If you landed on this page from a search engine, there's a good chance you're trying to sort out one of these terms: Howden, Howden Group UK commercial insurance services, used Howden refrigeration equipment, heat pump dryer, EGO blower, or heat pump water heater. This FAQ gives direct answers to the questions we actually hear from buyers and from people who just got the name wrong. I'll keep each answer short and practical.
What exactly does Howden make?
Howden is an engineering company focused on air and gas handling. We build industrial compressors, blowers, fans, heat exchangers, and refrigeration equipment for chemical plants, food processing, cold storage, and similar applications. If you need to move, compress, cool, or recover heat from a gas, that's our world. We've been doing it for more than 160 years.
A lot of buyers focus on the machine itself: horsepower, footprint, price. They miss the aspects that matter just as much: engineering support, aftermarket availability, and service history. The first question I get is 'How much is it?' The question I ask back is 'What happens when it needs a spare part in two years?' That's often when an efficient solution starts to look like a bargain.
What about Howden Group UK commercial insurance services?
No, and you won't be the first person to ask. We're the engineering Howden. Howden Group UK is a separate commercial insurance services business that provides insurance broking, risk management, and related services. As of January 2025, if you're looking for insurance, the company you want is not the same company that makes compressors and fans.
We occasionally receive calls asking whether an equipment breakdown is covered by a policy. We can't help with the policy side of things, but we can help with the compressor, blower, fan, or heat exchanger behind the breakdown. So if that's your situation, keep us in mind.
Is used Howden refrigeration equipment worth considering?
It can be, and I say that as someone who coordinates urgent replacements for cold storage and process cooling plants. A used Howden compressor or chiller can save money up front compared with new equipment. But the real question isn't the sticker price. It's whether the unit's history matches the duty you plan to put it through.
People assume the main risk is mechanical wear. The bigger risk is missing records, incompatible controls, and the wrong refrigerant chemistry. Let me rephrase that: a used unit can be a smart buy if you verify these basics before committing.
- Serial number and original build sheet. A genuine unit with traceable history is worth more than one with no documentation.
- Service records. Compressor operating hours, oil analysis reports, and pressure test results tell you more than a visual inspection ever will.
- Refrigerant and oil compatibility. Older units may still use refrigerants that are now restricted or phased out, or ammonia with residual oil that should not be mixed with another type. Refrigerant safety classifications are normally checked against ASHRAE Standard 34.
- Controls and starter type. An older unit may not communicate with your current PLC without extra hardware.
- Application duty. A compressor used intermittently on a brine chiller wears differently than one running 24/7 in an ammonia plant.
The surprise is how often a 'bargain' used unit needs a new oil cooler, control upgrades, and a crane rental. If you don't have time to verify those details, a factory-refurbished unit may be the more efficient path. Efficiency is a competitive advantage, not a slogan. And at least, that's been my experience with industrial refrigeration buyers.
What is a heat pump dryer?
A heat pump dryer is a clothes dryer that recycles heat instead of exhausting it. In a conventional dryer, heated air is blown through the drum and vented outside. In a heat pump dryer, a refrigeration circuit condenses moisture out of the air and then reheats the same air. The compressor and heat exchanger do the heavy lifting.
That design cuts energy use because heat stays in a closed loop. It also runs at lower temperatures, which is easier on fabrics. Heat pump dryers dry more slowly than gas dryers, so there's a trade-off. For many households, the energy savings outweigh the longer cycle. In industrial settings, the same principle appears in process dehumidifiers and heat recovery systems, one of the areas where Howden's heat exchange technology is involved.
What is a heat pump water heater?
A heat pump water heater moves heat from the surrounding air into the water tank. It works like a refrigerator in reverse: refrigerant absorbs heat from the air, the compressor raises its temperature, and the heat exchanger transfers that heat to the water. The tank gets hot using far less electricity than a resistance heater. Basically, it's the same refrigeration cycle used in Howden's industrial equipment, working in reverse.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy Energy Saver guide (energy.gov, accessed January 2025), heat pump water heaters can be two to three times more energy efficient than conventional electric resistance heaters. That efficiency comes with installation requirements: enough surrounding air volume, a condensate drain, and reasonable ambient temperatures. The first question buyers ask is often the upfront price. The issue that matters more is annual operating cost. Put another way, the payback period is half the story.
What is an EGO blower?
If you searched for EGO blower, you're probably thinking of EGO, a brand of battery-powered outdoor power equipment. EGO makes leaf blowers and similar residential tools. That's a consumer product, not a Howden product. Our blowers are industrial gas handling machines, often installed in plants and designed for continuous, demanding duty.
So if you're shopping for a leaf blower, check EGO's official channels. If you're looking for an industrial blower, you're in the right place. The mix-up happens more than you'd think, and it's understandable because the word 'blower' covers everything from a handheld yard tool to a multi-meter industrial fan.
How fast can Howden deliver in an emergency?
This is the question I work on most days. When a refrigeration compressor fails in a cold storage facility, downtime gets expensive quickly. In March 2024, I coordinated a rush order for a client whose condenser fan motor failed on a Thursday afternoon. The plant had product staged for a Monday morning truckload. Normal lead time on the motor was two weeks. We found a compatible replacement, arranged overnight freight, and the plant was back to temperature by Sunday evening.
The assumption is that rush orders cost more because the work is harder. The reality is that rush work disrupts a planned production schedule too; you're paying for unpredictability, not special skills. That's why I keep a simple checklist for urgent replacements: confirm the exact part number, verify compatibility with the existing drive and controls, and inspect the replacement before shipment. A rushed repair that fails is the worst outcome of all. It ends up costing more than the original problem.
If you're facing an equipment failure, call a Howden service specialist or distributor before the situation becomes an emergency. Even a quick call can identify a replacement part, a refurbished unit, or a temporary solution. That's a lot easier than waiting until 5 p.m. on a Friday.
