Chillers, and knowing when not to sell one

Sizing honestly

1 HP to about 260 litres, 2 HP to about 570, 4 HP to about 1,200, stepped up for full sun, a 4 °C target, or back-to-back use by a squad.

Before any of that we ask what temperature you actually want and in which months. A household that wants cold water on winter mornings and is happy at fifteen degrees in February does not need a compressor at all, and we would rather build them a better tub.

What we install when one is needed

An outdoor-rated cabinet with a titanium heat exchanger, because the water is cold, circulating and usually ozonated, and stainless pits under exactly those conditions. Insulated hoses connecting low in the tub wall so nothing crosses the rim.

On the coast, sealed and filtered plant enclosures and A4 stainless fixings. On the Highveld, protection from hail. In both cases, shade and clearance on the grille side.

Service across a large country

Cape Town and the Winelands weekly. Johannesburg, Pretoria and the Highveld in scheduled blocks. KZN coast and the Garden Route in blocks, with the coastal visits including a corrosion inspection.

A service is condenser, pressures, cartridge, ozone cell and hoses, plus the water test. An hour, twice a year inland and quarterly at the coast.

In short

• We ask what temperature you want in which months before quoting a machine
• Titanium heat exchanger; A4 stainless and sealed enclosures at the coast
• Battery-backed circuit so the tub holds through any interruption
• Twice-yearly service inland, quarterly at the coast with a corrosion check