As we head into autumn, it feels like the heating season is suddenly very close again. For installers, that means the familiar increase in demand as people switch their heating back on, but this year it comes against a backdrop of a market that continues to change at considerable pace.
Low-carbon heating is a big theme in this issue, and particularly the growing role of heat pumps and the skills needed to install them properly. On page 42, we follow KS Connexions’ journey into air source heat pumps, and there’s a particularly useful message for anyone considering making the same move: invest in training, get the heat loss calculations right and don’t oversell the technology.
That focus on training and support crops up elsewhere too. Instantor has entered the underfloor heating market with a seven-system portfolio, but its approach goes much further than simply launching new products. The company is investing in training, design and specification support to help installers navigate increasingly complex systems and regulations.
Getting the specification right is another recurring theme. Our feature on Delta T looks at why accurate radiator performance figures matter, particularly as lower-temperature heating becomes more commonplace, while our plumbing feature examines the role of TMVs and risk assessment in managing Legionella and scalding risks.
What comes through strongly across all these features is just how much knowledge is now expected of the modern heating professional. It’s no longer simply about knowing how to fit a product. Installers are increasingly being asked to understand the building around it, regulations, controls, energy tariffs and how different technologies work together, then explain all of that clearly to the customer.
Technology is changing the day-to-day job too. In this issue we’re exploring smarter electric heating and connected controls, while Benjamin Dyer explores a rather different use for AI: answering the phone when an installer is halfway up a ladder, under a floor or otherwise busy doing the work that actually pays the bills.
There’s plenty more to explore across the issue, from new products and renewables to tools and workwear. With another heating season almost upon us, hopefully you’ll find plenty in these pages that proves useful over the busy months ahead.
Jennie Ward Editor