver a directional flow of air throughout the room where it’s needed the most. Cassette air conditioning is also discreet when in position, so doesn’t detract the interior decor.

Wall Mounted Range

The wall mounted ranges are probably one of our most popular air conditioning units as they are easy to install and versatile to fit on different walls. Most modern wall mounted units are energy efficient, quiet and have high performance heating and cooling available for maximum comfort.

Ducted Range

Designed to be concealed, ducted range air conditioning units can be installed on the ground or suspended ceiling. The ducted range is definitely a choice for those who want to conceal their air conditioning unit within their room, so it doesn’t disturb the decor.

We offer and can install different types of air conditioning units to suit your office or home. For more information, take a look at our website or feel free to give us a call.

Japan’s energy saving campaign

Because of the nuclear power shortages caused by the tsunami and earthquake in March earlier this year, Japan’s Government has asked government offices and companies to cut electricity use by 15%. They want companies to set room temperatures at a warm 28 degrees Celsius and limit their air conditioning usage.

In another attempt to use less energy, Japan’s government has launched a “Super Cool Biz” campaign to encourage workers to come to work in casual, more lightweight clothing instead of the traditional tie and suit. Workers have started coming into work in trainers, polo shirts and even in some cases flip-flops.

Cool Biz was actually launched in 2005 by Yuriko Koike, the then environment minister, but people didn’t warm to the campaign as they found it sloppy and undignified. Koike said “People have started to grow accustomed to it, with the Cool Biz campaign now being in its sixth year”.

Many local government staff in Tokyo have been starting work an hour early, coming into the office at 7.30am and leaving at 4.15pm, in an attempt to save power and exploit the early daylight hours, by using less air conditioning and lights in the office.

Different industries have also joined forces to save power. Japan’s carmakers have agreed to have Thursdays and Fridays off as their break and work on Saturdays and Sundays instead in order to avoid power shortages by using energy at off-peak times.

Japan’s government has also advised households to unplug electrical appliances when not in use, raise temperatures on their refrigerators and use electric fans instead of air conditioners.

The Volcanic Ash Strikes Again

The eruption of Iceland’s Grimsvotn has left holiday makers across Europe experience delays or cancelled flights. It has spread fears that we could see a repeat of last year’s ash cloud that caused chaos all over Europe. However, it has done more than disrupt air travel.

Thora Arnorsdottir, a senior reporter from the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service went to visit the small town of Kirkjubaejarklaustur which has been covered in ash and is totally shut out of daylight. All the buildings and vehicles are covered in dust. Arnorsdottir explains that “At the end of May during normal circumstances, the town is usually bright for at least 20 hours a day but at the moment people could mistake it for winter.”

Cars are still working and running around the small town despite the thick ash covering them. People must obviously drive more carefully, avoid turning the air conditioning on and remember to change the filters frequently.

Unnar Steinn, who owns the only store in town, is still open for business as usual. He states that “People are just staying at home and they have to get food from somewhere.”

No one has the courage to leave the house without wearing a protective mask or eye goggles.
Arnorsdottir said “It’s hard to breathe. It’s physically impossible to stay outside more than a couple of minutes at the time. You cry constantly as the eyes try to fight the ash.”

One resident said “At least it’s the 21st Century where we can at least flee into a concrete building and catch our breath.”

Despite the ash covering up the town, the local residents have not evacuated the place.

The residents that Arnorsdottir met have said, “We will get through this together like the generations before us and it’s going to be over soon. We are just hoping Katla doesn’t erupt next year.”

Here’s hoping!

Don’t sweat!

Everyone knows that the weather in England can be unpredictable. At the end of April we experienced one of the hottest days of the year so far and it was also the hottest April day recorded since 1949! However, we have also witnessed thunder and lightning making it smoggy outside. It’s that time of year when we can’t decide whether we are hot or cold and just generally feel bothered and uncomfortable. Some of us may store a fan at home but there might be a wrestle for who gets to use it. Furthermore, having fans around is always a safety issue if you have kids. It could be time for you to think about getting air conditioning fitted in your house.

Most people think that air conditioning is just the cooling of the air, but it can also heat and clean the air making the home more comfortable to live in. Therefore, air conditioning is a year round solution. Nowadays, it’s not seen as a luxury having air conditioning – it’s a comfort, making your life as stress free as possible.

If you are thinking of getting air conditioning, make sure you do plenty of research first as there are different units and designs to suit specific requirements. You should take into consideration the effectiveness, energy consumption, technology, affordability and design. GT Solutions can offer a range of different air conditioning equipment including cassette, wall mounted, ducted, floor to ceiling, floor standing and multi split ranges available at competitive prices.