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Tado Balance seeks out lower-cost energy

Tado Balance is a new service within the Tado app that actively seeks out times of affordable green energy, shifting consumption and lowering energy costs.

In a renewable electricity market prices are volatile and drop significantly when there is high availability of wind or solar energy. Tado Balance uses these times of low energy prices throughout the day.

Tado co-founder Christian Deilmann says: “If Europe wants to succeed in the energy transition, we need to match the demand of energy to the supply that is available. Tado Balance pairs home energy use to the renewable supply, and thereby paves the way for the energy transition to grow its share of renewable sources.”

Currently 79 per cent of the average home’s energy use comes from heating. By reducing the costs of energy used, Tado says its Balance provides an incentive to adopt electrified heat solutions such as heat pumps.

Customers with time-of-use tariffs including Octopus Agile will benefit most from financial savings due to the fluctuating price of energy. To set up, simply select the country and region, and Tado Balance will automatically follow the wholesale price of electricity, regardless of energy provider.

www.tado.com

TubiX pipe cutter goes XL

The Knipex TubiX XL pipe cutter cuts larger copper, brass and stainless steel pipes, as well as rigid steel electrical conduit, and strips steel wire armoured cables. It cuts pipes from 6mm to 76mm and a wall thickness up to 2mm.

To operate, simply place the open TubiX XL pipe cutter on the pipe, then position and lock the spring-loaded cutting wheel into place on the workpiece using the locking mechanism, and cut by turning the tool. The clearance between the cutting edge and the pipe can be freely adjusted with the ergonomic feeding barrel. The cut surface can then be deburred if necessary.

The cutting wheel is made of quality ball-bearing steel while the metal housing is light and durable magnesium. The needle-bearing and spring-loaded cutting wheel can be easily exchanged without any tools. A spare wheel is provided in the handle cap.

www.knipex.com/en-uk/tubix

Small monobloc heat pump completes Daikin R-32 range

Daikin’s new Altherma lowcapacity R-32 monobloc is a smaller heat pump suitable for smaller homes. The air-to-water heat pump is available in 4kW, 6kW and 8kW, adding to the existing range capacities of 9-16kW, and completes the company’s R-32 monobloc range.

Patrick Crombez, general manager Heating & Renewables at Daikin Europe, says: “Our Daikin Altherma 3 Monobloc started out in big capacities only, and we were one of the first to launch an R-32 monobloc for bigger homes at the time. Now, with Daikin Altherma 3 M available for smaller homes as well, we offer a complete R-32 monobloc range, with a range of heat pumps that fit any European home, no matter how big or small.”

Its compact dimensions and monobloc set-up mean it’s well suited to smaller properties. The unit includes a built-in wiring centre and optional back-up heater, as well as all hydraulic components. It can easily fit under any window and, because there is no indoor unit, it’s ideal for homes where space is limited.

Equipped with R-32 refrigerant, the new monobloc helps to accelerate the transition to renewable heating solutions, reducing the environmental impact of its previous incarnation by 70 per cent, says Daikin.

www.daikin.co.uk

Smart job software aims to cut down on admin

Trades software Fergus is now available in the UK, designed to help you save time on admin.

Used by more than 18,000 tradespeople in eight countries, Fergus’s mission is to provide heating and plumbing businesses with access to software tools to organise their business. The Fergus app ensures healthy finances and that you get paid quickly. It tracks labour and materials back to the job in real time, helping to ensure that each job is profitable.

“We exist to make your lives better, freeing up time you would otherwise have to spend on business admin,” says James Chillman, UK country manager. “Most tradespeople are still using manual, often paper-based systems and processes to manage their business. This ultimately leads to poor cash flow, lower profits and significant stress on the business owner.

“Fergus is designed specifically for the trade and has all the user-friendliness built in that you would expect for those company owners looking to spend less time on admin and more time doing the things they enjoy.” Turn to page 51 for your chance to win a site radio and a six-month supply of beer.

fergus.com >

Productnews

> Overfloor underfloor from Continal

The ThermoDEK-18 underfloor heating system is a highly efficient overfloor system that can be laid on top of existing floors with minimal height build-up.

The heart of Continal Underfloor Heating’s system is a solid gypsum dry-screed panel that comes with pre-routed channels at 150mm spaces for Continal’s SUPERflex-12 pipe, making it quick and easy to lay. The gypsum core gives the panel extra strength to help prevent damage during installation and to give it longevity.

Each panel measures just 18mm deep and is suitable for renovation projects, especially where the floor height is limited. It is suitable for high and lowtemperature systems and comes in two panel types: the main panel for straight runs and a return panel for use around the ends of a room. Each panel comes with a tongue-and-groove profile so they lock together when being laid. The system is compatible with all common floor finishes, including wood, tiles, vinyls and carpets.

DriDEK-20 has extremely low thermal resistance, maximising the performance of any lowprofile system.

www.continal.co.uk

Wireless control joins Grant UK Uflex range

Grant UK has added a wireless programmable room thermostat to its Uflex Underfloor Heating Controls range. The NeoAir V2-M is compatible with the Grant Uflex and Uflex MINI underfloor heating systems.

The NeoAir V2-M is a battery-powered thermostat with wireless RF connectivity and can either be used as a thermostat, a time clock or as both a thermostat and hot water timer.

One remote sensor can be connected to the NeoAir V2-M to monitor the floor temperature or provide remote air temperature sensing. The NeoAir is also compatible for use with single or multiple wireless air sensors when the control is paired to the NeoHub and NeoApp, making it suitable for large, open-plan properties when an average air temperature needs to be calculated. It uses self-learning preheat functionality and has multiple programming options.

Grant UK managing director Paul Wakefield says: “The NeoAir V2-M is simple to install and user-friendly for homeowners, plus it has the added benefit of not requiring wiring which can make installation even quicker. The NeoAir also uses a mesh strengthening network, which means that the connectivity improves when multiple devices are used, increasing the range when compared to standard RF thermostats.”

www.grantuk.com/products/underfloor-heating

CHIMNEY TROUBLES CURED

Our Chimney Chaps carry out thousands of Chimney Linings each year. Linings are normally installed in one day and every installation carries a life time guarantee.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN OUR TEAM OF INSTALLERS CALL FREE 0800 0345 442 visit our website www.thermocrete.com

CERTIFIED 9 0 0 1 I S O

Competition

Win a DAB radio and

Fergus and Registered Gas Engineer have teamed up to give one six months of beer WIN lucky reader the chance to chill out with a Makita DAB site radio and a six-month subscription to Beer52, the craft beer discovery club.

Founded in 2014 by veteran plumber Dan Pollard, Fergus software exists to make heating engineers’ lives better, freeing up time you would otherwise have to spend on business admin. Dan set out to solve the admin problems that had plagued his business for years, and the software he created helped so much that he named it after his best friend, his dog Fergus!

One way to streamline your business and free up some time is to consider replacing your traditional admin tools – pen and paper job sheets, spreadsheets, and emails – with an online solution such as Fergus. This enables you to see the status of all your jobs at a glance and gives you the best possible chance of having and keeping healthy finances.

Fergus lets you track everything from quote through to payment, ensures you get paid quickly and allows you to check that every job is profitable. This clear overview of your business and finances reduces stress and frees up more time for the things you love.

For more details and to book a demo, go to:

www.fergus.com

How to enter

For your chance to win Makita DAB site radio and a six-month subscription to Beer52, the craft beer discovery club, just answer this question correctly:

What is Fergus software named after?

a) The founder’s dog b) The founder’s cat c) A work colleague Send your answer plus your name, address and registration number to competition@registeredgasengineer.co.uk One winner will be chosen at random from all correct entries received by the closing date of Monday 31 October 2022.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

By entering this prize draw, you agree to these terms and conditions: • Registered Gas Engineer and Fergus do not accept responsibility for lost, delayed, corrupted or invalid entries. • The winner will be chosen at random from all correct answers submitted in accordance with these terms and conditions. • The winner will be notified by email. The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. • The prize cannot be substituted or upgraded. • The prize is non-transferable and there is no cash alternative. • Registered Gas Engineer and Fergus may disqualify you from winning if they have reasonable grounds to suspect that you are in breach of these terms and conditions or your participation is fraudulent or otherwise unlawful. • This draw is not open to employees of Fergus,

Gas Safe Register or Registered Gas Engineer or their direct family members or agents. • Registered Gas Engineer and Fergus do not accept any responsibility for any network connection,

technical failure or other problem in any telephone line, network, system, provider or otherwise which results in any entry not being properly recorded or received. • One entry per person. • Your entry details will be provided to Fergus, which may use them for marketing purposes. By entering this competition, you agree that you may receive communications from Fergus. If you do not wish to be contacted, please add NO COMMUNICATIONS in your email entry.