Temperature in rooms can vary for many reasons including the amount of people in the room and the time of day. The sun may shine through your bedroom window in the morning and living room in the evening, creating a green house effect in those rooms. This is why it’s beneficial to have thermostatic radiator valve, as it will regulate the radiator depending on the rooms temperature.

As the temperature in a room increase, the valve will slowly start closing, limiting the amount of how water able to pass into the radiator, and therefore limiting the heat given off. This way, you can set a maximum temperature of a room. For example, you may set a very low temperature in a spare room which is not used very much.

Digital thermostatic radiator valves are now available which are more efficient and cost effective as you’re able to set your desired temperature depending on the time of day. This way you can set your home’s temperature nice and warm for when you come back from work and slightly cooler when you go to bed.

Thermostatic radiator valves aren’t particularly expensive, they can vary in price from £3 to £60. Though because of their cost-effective self-regulation, they save about 17% a year off your heating bill, so you can make you money back in only a few years. They’re also the choice for those of us who are environmentally conscious as reduce CO2 emissions.

Top tip: When taking off a radiator (e.g. for decorating or flushing your radiator) ensure that you replace the head of your thermostatic valve to the cover that comes with the thermostat. Otherwise once the radiator is removed, if the thermostat head is left on the valve, when the temperature falls the thermostat will automatically open allowing water to run onto the floor.

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Rateable Value

If you don’t have a water meter, the chances are that your water bills are being calculated via the rateable value of your property as of 31st March, 1990. Your rateable value is based on how much your property would charge for rent in the private market. Every property was assessed pre-1973 but between 1973 and 1990 only new builds were taking into account. So your water bill may be calculated on how much your property could charge in rent pre-1990, which doesn’t sound right! This is a strange way of calculating your bill as their could be only two people living in a large property – paying for the estimated usage of a large family! Since then, all properties have been fitted with a water meter.

Savings

Water meters have been estimated to save up to ¼ of your households bills, presumably just the presence of the meter encourages you to use less – while still being a fairer way to charge.

More than ¼ of leaks happen beneath your driveway or garden and can often go undetected. A water meter will help identify this as it will show continues water usage at your property. Water suppliers will usually fix this leaks for free.

Is a water meter right for you?

There’s a quick way to work out if a water meter is right for you. Are there more or the same number of people than rooms in your house? If so, it’s worth considering getting a water meter fitted. If you have more rooms than people in your house, it may not be cost efficient but worth investigating anyway.

The great thing about switching to a water meter is that if you see that it’s costing you more than your previous water bills, you have the right to switch back within a year. So if you’ve had a water meter recently fitted and think “wow, my bills have gone up!”, call your water supplier and ask to be charged on your rateable value. Simples.

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Ensuring the boiler is running safely and not leaking Carbon Monoxide

Leaking Carbon Monoxide happens when a gas appliance is faulty or incorrectly fitted. It may not burn all the gas and liquid petroleum gas and can then leak into your home. This is incredibly dangerous as it could cause long term health problems or even death. A boiler service will make sure that everything is running properly and this doesn’t happen. If carbon monoxide is a concern for you, it may be wise to fit a carbon monoxide alarm.

Inspecting all components in the boiler to be sure the system is not faulty

A plumber will take your boiler apart during an inspection. They can test individual components to confirm that your boiler is working just fine. Spot these smaller problems early on and you can save yourself from costly damages in the long-run.

Preventing debris and dirt build up inside the boiler

Lime scale and other debris can build up in your central heating system preventing your central heating system from working efficiently. Even if your boiler has been recently replaced, some of this dirt could have still be lingering in your pipes. A system flush can get rid of this ensuring your boiler runs efficiently and won’t damage components.

Keeping your warranty valid.

Most boiler manufacturers will void your warranty if the boiler has not had its annual service. If there’s a problem later with your boiler, the manufacturer will not take responsibility.

For a landlord, it is a legal requirement to ensure you have boiler serviced every year

By law, a landlord must have a Gas Safety Certificate (CP12) every 12 months as part of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. Most Gas Safe qualified plumbers can carry this out for you and can provide you with the much needed certificate. A gas safety check will ensure all the gas fittings are safe to use for the tennants.

Overall, a yearly boiler check will save you money in the long term by ensuring that your boiler is running efficiently and will help avoid longer term issues. If there is a problem, your warrantee will still be valid. You can also be confident that your gas appliances are safe and are not leaking carbon monoxide into your home.

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Sedbuk Rating (Seasonal Efficiency of Domestic Boilers).

How efficient is your new boiler? In the UK, boilers are currently given a Sedbuck grade from grade A, being the most efficient, to grade G, being the least efficient. Sedbuck was developed to give consumers a fair comparison on boiler efficiency before they purchased. Boiler efficiency is one of the top considerations when purchasing a new boiler, as the amount of energy you can save is extraordinary. A ‘Grade A’ boiler can save up to 50% of your yearly gas bill, so always look for the Sedbuk rating. The EU have their own energy efficiency labelling scheme which was introduced in 2010 for most white goods. This is a similar grading scale between Grade G and Grade A+++. This currently isn’t mandatory for boilers but will likely incorporate them in future.

Check how long the guarantee is.

Boilers are expensive goods, ranging from the cheapest at £400 to over £1,500+ for the most expensive. So if your brand new boiler were to potentially have a fault, it could be an unnecessary and expensive. Some boiler manufacturers, such as Worcester, offer a 5 year warranty on selected boilers and a standard, free of charge, 2 year warranty normally.

Check the installer is Gas Safe registered: ask for their Gas Safe registration number and see their reviews.

Your boiler may be efficient, have great reviews and come with a long warrantee, but if it’s not fitted correctly, then problems may occur. Making sure your plumbing and heating engineer is fully qualified and trusted is vital. Luckily, we have the tools to do this. Find a plumber who is qualified by visiting Gas Safe, here you can search for individual plumbers as well as companies. Then, check their reviews to if previous customers are satisfied.

Read our guide on how to find a plumber, not a cowboy.

Research the boiler.

Look for customer reviews and ratings. A bigger brand name is sometimes better as the parts are easier to source if it were to break down. They can also come with longer warranties, such as the Worcester deal mentioned.

Keep your boiler manual.

Always keep your boiler manual and ensure the commissioning book at the back of the manual is correctly filled out by the gas safe installer as this will affect the boilers warrantee.

The post Buying a new boiler: 5 things to look out for appeared first on DW Heating & Plumbing.

What are the signs radiator sludge?

If you’re finding cold patches on your radiator when your heating is on, then it could potentially be sludge blocking the hot water correctly flowing through your home. If your boiler is making unusual noises or your home is taken much longer than normal to heat up, this could be sludge preventing a good circulation of hot water around your central heating system. This can often be mistaken as a faulty boiler and some people can hit the panic button!

It’s something which is relatively common in most homes, so is nothing to worry about but will need attention. Left alone, a sludge build up could have longer term implications, putting unnecessary pressure on the boiler, heat pump and valves.

How do I remove the sludge?

If you know what you’re doing, it’s possible to remove the affected radiator and manually flush it yourself. Though, if you’re seeing a significant amount of buildup in one radiator, it’s possible that it might not be the only radiator effected in your central heating system. A plumbing and heating professional is able to clear a single radiator as well as a whole central heating system. They can power flush the whole system which will remove sludge and sediment built up in your entire heating system. Power flushing uses a technique which creates a powerful water flow around your system, meaning no radiators are needed to be removed.

The post Radiator Sludge – What is it and why does it happen? appeared first on DW Heating & Plumbing.

You’ll then see a list of Gas Safe qualified plumbers in your area. You’ll also see what type of work they carry out and how to contact them.

You can then see all the Gas Safe registered plumbers associated with those companies. Here’s a flattering photo of Dan and some of his registered skills.

It doesn’t finish there though. Once you’ve found a plumber in your area – see what other people are saying about them. Checkatrade is fantastic for this. Simply search for your chosen plumber in the ‘Tell me about’ field and if they’re registered with Checkatrade, then you should see them in the search results.

You can then see what other customers have said about them. There’s even some great charts showing their quote accuracy and average scores on tidiness, reliability and timekeeping, courtesy and workmanship. Click on the ‘My Feedback’ tab to see exactly what previous customers say.

You’re now armed with all the information needed to give them a call and ask for a quote.

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35% of homes in the South East are reported to have leaking taps (HomeServe, 2012).

You can work out roughly how much your leaking tap is costing you by the number of drips you see.

Use the rough guide below to work our how much your leak is costing you.

• 60 drips per minute (1 per second) = yearly cost: £8.97
• 120 drips per minute (2 per second) = yearly cost: £17.94
• 240 drips per minute (4 per second) = yearly cost: £35.88

So, the moral of the story is to make sure you turn your taps tightly enough to prevent drips leaking out. If it’s still leaking you may need a plumber’s assistance, you can contact us now and we’ll be happy to offer our advice.

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1. When buying a bathroom suite, if on a budget spend more money on taps than on the basin as cheap taps don’t last long and are harder to repair – costing more in the long run.
2. When picking the bathroom suite, make sure the taps and shower are correct for your water system as most modern taps and showers are made for high pressure systems and will not give you a good flow rate on a conventional system. This means a low water pressure when showering.
3. Consider an extractor fan to prevent damp. This can be problematic for bathrooms with little ventilation.
4. Be sure on the positioning of the suite and try laying out different options to ensure you won’t change your mind (you’ll be surprised on how many do).
5. Finally, know which style you want. Look for inspiration online or in magazines to get ideas. Pinterest is particularly good for this.

Have you recently designed a new bathroom? Let us know what tips you have for designing a new bathroom.

The post How to design a bathroom appeared first on DW Heating & Plumbing.

Fracking uses a high-pressure water, sand and chemical mix to create new pathways to release gas buried deep within shale rock. Mass reserves of natural gas have been identified across the UK and firms have now started to apply for fracking licenses. Fracking has revolutionised the energy industry in the United States, boosting the economy while providing cheaper gas for consumers.

The environmental concerns include the vast amounts of water used, up to 13.6 million litres per well, draining the UK’s water supply, especially during warmer months or droughts. The chemicals used within the mixture have been suggested to be carcinogenic, which could leak into groundwater. Though this has been claimed to be a result of bad practice rather than a common occurrence.

Fracking has been labelled a ‘distraction’ by environmental campaigners. Saying energy firms should focus on renewable energy, rather than accessing hard to reach fossil fuels.

There have also been reports that fracking has also caused tremors in the earth, with 2 small earthquakes to hit Blackpool following fracking in 2011. Although it’s been recognised as a potential hazard, they’re unlikely to be felt or cause much damage.

Traffic congestion, noise and air quality would also be something for residents near fracking wells to consider with between 14 and 51 vehicle movements per day over a 32 to 145 week period. In Balcombe, West Sussex more than 2,000 people protested against fracking and the possible contamination of methane into groundwater.

Last winter the UK was 6 hours away from running out of its natural gas supply, so it’s important that the UK has short term as well as long term options for energy. There’s around 40tn cubic metres of shale gas in northern England, just 10% of this could provide enough energy for the UK for the next 50 years. Natural gas also emits far less harmful gases than coal, which currently accounts for 40% of the UK’s consumption. Replacing coal with gas could be more beneficial short-term for the environment by reducing these carbon emissions.

Its economic benefits would also be felt throughout the nation. Fracking in the United States supported around 1.7 million jobs, earning $46bn for the US government. It’s also led to an average income increase of $1,200 per household.The increase in supply also led to cheaper energy costs of consumers, with Americans paying less than a third of UK energy bills.

Sites near Billingshurst and in Balcombe have obtained planning permission to build fracking wells. There are currently no active fracking sites in the UK but senior minister Michael Fallon says “…it’s safe and coming soon”.

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A new boiler costs roughly £2,300 and if it’s over 10 years old, it’s likely to be inefficient – costing you hundreds in wasted gas a year. If your boiler is efficient, you could still be offered a free repair, so it’s still worth enquiring. You won’t need to pay a penny as the top 6 energy companies are obliged to cover the costs as part of the ECO.

You qualify for a free boiler if:

• You are currently on child tax credit and an income of £15,860 or less
• OR You receive income-based benefits and have either a child or disabled person in the household or you are over 60.
• AND Your boiler is 10+ years old and home is heated by mains gas.

A boiler accounts to roughly 60% of your energy bill and energy prices are on the rise, so it’s in your  best interest to make sure you’re on the right energy tariff and have an efficient boiler, it could save you hundreds a year. It’s possible that an efficient condenser boiler may add value to your house as many homebuyers value efficiency ratings on properties.

To apply for you free boiler, you need to contact one of the big 6 energy companies (EDF Energy, E.on, British Gas, Npower, Scottish Power or Scottish & Southern (SSE)) and arrange for an engineer to visit for a free assessment. You don’t necessarily have to be a customer either.

It’s decided on a case-by-case basis and can be complicated so it may also be worth calling the Energy Saving Advice Service on 0300 123 1234 if see if you qualify.

It’s worth noting that if you live in a housing association property or are a council tenant then you cannot apply for a free boiler, as councils will have their own schemes available.

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