Builders Merchants Journal – BMJ Publishing to Builders Merchants and the UK merchanting industry for more than 95 years
Plumbing equipment manufacturer Arctic Hayes, by DiversiTech UK, is bracing for an upsurge of interest as forecasters predict milder, wetter and stormier conditions from October onwards.
The El Niño event developing in the Pacific is set to have big implications for UK weather through autumn and winter, with increased rainfall following a very dry summer heightening concerns about excess flash flooding as hard, dry ground absorbs heavy rain less effectively.
According to the manufacturer, a particularly wet and stormy winter will drive more boiler servicing, emergency call-outs, heating repairs, plus system protection and maintenance work, as well as heightened interest in drainage kits, pumps and gauges, leak detection solutions, plus water damage prevention products.
Extreme weather also brings into increased focus power outages and backup safety measures, along with gas safety issues, carbon monoxide awareness, plus smoke and heat detection.
UK business unit director, Lee Parsons, explains: “It’s a new challenge for us all, but shouldn’t be that surprising. This unprecedented combination of hotter summers, wetter winters and more extreme weather variability, affects almost every product category across the plumbing, heating, drainage, ventilation and safety sectors. There’s never been a better season to be prepared, stocked up and ready for increased demand.”
“Looking forward, the forecasts for the summer of 2027 are much hotter than the one we’ve just endured, so heat resilience in homes and future-proofing heating systems will be even more important,” adds Parsons. “Expect the demand for portable air con units, plus ventilation and water conservation products to be much higher than this year as well.”
