Should Storage Heaters be Replaced with Electric Radiators or Upgraded?

If gas central heating isn’t available in your home, the chances are you’re heating is supplied by storage heaters.  But many homeowners today are finding that the drawbacks of old-fashioned storage heaters aren’t suiting their lifestyle.  So should you look to replace or upgrade your storage heaters?  Read on for more advice:

What are the disadvantages of storage heaters?

As storage heaters store heat up overnight and release it during the day, they are therefore cheaper to run overnight on special electricity tariffs.  But this does make daytime electricity tariffs more expensive to offset this.  They may also release more heat than you need in mild weather and run out of heat when you need it in cold weather.  Storage heaters can also produce a very ‘dry’ heat, which may irritate some people.

How do modern electric radiators work?

The ‘dry’ electric radiator system uses oil or water filled radiators; this liquid is heated electronically from the mains supply and heats the room.  Alternatively, the ‘wet’ system uses water heated through an electric boiler which is pumped through a system of radiators or under floor heating.

What are the advantages of modern electric radiators?

Modern electric radiators are efficient and will heat up a room within minutes of being switched on. and you can normally also time the heating of every room with a time-on, time-off system, so you can easily regulate the temperature of your home.  Heat is released more evenly, eliminating cold spots, and they also take up less wall space.  They are often more energy efficient than storage heaters due to their modern controls, and can save you money if you switch to a standard electricity tariff.

Can I simply upgrade my storage heaters?

If you don’t want to switch to electric radiators, you can upgrade to modern storage heaters, which offer better charge controls, enabling them to vary the heat input and storage in response to the weather, and more heat can be supplied using a different element and the mains power supply if necessary.

For more information on electric radiators, visit: http://www.londonplumbers.co.uk/electric-central-heating.asp.

Five Reasons to Switch to an Electric Boiler

If your property has always had a gas or oil boiler, you might not consider replacing it with an electric boiler when the time comes.  But this would be a mistake; here are just a five of the best reasons for considering an electric boiler:

1.     Increased efficiency

As an electric boiler does not require a flue to release a waste product, as a gas or oil boiler does, useful heat is not given the chance to escape the property.  They also have an onboard microchip and control system which regulates the water temperature and provides power modulation. Therefore, an electricity boiler runs at around 99% efficiency.

2.     Quiet operating system

Electric boilers are renowned for their quiet operation.  This is due to the fact that they do not have many moving elements as gas boiler would have; electric boilers are great therefore for small or open-plan properties.

3.     Easy to Maintain

Electric boilers are considered to be like any other electric appliance within the home, and therefore do not need regular servicing.  As they have very few moving parts, they do not need to be fixed very often, and when they do, the parts will be easy for a trained plumber to source and fit.

4.    Space efficient

Electric boilers are perfect for homes where space is at a premium.  As they do not require a flue, electric boilers are space efficient, and there is also more flexibility as to where they can be installed.

5.     Safe operation

Electric boilers do not burn a solid fuel, and therefore do not give off harmful gasses, such as carbon monoxide, making them safer to operate than a gas or oil boiler.

And electric boilers could be greener, too!

There’s still some debate on the subject, but it’s thought that electric boilers are kinder to the environment, as they do not burn fossil fuels.  They can also be linked to green generation sources, such as solar panels.  Another reason to switch to an electric boiler!

For more information on electric central heating and boilers, visit: http://www.londonplumbers.co.uk/electric-central-heating.asp.

Choosing and maintaining extractor fans for Bathrooms

It may surprise you that the humble extractor fan is one of the most important things to think about in bathroom design.  Particularly important in shower rooms without windows, extractor fans remove unpleasant odours and humidity from the air, as well as helping to stop mould and mildew build up, and should therefore be chosen carefully and maintained regularly.

Size is everything

When it comes to extractor fans, size matters.  You will need to multiply the volume of your bathroom (length x width x height) by the recommended air changes needed (for example, a bathroom with a shower should have an air change of 15 to 20 times per hour) to give you the cubic metres per hour air change required.  This will help you and your plumber to choose the correct size fan.

Other aspects to consider

You may wish to consult your plumber on other aspects of extractor fans, which include the operating cord, switch or humidistat and where it will be located, whether the fan will be fitted through the wall or will instead be an in line extractor to cover a longer distance, and where the fan will be located to work efficiently.  Similarly, you’ll need to think about energy efficiency, the source of air return and the correct choice of ducting. 

Maintaining your extractor fan

Extractor fans should be cleaned at least twice a year, as even a thin layer of dust can stop them from working efficiently.  The cover should either unscrew or pull off to allow for gentle cleaning of the blade and air slots with a toothbrush or paintbrush.  If you discover that the ducting is damaged, call your plumber; using duct tape will only be a temporary fix, whereas your plumber will be able to keep it working at its best.

Wet rooms: the modern day alternative to the shower cubicle?

Today’s wet rooms have come a long way, and are now a modern, stylish alternative to the traditional shower cubicle.  So what are the reasons behind this surge in popularity?  Here are just a few of those reasons:

Easy style

Whether designed with nothing to separate the shower from the rest of the room, or utilising a shower screen or dividing wall to keep the shower and the rest of the bathroom apart, wet room design is now sleek and modern.  Wet rooms make the most of the space available, and do not box off the shower with a traditional cubicle, allowing the space to flow flexibly.

Easy maintenance

One of the great perks of a wet room is the ease of cleaning; after all, even if the wet room has a screen or dividing wall, there is no shower cubicle or tray to clean.  What’s more, wet rooms often feature wall-hung toilets and sinks, which adds to the easy maintenance, and tiled floors are better protected from water as they are designed to be 100% water tight.

Easy access

For those with disabilities or mobility issues, and indeed the family as a  whole, one of the biggest advantages of a wet room is the fact that the floor is on one level – there is no dangerous step into the shower or bath, and the floor will be designed to be non-slip too; designed, therefore, with safety in mind.

Things to consider when adding an additional bathroom to a property

Whatever the reason is that tempts you to add an additional bathroom to your home – be it squabbling teenage fights over who gets the shower first, wanting to accommodate guests more easily or simply for the luxurious convenience of it – it’s important to consider some of the following aspects before committing yourself to the build:

Where will your new bathroom go?

You could decide to build an extension to your home to accommodate a new bathroom, but there are probably existing places within your home you could convert.  For simple cloakrooms, try the space under the stairs or even a large entrance porch.  Alternatively, how about a basement or loft conversion, or even converting an empty corner of an existing room?

Do you require planning permission?

Planning permission is generally not required when installing a bathroom, unless it is part of a new extension.  However, remember that you will need to consult with your local planning authority if your home is listed, and if you’re installing a bathroom where there wasn’t one previously, you will need to comply with building regulations, so get a professional plumber involved.

What do you need to think about when planning the room?

Obviously there is the all important design and layout to think about, but also consider researching into heating options, shower doors (you need to have enough space to open them easily!) and flooring – you don’t want the bath to end up in the kitchen because the floor isn’t watertight! Similarly, consider windows and ventilation, visibility from the outside and soundproofing – all aspects which your professional plumber will be able to advise on.

The benefits of installing underfloor heating

There are many benefits to underfloor heating, making it easy to see why it’s becoming so popular as a heating choice.  Here are just a few reasons why you should consider installing it as a heating system:

Space saving and comfort

One of the biggest benefits of underfloor heating is the amount of space it saves within a room - up to 15% - as unsightly radiators are not needed.  Furthermore, as underfloor heating is evenly spaced underneath the floor, the heat surrounds you rather than rising to the ceiling which is what happens with a radiator system – this means that it creates a much more comfortable living environment.  You can even eliminate the shock of cold floor tiles in the morning as these will be heated too!

Low installation and running costs

In a new build property with a screeded floor, underfloor heating often works out cheaper than a radiator based system.  What’s more, it can be up to 15% - 40% less expensive to run and is more environmentally friendly too, as it uses water at a much lower temperature, making it perfect to be powered by alternative fuel sources.

Hygiene

Dust mites are not so inclined to live in a house with underfloor heating as the moisture content produced is much lower than that created by traditional radiators – it’s therefore perfect for allergy sufferers and those with asthma.

Underfloor heating control and maintenance

Underfloor heating is thermostatically controlled in each room, so every room in the house can be heated differently.  What’s more, unlike a radiator system, there are no joints in the floor with underfloor heating as all the pipes return to a central manifold, allowing for easy access and easy maintenance.

Warm Air Heating - should you convert to central heating?

Warm air heating systems in the UK aren’t terribly commonplace, and many of these systems are being replaced with central heating.  But do you really need to convert it completely, or is it just time for an update?

How do warm air systems work?

Warm air systems work by drawing cold external air in through ducts.  This is then pulled into a warm air heating unit and blown across a heat exchanger by an electric fan.  The warmed air is circulated around the rooms via ducts, with vents in each room instead of radiators.

What are the disadvantages?

One of the main criticisms of warm air heating systems is that rooms can be heated unevenly, creating some spots which are warmer than others.  It can also be the case that pollen and allergens are drawn in with the air from outside, so if you are an allergy sufferer, this type of heating may irritate your allergies.  It has also been said that the ducts take up wall space and the systems can be noisy, so this is something to consider, particularly if wall space is precious in your home.

But what are the advantages?

It has to be said that many of the above criticisms are now seen as outdated.  Indeed, in America, warm air heating is often the heating system of choice!  Modern systems now have electronic controls which provide stable room temperatures and a quieter operation.  They also often feature an electronic filtration system which cuts down on the allergens being passed into your home, removing up to 95% of particles, and have improved fuel efficiency.  It may be time to ask your professional plumber to update, rather than replace, your warm air heating system!