During the hot and humid summers, it’s important to have a reliable air conditioning system to keep the temperature at a comfortable level. Whether you need a new system installed, a current system fixed, or just routine maintenance, it is very important to choose a reliable service provider. But because there are so many choices available, it may be difficult to determine where to begin. Because of this, we are here to lend a hand. In this blog, we’ll talk about what you should look for in a good air conditioning service provider.

The following are qualities of a reliable air conditioning service provider:

Experience and Expertise

Working with a service provider who has years of expertise in the field and a team of professionals who can manage any project, no matter how big or small, is what you should aim for when selecting a reliable company to collaborate with. A service provider who has been in business for a long time knows everything there is to know about air conditioning systems and can quickly and effectively figure out and fix any problems.

Quality Products

An excellent provider of air conditioning services will deliver high-quality systems and parts from recognised manufacturers. If you choose quality products, they will have a longer lifespan, use less energy, and require fewer repairs over their lifetime, which will save you money in the long term. Always make sure to enquire about the brands that they carry and do some background research on them to confirm that they are reputable and trustworthy.

Excellent Customer Service

When choosing a service provider, you can’t say enough about how important good customer service is. You want to collaborate with a provider who is quick to respond to your enquiries, makes it simple to interact with them, and is upfront about the prices they charge. Try to find a service provider who will be there for you from the moment you first make contact with them to the very end of the installation or repair process.

Proper Licensing and Certification

It is very important to choose a service provider who has the right licences and certifications. This makes sure that they have met the legal requirements to run a business and that they will follow the industry standards of excellence when installing or fixing your system. Before you decide to hire someone, you should make it a point to enquire about their qualifications and licence.

Comprehensive Services:

A trustworthy company that install and repairs air conditioners should offer more than just installation and repair. Look for a service provider who offers regular maintenance, emergency repair services, and inspections of the system. In addition, they should be able to give you advice on the type of system that would work best for your home or business, as well as tips on how you can reduce your energy use and costs.

FAQs:

Q: How can I tell if a company that services my air conditioner has the appropriate licencing and certification?
A: In most cases, this information is available on the provider’s website or can be obtained by inquiring about the provider’s licence and certification numbers. Don’t be afraid to ask!

Q: Can I install or repair my air conditioning system myself?
A: The short answer is yes, you can install and repair your own air conditioning system. Although the thought of trying to save money by doing it yourself may be appealing, we do not advocate that you do so. In order to successfully install or repair an air conditioning system, one needs specialised knowledge as well as the appropriate tools. It’s best for everyone if the job is given to experts who know what they’re doing so that mistakes and risks can be avoided.

Q: How often should I have my air conditioning system serviced?
A: It is advised that you have maintenance performed on your air conditioning system at least once per year, and the ideal time to do so is just before the beginning of the cooling season. Your system will remain in top shape and have a longer lifespan if you do routine maintenance on it on a consistent basis.

Conclusion

When looking for an air conditioning service provider, it’s important to look for a number of things, such as experience, expertise, quality products, great customer service, the right licences and certifications, and full services. Make sure you have as much information as possible before making a choice. You can do this by doing thorough research, asking for personal recommendations, and reading online customer feedback. If you choose the right service provider, you can have a house or business that is cool and comfortable all year round.

Talk to us today.

While electric vehicles (EVs) are still a small portion of the overall car market, this is changing. In New Zealand, the use of EVs is constantly on the rise. An increasing number of businesses are installing charging stations for their employees’ EVs, and also for business fleet vehicles. If you’re considering installing an electric vehicle charging station, but you’re not sure of the benefits, this article should help you out.

What is an electric vehicle charging station for businesses?

An electric vehicle charging station is a device that you can install at your business to provide electricity to vehicles. They’re usually installed in parking lots or garages and are used for fleet vehicles or even your employee’s personal cars. In some cases, businesses also choose to make electric vehicle charging stations available to customers as an added incentive.

Benefits of electric vehicle charging stations for your business

Electric vehicle charging stations are a great way to reduce your carbon footprint, save energy and fuel costs, position your business as a sustainable enterprise and boost employee satisfaction. Let’s take a more detailed look at how these stations can help your business.

Energy and fuel savings
The amount of money you can save by installing an electric vehicle charging station is dependent on how much use you get from it. To get maximum value, you would ideally have electric business vehicles that can charge during the day while you’re at work.

Of course, there is a cost for the electricity you use, but it absolutely pales in comparison to the cost of filling up a car with petrol. With that being said, if you have also installed solar panels at your business, there is potential for your electric vehicle charging station to be run completely on solar. This in effect makes it free to charge electric vehicles during the day.

Position yourself as a sustainable business
The benefits of electric vehicle charging stations are numerous, but one is that they can help you position your business as sustainable. This is important because it will help attract new customers who want to do business with companies that align with their values and beliefs. In addition to attracting new customers, this will also make it easier for existing customers to come back to your location again and again.

However, it’s not all about positive, sustainable branding. You can even allow customers to charge their electric vehicles on your premises. So, while they’re inside shopping or conducting business with you, they can charge their car too. It’s a great incentive to keep people coming back.

Reduce your carbon footprint
Reducing your carbon footprint is not just good for the environment; it’s also good for your business.
By installing EV charging stations, you’ll be able to:

• Reduce your fuel costs and greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90%.
• Increase employee satisfaction with a greener workplace.
• Improve employee productivity by providing them with more opportunities to charge their EVs while they work (and by making it easier for them to commute).

We’re at a stage in history where environmental factors are a major concern. So, reducing your carbon footprint goes a long way to helping our planet.

Employee satisfaction
If your employees don’t have to worry about fuel costs and if they feel valued by their employer who has provided them with an electric vehicle charging station at work, they’ll be more loyal and want to work for your company for longer than if you’d just given them the standard parking spaces that everyone else gets.

Employee satisfaction is a huge factor in engagement and productivity. So, if your employees love the fact that they can charge their EV while at work, it’s just another way of improving employee engagement. But it’s not just about the staff you have. Attracting top talent to your business is difficult at the best of times. So, if the best people value your sustainability efforts, they’re more likely to want to work for you.

Looking for electric vehicle charging stations in New Zealand?

RCR is your leading provider of electric vehicle charging stations. We work with businesses and individuals to ensure your EV charging needs are met. So, whether you just want a simple EV charging station to handle your staff vehicles, or if you’d like to install multiple outlets to attract customers, we can help. There’s no job too big or too small, and we’ve got the experience to recommend the very best solutions for your particular needs. Contact us today to find out how we can help.

With energy prices going up, there has never been a better time to rethink the heating and cooling systems used in your home or business. Heat pumps are excellent for heating your home during those chilly winter months. Choose the right type, and it will also keep you cool during summer. But what is the heat pump installation cost in NZ? In this article, we’ll look at the costs of installing a heat pump, and whether it’s the right choice for your home.

Different types of heat pumps in NZ

In New Zealand, there are three main types of heat pumps:

Split system
These are the most common type of heat pumps in NZ. A split system has a condenser unit outside and an air-handler unit inside. The air handler is installed in your home and takes the form of a fan coil or wall-mounted heater.

Multi-split system
Multi-split systems have two or more indoor units that each connect to an outdoor unit, which connects directly to the power supply. There are no ducts between indoor and outdoor units as they communicate wirelessly using smart technology. These systems are ideal for larger homes and commercial applications with multiple rooms.

Ducted heating
Ducted heat pumps have all the same features as a split system but instead of having an outdoor unit connected to the power supply, it has pipes going through your walls, ceiling or under the floor. These pipes deliver air into each room of the house, or wherever there are ducts installed. This type of heating system is ideal for apartments, townhouses and smaller homes where installing wires through walls would be difficult or expensive.

How much do heat pumps cost to install in NZ?

The cost of installing a heat pump depends on the size and type of system you want to install. The cheapest is a single split-system heat pump, however, you need to weigh up whether that will be enough o heat your home effectively. The hidden cost of heat pumps really lies in their efficiency. If your unit has to work harder to heat your home, it will use more energy and cost more in the long run.

• Single split systems can be purchased and installed for anywhere between $1500 – $3,500.
• Multi-split-systems can range from $4,500 upwards, depending on the number of indoor units you require.
• Ducted heating is much more expensive and can cost $25,000 – $35,000 depending on the size of the home.

Ultimately, the heat pump’s effectiveness will determine whether these costs are beneficial to your home or business.

What are the benefits of a heat pump?

Heat pumps are a great alternative to electric heating and gas heating, especially in terms of running costs. Because they use electricity to move heat from one place to another, they can both heat your home or cool it down. This makes them more energy efficient than other types of heating systems because they don’t require any additional fuel source, such as gas or a wood heater.

Heat pumps are also more efficient than standard air conditioning units because they effectively recycle air from inside your home rather than drawing air from outside. They also clean and filter the air, ensuring better breathability and air quality in your home.

If you live somewhere with cold winters and hot summers like New Zealand, then installing a heat pump is a smart choice. The key is finding the right system for your home to maximise efficiency and comfort.

Are heat pumps really worth it?

The short answer is yes. Heat pumps are more expensive to buy upfront than basic space heaters and other heating and cooling products from a hardware store. But that’s because they are so much more energy-efficient, which saves you plenty of money on energy bills in the long term. They also perform better, meaning your home can be heated or cooled much faster than if you were using a smaller appliance.

So, while they may cost a little more initially, you’ll reap the benefits for years and years to come.

Need reliable heat pump installation in NZ?

RCR is your one-stop shop for heating and cooling your home or business. Not only do we have a great product range including only the brands we trust, but our expert advice can save you a fortune. We provide honest and transparent recommendations to ensure you get the most efficient and reliable system for your individual needs. Every home and business is different, which is why we have solutions for everyone. Contact our friendly team today to find out more about the heat pump installation cost in NZ.

Have you ever wondered what’s involved in installing solar panels on your roof? Chances are, unless you’re an electrician or solar expert, you wouldn’t be attempting a solar installation yourself. Solar installers are experienced and qualified to install all types of solar products, including panels, inverters, batteries, hot water systems and more.

But if you’re curious about what takes place to ensure your solar panels are installed correctly on your roof, check out this handy guide on solar installation.

1. Assess the best roof position

Before installing anything, you need to consider the best placement for your panels. In New Zealand, because we’re in the southern hemisphere, your panels should ideally face north. If north isn’t possible, you should certainly choose north-east or north-west, whichever is most convenient. This ensures your solar panel are exposed to sunlight for as many hours of the day as possible.

2. Consider if additional mounting is required

Most solar panels are mounted flat against your roof, taking advantage of the roof’s natural pitch. Believe it or not, the angle of your solar panels can also increase or decrease efficiency. You can actually determine this by adding 15 to your home’s latitude. So, if your latitude is 30 degrees, add 15 and your ideal solar panel tilt is 45 degrees. However, that applies mostly in summer. In winter, the ideal tilt is your latitude MINUS 15 degrees. So, if you have the ability to secure panels to an adjustable mount, you can get more efficiency throughout the year.

On most homes, following the pitch of your roof will be fine, but if you have a flat roof, you may want to consider additional mounting to increase the angle.

3. Fix solar panels to mounting

Once you’ve sorted out what type of mounting you need, and secured your mounting to the roof, it’s time to attach the solar panels. This is usually a quite simple process, using a series of nuts and bolts. Naturally, the more secure your panels, the longer they will last.

4. Wiring

We won’t go into great detail about the wiring because this should really be handled by a licensed electrician. However, in very basic terms, your solar panels need to be connected together. This is usually done by connecting the positive wire of one PV module to another module’s negative wire. However, all panel systems are different and may require different wiring, so this is best left to the professionals to avoid damaging your panels.

5. Connecting to your inverter

Essentially, the positive wire of your solar panels should be connected to the positive terminal of the inverter. The negative wire should connect to the negative terminal. Again, though, with different types of inverters, there may be alternative requirements.

6. Connecting batteries

If you’ve also chosen battery storage, you can now connect your battery to the inverter. Again, positive connects to positive and negative connects to negative. If you don’t have a battery, you can skip this step.

7. Solar inverter to main grid connection

Finally, you need a regular plug to connect your solar inverter to your home’s main switchboard. There is also an output wire that connects to your home, ensuring solar energy can be converted to usable energy and transferred to your home.

Need help with professional solar installation?

For high-quality solar systems that deliver real value to your household, look no further than RCR. We specialise in both residential and commercial solar installations, and we’d be more than happy to discuss your needs. Contact our friendly team today and find out why it makes sense to switch to solar.

FAQ

Can I do a solar installation myself?
While it is technically possible for you to install your own solar system, it really isn’t recommended. There’s a lot of wiring involved, not to mention the connection to the main switchboard. Unless you’ve got an electrical background, it can be extremely risky to work with solar panels yourself.

In addition, if products aren’t installed correctly, you may find that your warranty is voided and it can be very costly if something goes wrong.

How expensive is solar installation?
Believe it or not, solar installation isn’t terribly expensive. All solar installers will be different, of course, but most include the installation as part of your package. If you buy solar panels, inverters and batteries from an authorised solar retailer, it’s likely they will be also able to handle the installation for you, and it won’t add much to the overall cost.

Can I clean solar panels myself?
While DIY solar installation isn’t usually recommended, cleaning your panels is another story. It’s worth cleaning your panels once or twice a year to remove any grime and dust that may have built up. This will help maintain good solar efficiency. As long as you’re safe when getting onto your roof, cleaning is really just a matter of wiping the panels down with some warm, soapy water. Don’t use cleaning chemicals, as they can damage panels and isn’t necessary.

In commercial kitchens, and to a lesser extent, the humble household kitchen, it’s important to have systems in place to remove smoke, odours, gases, particles and even heat. These are known as kitchen extraction and ventilation systems. In your standard residential kitchen, you would use a simple extraction fan or perhaps even a rangehood above your cooking area. But in commercial kitchens, the space is not only larger but there’s a lot more cooking activity going on.

This means you need to have proper commercial kitchen extractors and ventilation systems in place. For the benefit of your customers, and indeed your staff, here’s what you need to know about kitchen extraction and ventilation.

What is a kitchen extraction and ventilation system?

In many ways, commercial kitchen extraction systems are much like the rangehood you see in residential kitchens. Except they are a lot larger because there is so much more activity occurring over a larger area. Some commercial kitchen extraction fans even look like a normal rangehood, while others are more complex and might stretch along an entire wall of the kitchen.

In a commercial setting, the extraction system is primarily used to draw heat from the kitchen and send it outside of the building through a series of ducts and vents. However, while they’re great at removing heat and making the kitchen more comfortable to work in, commercial kitchen extraction systems also include high-performance filters that help to remove particles, grease and other contaminants from the air.

Are kitchen extraction systems compulsory?

The simple answer here is “yes”. If you operate a restaurant or other type of commercial kitchen, you need extractor fans or an acceptable way to move air from inside the kitchen to outside the building. In fact, if you don’t have a kitchen extractor, you may not even be given planning approval to open your business.

In order to meet building codes, and also hygiene standards in New Zealand, a commercial kitchen must have an effective way to remove cooking fumes and other contaminants from the air. Typically, this involves the use of a kitchen extraction and ventilation system.

What health risks does kitchen ventilation address?

When you work in a confined space such as a kitchen, heat builds up very quickly. If you’ve got a few people in there, as well as all of the cooking and appliances that are running, the room will heat up quickly and become extremely uncomfortable to work in. So, one of the jobs of kitchen ventilation is to remove hot air from the space and retain a more comfortable temperature.

In terms of health issues though, respiratory issues are the main concern. Constantly breathing in fumes or gases is one thing, but kitchen air often carries a lot of airborne particles that can cause respiratory issues. Your extraction system is designed to remove these particles from the air, creating a healthier environment to work in.

In some instances, people can experience skin or eye irritation also, caused by the fumes, odours and particles in the air. An extraction fan can provide relief in this area.

How does a kitchen extraction fan remove grease?

You may think of grease as being a thick product that’s left on surfaces or walls after cooking. However, grease on your walls isn’t always a result of splashing. When frying food, grease can evaporate and end up on your walls and other surfaces. Obviously, this is a terrible look, but it’s also very bad for food hygiene and safety.

A quality kitchen extraction system includes filters, so any air that’s thicker due to the presence of grease particles is drawn into the vents and extracted out of the building. The filters catch the grease (and other particles), ensuring your walls and surface stay clean. As you can imagine, these filters can become clogged with grease quite easily, so they need regular cleaning to ensure your extractor continues to work effectively.

Does kitchen extraction improve the customer experience?

We would have to say that kitchen extraction improves the customer experience in multiple ways. Firstly, the food you serve is much more hygienic, therefore the customers enjoy better food. But also, in restaurants where the kitchen is quite close to the dining area (or even open-plan and seen from the dining area), you want to ensure all odours and heat are extracted quickly. This stops the smells, heat and unclean air from moving into the dining room and irritating your customers.

If you’d like to know more about professional kitchen extraction and ventilation installation, contact the team at RCR today. We’re your HVAC experts in New Zealand.