Altecnic: Recent Episodes
Altecnic
Your go-to place for up-to-date plumbing and heating content! Home to Life at the Tap End by Altecnic, where we're taking some time to discuss the plumbing and heating industry as a whole. As well as regular audio blogs for those who want to listen on the move.
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This audio blog debunks five common misconceptions regarding Heat Interface Units (HIUs), covering issues such as whether 'one size fits all' with HIUs, and whether the BESA standard is universal.
Find out more about our range of HIUs by visiting:
https://www.altecnic.co.uk/domestic/heat-networks/heat-interface-units
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In this live edition of the Altecnic Podcast at Installer 2025, Ed Morris, Technical Manager at Altecnic, talks with Nathan Gambling (BetaTeach), Ricky Prescott (Thoroughflush), and Kevin Moore (Kamco Ltd), about the future of water treatment.
Water treatment is essential for system efficiency, longevity, and compliance. With VDI guidelines shaping best practices and sustainability becoming a growing priority, the industry is at a crossroads: should we continue relying on chemical treatments, or is a chemical-free future truly viable?
Key Discussion Points:
VDI & Compliance: What do engineers and specifiers need to know?
Chemical-Free Solutions: Are they practical, effective, and scalable?
Performance vs. Sustainability: Do alternative treatments match up?
The Installer Perspective: What works best in real-world applications?
Future Trends: Where is the industry heading, and what innovations are on the horizon?
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In this episode of The Altecnic Podcast, Ed Morris, Technical Manager at Altecnic, is joined by Domenico Mazzetti, Product Marketing Manager for HVAC at Caleffi. With 17 years of experience in product development and marketing, Domenico brings deep industry insight as they explore the evolution of filters in heating systems.
Together, they discuss the vital role of filtration in system efficiency, the benefits of heat pump filters, and how advancements in filtration technology are shaping modern, sustainable heating solutions. Tune in for expert insights, industry knowledge, and practical advice on protecting heating systems for optimal performance.
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In this episode, we delve into the innovative world of hybrid heating systems—a sustainable solution for modern homes. Learn how these systems blend the reliability of traditional gas boilers with the eco-friendly efficiency of heat pumps to provide optimal comfort year-round. We’ll explore the key components that make hybrid systems work, their benefits for homeowners, and considerations for adopting them. Whether you’re planning to upgrade your heating system or curious about eco-friendly options, this episode has all the insights you need to stay warm, save energy, and embrace sustainability.
Find out more at: https://www.altecnic.co.uk/
Join us for a special LIVE episode of the Altecnic Podcast recorded straight from the Installer Show 2024! Your host, Ed Morris, Technical Manager at Altecnic, brings you an engaging discussion with some of the industry’s brightest minds. In this exciting episode, Ed is joined by Damon Blakemore of Blakemore Plumbing and Heating, and the dynamic duo from PPH Pointy Plumbing & Heating Services: Pointy Plumber and his apprentice, Grandad.
Tune in as we cover:
- Industry Journeys: Damon and Pointy share their paths into the plumbing and heating sector, reflecting on how they got started and what their experiences over the past year have been like.
- Customer Trends & Renewables: Discover the emerging trends they've noticed from their customers and how these insights are shaping their businesses. They both discuss how they tackle the biggest hurdles SMEs face in adopting heat pumps.
- Regulations & Training: The panel delves into the challenges of meeting current regulatory standards, particularly the updates to Part L.
- Mental Health & Industry Challenges: Hear about the major challenges in the industry today, including the impact of the cost of living. They share strategies for managing stress, maintaining work-life balance, and the value of community events and networking opportunities, like the Installer Show.
Don’t miss this chance to hear directly from the experts and get a firsthand look at what’s shaping the future of plumbing and heating!
In this audio blog, PR & Communications Executive, Georgia Cantrill, unravels the complexities of heating systems to provide a guide on how to unlock their full potential.
Georgia covers the purpose of balancing, consequences of an imbalanced system, and how to find a full solution to provide comfort and optimise performance for the end user.
Join us as we are joined by Damon Blakemore, heat pump installer, to discuss how heat pumps and low carbon solutions are changing the game for installers within the plumbing and heating industry.
We discuss the importance of heat pump training for installers and how it is shaping the future of the trade. Whether you're a homeowner, an installer, or simply curious about the latest trends in plumbing and heating, this podcast is your guide to understanding the changes in the industry and the crucial role of heat pumps in creating a greener, more cost-effective future. Tune in to stay ahead of the curve!
Air vents are fitted on almost every system, and all look fairly similar, but how do you know what makes a good one?
In this audio blog we look at air vents, covering what they are, how they work, and the key benefits of installing them.
In this Altecnic podcast episode, we get to know the Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors through their CEO, John Thompson, as part of their 'Quality Plumbers Week'.
In our latest episode, Ed Morris, Technical Manager at Altecnic, & Steve Elsmore, Senior Technical Support at Altecnic deep dive into the future of training in the plumbing and heating industry, bringing insights straight from the installers themselves.
Join Ed & Steve as they explore the burning questions about the changing landscape of plumbing and heating training from an installer's perspective. What’s the most important topic for training in the plumbing & heating industry? What’s the biggest barrier for installers trying to upskill/reskill? Do you think training from manufacturers is valuable?
What sets this episode apart is that we've gathered answers from a recent Instagram poll of installers and apprentices across the country. Ed & Steve bring their firsthand experiences, as well as the experiences and perspectives of current installers, to provide invaluable insights into the future training and education for this industry.
BIM (Building Information Modelling) is the process of creating and managing information on a construction project throughout its whole lifecycle.
Georgia Cantrill, PR & Communications Assistant at Altecnic, gives a quick overview of what BIM is, how it works, and how it may impact the plumbing and heating industry.
PR & Communications Assistant, Georgia Cantrill, discusses the key features of a Heat Interface Unit (HIU), how it fits into a heat network and the benefits of installing HIU's for installers and end-users.
To find out more about HIUs, and any other products, visit altecnic.co.uk.
Controlling the safety and hygiene of a water system is an essential element of the overall safety of end-users; preventing scalding and ensuring the growth of harmful bacteria and pseudomonas is minimised should be a priority of those who design, install and maintain the system.
In this audio blog we discuss how thermal balancing valves can play a key role maintaining the hygiene of a system.
In our latest audio blog Georgia Cantrill, PR and Communications Assistant at Altecnic, discusses what the UKCA marking extension means for the industry and how this differs for construction products.
In this 'Part L mini-series', we discuss the latest updates plumbing and heating engineers need to be aware of.
Join Ed Morris, Technical Manager, and Stephanie Allchurch, Product Development Manager as they discuss the key to gaining efficiency for all systems - balancing - and what the new Part L requirements are.
In this 'Part L mini-series', we discuss the latest updates plumbing and heating engineers need to be aware of.
Join Ed Morris, Technical Manager, and Stephanie Allchurch, Product Development Manager as they discuss what Part L (and other recently introduced regulations) stipulates about water treatment.
In this 'Part L mini-series', we discuss the latest updates plumbing and heating engineers need to be aware of.
Join Ed Morris, Technical Manager, and Stephanie Allchurch, Product Development Manager as they discuss what the introduction of heat loss calculations means to installers to comply with the new regulations.
In this 'Part L mini-series', we discuss the latest updates plumbing and heating engineers need to be aware of.
Join Ed Morris, Technical Manager, and Stephanie Allchurch, Product Development Manager as they explain what Part L says about heating controls.
In this 'Part L mini-series', we discuss the latest updates plumbing and heating engineers need to be aware of.
Join Ed Morris, Technical Manager, and Stephanie Allchurch, Product Development Manager as they discuss what Part L means for lowering system flow temperatures.
In this 'Part L mini-series', we discuss the latest updates plumbing and heating engineers need to be aware of.
Join Ed Morris, Technical Manager, and Stephanie Allchurch, Product Development Manager as they discuss what the regulation means by a 'fabric first' approach.
The importance of a balanced heating system is often understated. This audio blog takes a look at the basics, some consequences and most importantly, the solutions.
We're continuing our push on mental health awareness, this time joined by a very special guest from Men Talk. Big thank you as always to Stephen Blair (Co-Founder of Men Talk) & Lee Brown (Peaky Plumber) for sharing.
https://www.mentalk.online/
Modern new builds are getting smaller and smaller as developers prioritise space saving.
This has led to manufacturers having to develop space-saving plumbing solutions - here's our latest compact magnetic filter, the Dirtmag Mini!
Is it time to upgrade to DZR? DZR (Dezincification Resistant) or DR Brass is a type of brass used for manufacturing, which gives resistance to dezincification corrosion.
How do we, Altecnic, ensure user safety?
Stephanie Allchurch, New Product Development Manager, takes us through the need to knows when it comes to compliance and safety.
An increasingly popular solution to homeowner’s desire to save long term has been the drive towards integrating renewable heat sources into existing building technologies. One way of achieving this is through the use of the suns natural heat, or solar thermal as it is known.
However, it is important that people are aware that the installation of a solar thermal system does not necessarily mean the removal of a home’s existing combination boiler or hot water cylinder.
Listen now and learn more!
Explore how we can combat both bacteria prevention and anti-scalding in a quick and efficient manor using one new innovative product.
Take a couple of minutes to listen to our short audio blog on the changing environment of the construction industry. Offsite construction is of growing importance, but what products are helping along the way? Listen in and you may just make your processes just that little bit easier.
We're tackling a common issue of freezing heat pumps.
Take only a couple of minutes to learn how an anti-freeze valve might be just what you need for your next install to safe guard the end users system.
During episode 5 we're joined by Chris from Vietec Heating (@VietecHeating) to discuss water treatment and VDI. What's the best foot forward?
In Episode 4 of Life at the Tap End, we're joined by Become Resilient founder Brett Clowes to talk through some of his struggles and what pushed him to create Become Resilient.
Instagram - @become_resilient
Website - https://www.becomeresilient.co.uk/
During episode 3, we're getting you up to speed on CIBSE CP1!
Recently released in January 2021, CP1 is a code of practice to ensure safety and best practice when building heat networks. Save yourself some time and join Ed Morris and Neil Parry for an in-depth discussion on everything you need to know moving forward.
In our second episode of Life at the Tap End, Ed Morris is joined by Lee Brown (@ThePeakyPlumber - Twitter) and Joe Baker (@Iamthejoeybaker - Instagram).
We're discussing mental health within our industry and what we can do to knock down the walls of stigma that surround it! As mentioned during the podcast, Altecnic and any of the people speaking are always here to talk if you feel the need.
Keep talking people!
Let's dive into the first-ever episode of Life at the Tap End, with Ed Morris & Stephanie Allchurch.
Join us as we discuss everything thermostatic mixing valves, women in engineering and thought leadership.
For more information on TMV2 & TMV3 take a look at our blog:
https://www.altecnic.co.uk/news/#!tmv2-tmv3-valve-differences