Bespoke is best
A locally owned business with an impeccable record in heating and cooling systems, recommends people go for a bespoke system rather than off the shelf.
Gavin Lowe Energy is a name synonymous with home ventilation, cooling, and heating. For three decades, it has served the Christchurch and Canterbury region.
Over those thirty years, it has developed a reputation for integrity and quality. Its team of experienced and qualified experts specialises in air conditioning and ventilation technology.
Gavin Lowe Energy’s Karen Lowe says customers are offered the best as soon as they walk through the door, starting with advice and culminating in top-quality workmanship and bespoke services.
One service that shines as an example of their craftsmanship is their bespoke ducted heat pump systems – individually designed to ensure the right fit for your home.
Ducted heat pumps are a way of heating multiple rooms in a house through a series of ducts.
Aaron Hawes, Technical Design Manager, says, “A ducted heat pump system is not like a high wall or floor console heat pump system, which is a relatively self-contained piece of equipment. Ducted systems need good design and appropriately specified materials.”
Aaron says that in addition to the top-quality ducted air conditioning inverter (the part that attaches to the outside of the building), “all ducted system installations designed by Gavin Lowe Energy include quality fittings and materials to ensure the system’s maximum performance and efficiency.”
Once you’ve decided to proceed with a ducted heat pump, a qualified specialist “starts with calculating the airflow throughout the system, specifying the correct size of the unit, determining the length of the ducting, and positioning supply and return grilles and other essential materials and equipment.”
Operations Manager Mike Lock adds that top-of-the-line equipment and fittings are used when installing the systems. Key components include Eco Auto supply grilles, which open in the centre with a bi-metallic spring to move heat to floor level faster, and a hinged return grille with a filter for easy maintenance.
Fully insulated ducting is used to minimise heat loss, while Silent Flex Acoustic ducting ensures noise reduction and heat insulation in air flowing out to the connected rooms.
Hanging brackets are installed to reduce vibration and noise from the indoor unit. Custom-designed plenums (the space that facilitates air circulation for heating and air conditioning) are created for each installation. Balancing dampers are incorporated into all Y branches (duct fittings) and plenums to ensure balanced airflow. During commissioning, a qualified air conditioning engineer balances the system to guarantee appropriate airflow through return and supply outlets.
Unlike a bespoke design, standard kits may not have as well-insulated ducting and might run too short for correct airflow. Standard kits often lack custom-made plenums and hanging brackets, and the grilles are likely standard and unhinged.
“If the system is not commissioned and balanced correctly, its output, noise, efficiency, and air distribution – overall performance – will be compromised,” Mike says.
Once operational, homes are set up with control panels with ‘zone control’, which is ideal for varying the environment of individual spaces rather than the entire area.
Though a couple of extra steps are involved, Karen says the care taken by the Gavin Lowe Energy team should lead to a far better outcome for the home, making life as comfortable as possible.