UK summer heatwaves

First, an apology for being too busy to do blog posts so far this year!

In the south of England, we’re well into our second heatwave of the summer. We have temperatures well above 30°C, plus weather warnings etc. Exacerbated by the high humidity, it is very unpleasant.

As expected, air conditioning demand has increased dramatically. Edie, the sustainability media site , suggests demand is up around 320%. The sad result is that many installers and individuals are currently unable to source mini-split air conditioners, especially larger ‘multi-split’ units with multiple indoor units.

Many suppliers ‘drop-ship’, which means they don’t hold stock. Instead, orders are directly fulfilled and dispatched by the manufacturer. However, manufacturers are so inundated that stock level communication with suppliers is quickly out of date, and this can result in orders being placed that then can’t be promptly fulfilled. To help address this, Checkmark recommends:

• Be sceptical about stock levels on supplier web-sites
• Phone suppliers and speak to a person - they often have a better understanding regarding availability
• Suppliers are under significant pressure, but if a representative is unhelpful then move on and try elsewhere
• Avoid suppliers who are profiteering by raising prices significantly. Again, move on.

As expected, the heatwave is the final ‘push’ for many already thinking about installing a heat pump / air conditioner. Unfortunately, it’s also not the best time to buy!

(Image courtesy of Alf Lucio , Parabiago, Italy)