Frequently Asked Questions

An air conditioner, like any other machine, should be serviced regularly . Even without noticeable defects, most manufacturers recommend having your air conditioner checked once or even twice a year to ensure it performs at its best.

Avoid keeping doors and windows open for prolonged periods to retain your cooled air in the building. Make sure your systems are regularly maintained and cleaned.

On average, a well maintained and properly cared for air conditioner should last around 10-15 years.

Modern systems are very energy efficient. For each kilowatt of electricity used , three to four kilowatts of heat are delivered to the building.

It depends on where you are going to use it. A Ground source heat pump is more efficient at heating your home resulting in lower ongoing running costs but costs a significant amount more upfront. An Air source pump does not require any excavation to bury pipework so can be used in an apartment block or office.

It is advisable to employ a qualified AC engineer to regularly clean and service your AC unit.  An expert will be able to pick up on any minor issues and prevent them from worsening, however you should keep the outsides of the units clean and free from obstructions.

A qualified engineer will check and remedy faults with:

• Refrigerant gas levels and pressures. Filters and coils. Airflow.
• The controller, thermostat, fan motor and other electrical components.
• The grille, face cover and condensation drains.
• Check the general condition of indoor and outdoor units and clean them.

You may experience odours from your air conditioner that indicate it needs a service. You may experience insufficient airflow, leaks noises or humidity. All are tell-tale signs that you need a professional to get it back to working order again.

A GSHP system is comprised of three basic elements,

• a ground loop or vertical bore pipe,
• the heat pump itself
• a building heat distribution system.

A mixture of water and antifreeze is pumped around the ground loop or bore hole of polyethylene pipe buried in the ground adjacent to the building.

Heat is absorbed from the ground into the carrier fluid and pumped through a heat exchanger which extracts the heat and transfers it to a refrigerant in the heat pump. The refrigerant is then compressed achieving a higher temperature to transfer into the building’s heat distribution system and provide hot water and space heating.

Yes. This is a common application for GSHPs and Acumec install these systems very effectively.