Why bathrooms should be remodelled by a professional plumber

When remodelling a bathroom, it’s so easy for a DIY project to go wrong – mainly because water is involved. If you want to avoid a botched bathroom, it’s always best to hire a professional plumber. Here are just a few reasons why:

The importance of adequate waterproofing

Waterproofing is the most important consideration when remodelling a bathroom and also one of the most difficult aspects to get right. A professional plumber will allocate 5–10 per cent of the overall cost on waterproofing the room. If walk-in showers or bathtubs are not installed properly, leaks could easily occur, causing serious damage to both the bathroom itself and any rooms below.

The layout of pipe work

A professional plumber will try to locate most of the pipe work in a bathroom, including the drain-waste-vent pipes, on one wall. This will save on materials needed and will also allow easier access to the pipe work if repairs are needed at a later stage.

Using the right materials

Practicality of materials used is of great importance in a bathroom – a professional plumber will help you to steer clear of materials that look great when they’re first installed but do not wear well, such as wooden cabinets and poor quality tiles.

Avoiding common bathroom plumbing problems

By hiring a professional plumber, you will avoid common bathroom plumbing problems, such as overloading the mains water supply with fixtures when the water pressure isn’t adequate, or mismatching different pipe sizes or putting copper and galvanised pipes together, which could cause leaks. All basic mistakes, but easily made if a professional plumber isn’t hired!

The advantages of installing a space-saving Combi Boiler

Combination boilers have become one of the most popular choices for new boiler installations in the UK. There are many reasons for this, with their big advantages being their space-saving benefits, efficiency and temperature reliability. If you’re thinking of installing a combi boiler, here are some reasons why they are a good choice:

Space-saving
Combi boilers are different from other boilers in that they do not need a hot water cylinder or a cold water tank; hot water is heated on demand, and cold water is taken directly from the mains supply. This means that you save the airing cupboard space taken up by a hot water cylinder and gain extra loft space by removing the cold water tank – perfect, therefore, for small homes, flats, or for those converting their attic space into a useable room!

Efficient and cost-effective
Combination boilers are highly efficient both as a water heater and as a central heating unit. This means that your heating bills will be less than when using another type of boiler. Even installation and service costs are lower – as less pipe work is needed when there is no tank in the loft, installation is quicker and cheaper, and parts and engineers are readily available to service combination boilers, keeping servicing costs low.

Temperature reliability
What’s more, a combi boiler offers protection from sudden water temperature changes when using the shower as most are thermostatically controlled, often with a thermostat control coming as standard.

Check the suitability of a combination boiler for your home with us; if a combi boiler is suitable, you could be reaping their benefits very shortly!

How Solar Panels Work

Despite the increase of homeowners making the switch to solar energy, many people don’t know how solar panels actually work. Here’s a quick guide to how the sun’s rays can provide your home with electrical power and hot water.

Will Cloudy Days Affect Solar Energy Collected?

Many people may think solar panels will only work in constant bright sunlight rather than in our rainy British climate! However, because solar panels run on daylight rather than heat, they can still provide energy when the weather is grey or overcast. The rain can also help to clean the panels, so our weather is perfectly suited to solar energy.

From The Sun’s Rays To Your Home Appliances

The way that the panels work is by absorbing sunlight which then generates a direct electrical current (DC). This runs through an inverter which converts the energy into alternating current (AC) and it’s this energy which is used to power electrical appliances. If the solar panels are generating more energy than the property needs, the excess energy will be fed into the national grid for use by other people. If the panels aren’t generating enough energy to power the house, the energy gets ‘topped up’ by power from the national grid.

A Fantastic Investment

For all the excess energy your solar panels create, you’ll be paid through the government’s Feed in Tariff. This scheme was created in 2010 to encourage more homes to switch to solar power. Not only do solar panels provide a great way to get your energy from renewable sources, but they’re also a brilliant investment which will save you money year after year.

Winter Boiler Issues: the Top Three Problems

The last thing you need when it’s cold outside is for your boiler to suddenly stop working! A lack of heating and hot water can throw even the most organised of households into chaos. Here’s a guide to the top boiler problems which can occur during the winter months.

1. No heating or hot water
If your heating suddenly shuts down, don’t panic! It’s a very common problem. A fault with a part of your boiler’s mechanism could be the problem, or possibly your thermostat. Either way it’s easily fixed with a call to your supplier.

2. Frozen pipes
In cold weather, the water in your heating system can freeze causing burst pipes, blockages and leaks if left unchecked. There are several ways you can stop this from happening, including insulating your pipes and making sure you have a regular boiler service.

3. Radiators not heating up
There’s nothing worse than a lukewarm radiator when it’s freezing outside! If you’re sitting at home with your coat on, it could be because hot water isn’t reaching your radiators due to a blockage. If your pipes are old, they might be starting to fall apart on the inside, causing a build-up of sludge. A power flush can help sort this out and get your heating system working properly again.

If you want your winter to be a warm one, regular boiler servicing is a good idea and it’ll save you on expensive repairs later on. Only a Gas Safe Registered engineer can perform work on your boiler, so be sure to remember this when you call.

Three Reasons to get your Boiler Serviced Regularly

It’s sometimes difficult to find the money to spend on something like a boiler service, particularly when your boiler is still working just fine, but if your boiler breaks down, it could end up causing you extra expense; you may need to have it repaired or replaced, and don’t forget the inconvenience of lengthy periods of time without hot water and heating. If you don’t want to be left out in the cold this winter, take note of these great reasons to have your boiler serviced regularly.

1. Reduce the chance of a full boiler breakdown:
By having your boiler serviced regularly, you’re minimising the chances of your home being left without heating and hot water. Avoiding a full boiler breakdown also means avoiding the cost of expensive repairs or, in the worst case scenario, having to completely replace your boiler.

2. Safety first:
Regular check-ups stop your boiler from leaking poisonous carbon monoxide gas and eliminates soot spillages, which could clog up the lungs if inhaled. Without regular services, your boiler could be putting your health at risk.

3. Helping to reduce energy costs:
Yes, your boiler may still be working, but is it working to the best of its ability? If it hasn’t been serviced recently, it won’t be running as efficiently as it could be. This will be costing you money, as a faulty boiler won’t be heating your home as well as it should. No point in wasting money – a boiler service is all you need!

In order to keep your home toasty-warm, book a boiler service today. It’s money well spent!

How to fix Common Heating Problems

There’s nothing like having your central heating regularly serviced by a qualified heating engineer to keep your house toasty and warm. But even the most well maintained systems can go wrong from time to time. Here’s how you can solve some of the most common heating problems.

Heating comes on and goes off at the wrong times

It may sound obvious, but if your heating is not behaving as it should be and is switching itself on and off at the wrong times, the first things to check are the controls. Maybe a room or radiator thermostat has been accidentally altered, or you may have the sort of controls that need to be reset when the clocks go backwards and forwards; if this is the case, you can simply adjust the time or temperature to the correct setting. Similarly, check that mechanical clock dials haven’t become stuck or if you’ve got electric controls, check that they’re showing the correct information. If either of these has become faulty it’s simple to replace them – and it may be worth replacing old thermostats that don’t seem to be controlling the temperature properly as they do become less accurate over time.

Cold spots in radiators

A cold top part of a radiator indicates trapped air inside. This is easily fixed by simply turning off the heating system and using a radiator key to bleed the radiator by opening the valve slightly. Listen to the hiss as the air escapes, and be ready to shut the valve quickly when it has finished as water will seep out.

If the cold spot is in the middle or bottom of the rad, it could mean a build up of scale, sludge or rust. In an open-vented system, you could try a chemical sludge remover which is added to the feed and expansion tank. Your system will need to be emptied and refilled after the chemicals have worked their magic. However, it you have several affected radiators it might be worth getting a professional heating company in to power flush your whole system.

Strange noises

Don’t ignore any strange noises your heating system may be making! It may indicate something as simple as a pipe vibrating against a floor joist, but similarly it could indicate a more serious problem. When you hear strange rattles, bangs and hisses from your heating, it’s time to call in the professionals! And remember, if you’re system is powered by gas, make sure they’re on the Gas Safe Register.

Going Solar? Check Your Roof First!

Going solar can not only reduce your heating and electricity bills but it can also reduce your carbon footprint too. If you are lucky enough to generate more electricity than you use, and you sell your excess back to the National Grid, then going solar can also earn you an extra income too. This is the dream for most people who make the switch to solar but before you make any firm plans, you need to know if your property and roof are suitable for solar panel installation.

Is Your Roof Right for Solar?

For solar panels to work effectively your roof position and location must be right. Before you make any plans you need to check this first. The best pitch for a roof is between 30-40 degrees and ideally it should be south facing. Solar power works from the sun’s light so you’ll also need unobstructed sunlight throughout the day to effectively generate solar power. If the location of your home sees heavy winds and snowfalls then this could affect the efficiency of solar panels too.

Heavy Burden?

Solar panels are extremely heavy and they take up a very large part of your roof. If your roof is not strong enough, or if it’s seen better days and is in need of repairs then it’s important that this is seen to first. If your roof needs expensive repairs or modifications then this could add considerably to your costs make your investment not quite so worthwhile.

Checking that your roof is suitable before you make a commitment to solar heating or electricity can not only save you time but it can save you money too.