Everything AND the kitchen sink!

When it comes to kitchen design, a sink isn’t just a sink – there’s lots of choice for the modern kitchen nowadays, and this choice doesn’t revolve around washing up either!  If you’re having a professional plumber remodel your kitchen, here are some novel sink ideas to consider:

Oversized kitchen sinks

Does exactly what it says on the tin: these oversized sinks are perfect for big families or those that like entertaining.  Got a large wok or baking tray that needs washing?  Stick it in your oversized singular bowl sink, or opt for an extra wide double sink!

Stone bowl sinks

The durability of stone means that it is becoming an increasingly popular material of choice for kitchen sinks.  Stone sinks also add form and style to a kitchen, often coming in two types: vintage farmhouse-style or boutique-hotel-type stone bowl prep sinks – something, therefore, for the traditional and the contemporary.

Staging sinks

What could offer better convenience than a sink with interchangeable preparation areas?  Colanders which fit neatly over the side of the sink to keep hands free, stepped side platforms for preparation of fresh produce and even in-built chopping boards: that’s exactly what staging sinks are all about.

Steamer sinks

The ultimate in kitchen gadgetry, combined sink-cook centres offer an integrated cooking vessel for steaming, poaching, boiling and blanching – perfect therefore for both healthy eating and serious home chefs!

Party sinks

Ok, so this sink’s probably not for everyone, but if you’re a serious entertainer, what could be more fun than a narrow  prep sink installed in an island countertop which can be filled with ice ready to store lemon and drinks?!  It really is time to ‘sink’ again when it comes to kitchen sinks!

Water saving tips for times of drought

Despite the wet weather we’ve had recently, much of the UK is currently in the midst of a drought.  Even with recent rainfall, reservoir levels still remain low.  Here are some water saving tips, therefore, to help you to do your bit in conserving this precious resource:

Make your home leak-free

It may sound obvious, but any leaks in your home are wasting water.  If you discover a leak, either through taking meter readings, listening for hissing sounds, being vigilant towards damp patches or checking for extra-green areas within your lawn, ask your plumber to fix them as soon as possible.  Not only will this help the environment, but also your wallet, as it will save on water bills.

Tap into water saving

Dripping taps are one of the biggest water-wasters within the home.  A tap that drips at a rate of one drop per second wastes up to 2,700 gallons of water per year!  Therefore, ask your plumber to fix any dripping taps by replacing the washers.  Plumbers can also fit tap inserts and aerators which introduce air into the water flow of the tap to maintain pressure but use less water.

Shower-savvy

Just like the tap aerators, water-saving shower heads can be fitted to your existing shower to cut the water use by up to 60 per cent, but not affect its efficiency.   They work in exactly the same way as the tap inserts by mixing air into the water, but remember to check with your plumber as to whether your shower and boiler are suitable to have one fitted.

Toilet Cistern Devices

Using 24% of a household’s water consumption, a flushing toilet uses a lot of water!  If you do not have a modern dual-flush toilet, either think about replacing the whole cistern or ask your plumber about fitting a Save-a-flush or a Hippo device to your toilet to save between 1 – 2.5 litres per flush.  Furthermore, if your toilet flush handle is permanently in the flush position, the water will constantly run, so ask your plumber to replace or adjust it.

Common causes of Low Water Pressure and how to fix them

If your household suffers from the annoying problem of low water pressure, you don’t have to live with it. Yes, sometimes the location of your property will affect the water pressure (such as if your house is located on top of a hill – the pressure in this instance is likely to be less than the properties at the bottom of the hill receive), but here are some ways that common water pressure problems can be fixed:

Pipe corrosion

Corrosion of pipes is a big problem when it comes to low water pressure. Corrosion restricts the water flow, and therefore many households are replacing their old pipe work with new MDPE pipes.

Stop taps

Check that any stop taps, both inside the home and ones shared with neighbours outside the home aren’t partially closed. By gently opening the stop tap, the water pressure should increase, but remember that stop taps should not be fully opened – they should always be turned a quarter of the way back to stop them from seizing up – ask your plumber if you’re unsure.

Heating appliances and showers

The layout of your showers and heating appliances within the home can affect the water pressure, which is why it’s always wise to have a professional plumber fit them. With old showers, try cleaning the lime scale off of shower heads regularly, as a build up of lime scale can affect the flow. New showers, however, often need a minimum level of flow to work effectively, or need to be plumbed into the mains rather than a tank, so check with your professional plumber whether your plumbing system is suitable to support a new shower.

Sleek and Chic – Inspiration for your New Kitchen

When planning a new kitchen, why not consider some upmarket appliances and plumbing ideas? There are some great, and slightly more unusual, appliances on the market today, such as specialist taps and fridges, which will really give your kitchen the wow factor.

Pull out kitchen taps with sprays

Fast becoming a cannot-live-without kitchen accessory, the pull out kitchen tap allows more manoeuvrability than a fixed spout tap, making it perfect for washing fruit and veg and cleaning awkward pots and pans. Some pull out taps also have added features such as extendable hoses and water flow controllability.

Boiling, filtered and carbonated water taps

Just as the names suggest, boiling, filtered and carbonated water is just a twist of a tap away. Taps which offer different types of water are a great way of disposing of counter-top appliances, leaving your kitchen looking clutter-free.

Integrated coffee makers

A must for every coffee connoisseur, integrated coffee machines can be incorporated into modern kitchen design and can be plumbed directly into the water supply – giving you frothy coffee at the touch of a button!

Ice-makers and water dispensers

If cold drinks are more your thing, why not think about having an American fridge with built in water dispenser and/or ice-maker plumbed in? Not only will this give you ice-cold drinking water at your finger tips, but they also offer great refrigerated storage space. Just one of the many plumbed-in appliances which can help to build the kitchen of your dreams!

Digital Showers – Welcome to Modern Technology in the Bathroom!

With their ability to deliver a constant temperature for the duration of your shower, digital showers are becoming increasingly popular choices in bathroom installation. However, temperature controllability isn’t their only benefit; here are just a few more reasons why a digital shower could be the shower of choice for you!

Digitally controlled temperature...

As the name suggests, digital showers are controlled digitally which means that the temperature is mapped and therefore remains constant throughout the duration of the shower. No more hot or cold bursts when someone turns the kitchen tap on! Most digital showers also offer a ‘warm up’ mode, meaning that you can step into the shower at the perfect temperature – and not a minute before!

....and digitally controlled flow!

The flow of the water can also be controlled digitally, either using a pre-programmable flow setting or the adjustable ‘easy-flow’, used to control the flow once in the shower. With high, medium and low flow settings, there’s a flow to suit every member of the family!

Eco-friendly

Many digital showers can be set with a maximum duration of shower length, thus making them a very eco-friendly option – and a wallet friendly option too, helping you to save on both water and electricity.

Remote control showering!

Although not normally associated with a shower, some digital showers even come with a remote control. Fancy switching on your en suite shower from your bedroom? Well, you can do exactly that with a digital shower!

Easy installation

All of this, and digital showers couldn’t be easier for a professional plumber to install, either. Compatible with a variety of boiler types, including combi boilers, an ‘exposed’ digital shower (whereby the pipes are cleverly concealed in the shower riser) can be installed in as little as two hours! Similarly, a ‘concealed’ digital shower – where just the controls and shower head are visible – is also a very simple installation, making them a brilliant option in bathroom design. 

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!