Buy the cheapest energy efficient boilers online with Energy Smart

See our website for further details www.energy- Smart.org.uk

Friday, 11 May 2012

Gas bills to rise this winter

 The price of gas is to rise this winter

 This morning a parent company of British Gas called Centrica released a statement this morning that says gas bills are set to rise by as much as 15% for this winter,which would mean bills could be as much as £50.00
more.

This may not come as a surprise to many as it seems everything is getting more expensive,but this 15% rise could seriously effect many house holds across the UK which are already struggling with the price of gas.

British Gas supplies over 15 million UK homes,they said that the average gas consumption for homes raised by 1% for the first 4 months of this year compared to last year.They also said this rise was reflected by the colder weather we experienced in April.

Its hard to tell if the price of heating your home will continue to rise but one thing is for sure we should all be looking at ways to improve the energy efficiency of our homes now for the future.

Thanks for reading and I hope this post was interesting,if you have any thoughts on the rising price of gas leave me a comment below.

For the best prices on energy efficient boilers check out
www.energy-smart.org.uk for more information on how to save money on your heating bills.

Wednesday, 9 May 2012

Glen Dimplex are pulling from the UK boiler market

Dimplex boiler
 The well known boiler manufacturer Glen Dimplex are pulling out of the UK boiler market.

Glen Dimplex boilers are stopping their boiler operations over the coming months because the group are looking to focus on the market sectors that their already performing well in.

Glen Dimplex boilers wanted to ensure people that spare parts will still be readily available for their boilers.

They will still be fulfilling all the current orders they have and their warranties still stand for all those with one of their boilers.

 For the best prices on energy effecient boilers check out
www.energy-smart.org.uk and save money today!

Tuesday, 1 May 2012

Solar pannels for your home

Their are many advantages to using solar panels for producing house hold electricity.

Solar panels are a great way of producing clean energy weather on a smaller scale or large.

Home with solar panels on roof
More and more home owners are looking to have solar panels fitted to their property as the price of solar panels continue to drop.

The main advantages of having solar panels fitted to your home is the energy savings which also means money savings.

The only pollution that comes from solar panels is in the production of the panels themselves and how it travels to where ever it needs to go.

Although prices are falling all the time some solar panels may still be on the pricey side but when you compare the initial price of a solar panel to the money you'll save in years to come it really does make sense to go solar.

Below is a short helpful video I found that talks about solar panels.


I hope this post was interesting and helpful.
Thanks for reading.

If your looking online for the cheapest prices on solar panels check out Energy Smart today, alternatively for additional information on the Green New Deal see www.green-deal.uk.com

Friday, 20 April 2012

The new Milwaukee M18 FUEL drill.

 Milwaukee are constantly releasing new cutting edge tools that are loved by so many plumbers across the UK and around the world
And the latest addition to their range does not disappoint.

 The new Milwaukee M18 FUEL was built using only the best materials and components as well as this the M18 FUEL has been extensively tested under site conditions to ensure its tough enough for the most demanding usage.
                                                                                      
The M18 FUEL features a powerstate brushless motor,this heavy duty motor has been designed to work harder for longer when compared to other drills on the market whilst reducing noise levels and cooling times.

A red lithium-ion battery is used to add a healthy increase to run times and the power produced,giving it the edge over other lithium battery's used in other drills.

Milwaukee's new M18 FUEL really is a great piece of kit and a must have for any tool nut.If you would like to find out more information you can visit Milwaukee's site at www.milwaukeetool.com/fuel/  here you'll be able to view the whole FUEL range.

I hope this post has been helpful and thanks for reading.

If your looking for cheap prices on plumbing equipment visit energy smart today or you can call direct on 0845 230 3320.








Thursday, 12 April 2012

How do solar panels work?

 Solar panels are a ingenious way of harnessing the suns UV rays to create energy,but how do they work?

 Solar panels absorb solar radiation from the sun and then convert it into electrical energy.

Solar panels are made up of many separate solar cells,these cells work in a way similar to semiconductors and make use of a large area p-n junction diode.                        

When sun light hits these cells the p-n junction diode converts the light into electrical energy.Its the photons from the light hitting the panel that lets the electrons be knocked from their orbits and realised.Then the electric Fields in the solar panels push these freed electrons into a directional current,which then hits metal contacts and electricity can be generated.

Generally the more solar cells on a panel and the better the quality of them,the higher the output produced.
 The process of turning light into electrical energy is called The Photovoltaic Effect

This is just a basic explanation of how a solar panel works,solar panels are high tech pieces of engineering and are constantly progressing and producing higher outputs.

 I hope today post was helpful and you now have a better understanding of solar panels,thanks for reading.


If your looking for great prices on solar panels visit energy smart today  or you can call on 0845 230 3320.

Friday, 30 March 2012

Common household radiator problems

 In today's post I going to talk about a couple of common radiator problems.

Top cool bottom hot 
 If the lower half of your radiator is hot but the top is cool then you would be write in thinking theirs a problem.When this situation occurs it normal means that theirs air trapped in the system.You can use a radiator key to release the trapped air but only start this job if the radiator is cool and the heating is off.

You only need to open one end at the top of the radiator and have a rag or dirty cloth to hand as some water may come through the bleed valve.Normally you only need to open the bleed valve one turn to release the air but you ll no when its open enough as you ll be able to hear the air hissing as it escapes.

Once you start to see some water coming threw the bleed valve you can be sure that all the air has leaked out and you can now close it up,but be careful not to close it to tightly as you may need to re-bleed it at a later date.

You should go back to the particular radiator that had the problem after a week or so to check if the radiator is displaying any of the same problems it was before.If it is displaying the same problems then its likely that air is entering the system from somewhere else.

This will not be an easy fix and will most likely require a specialist come access the problem,but before you do rush out and call in some one I suggest trying a sludge removal chemical as sludge build up can display similar symptoms

All the radiators in your home are cool
If you come home one day to find that all your radiators are cool then theirs probably a sludge build up inside your heating system.When somebody says 'sludge in the system' for instance the sludge they are referring to is iron oxide that appears to look like black sludge.
This image shows the effect of built up sludge

This build up is caused by corrosion inside your heating system.Your system will need to be cleared thoroughly to clear all the iron oxide that has built up,but as I mentioned earlier you can pick up radiator cleaner that cleans the sludge away.


These are just a couple of possible problems that you could experience with your radiators as your heating system inside your home is made up of many parts.  

If you have any thoughts related to radiator issues then please leave a comment as I would love to hear from you. Thanks for reading and I hope this was helpful.

Visit energy smart today for great prices on energy efficient boilers and plumbing supplies
www.energy-smart.org.uk







Wednesday, 28 March 2012

Removing a radiator

 You may need to remove a radiator for numerous reasons such as decorating or replacement so today I'm going to tell you how to remove your radiator quickly and safely.

A control valve
Do not start any work if the radiator feels even a little warm you need to wait for it to cool otherwise you could be burned !

You need to make sure you have some protection around the radiator before starting the removal process,i suggest you have a dust sheet under the radiator as their can be a lot of dirt behind a rad that hasn't been removed for a long time and a dust sheet will also help protect carpets and floors from any watery sludge that may leak whilst removing a radiator.

 The next step is to close the control valve,you shouldn't need any special tools to do this and it is normally done by hand.                                                    




Adjusting the lock shield valve
Now you need to close the lock shield valve,I suggest using a spanner as a pair of pliers or mole grips may round the valve so be careful with which tool you choose for this part.when you close of the valve you need to count the number of turns it takes and write it down so that you know how many turns to open it when its re-fitted if your not re-fitting your radiator but replacing you should still make a note of the number of turns as it may come in handy.                                                

Your gonna need a bowl or container to catch the water when it runs out,be sure that your bowl or container is already under the valve when you start to loosen off the union nut as the water will run out immediately.It is a good idea to have a second container in case the first one fills up quicker than you thought it might.

This image shows the air vent
Now open the air vent,this is to help increase the water flow.The air vent is normally at the top of the radiator (see picture).The image is only to help me point out where you should be looking,the air vent on your radiator may not look like this one but generally their all in the same place.

Another issue you may find is that you need a key of some sort to turn it,some will have a screw and some will need a type of radiator key,but don't worry if you haven't one to hand as they are relatively cheap to buy from your local hard wear store and i suggest you check prior to starting work on removing the radiator.
                                                                                          
When the water stops running out you can begin to undo the union nut on the lock shield valve.Be careful though because their might be more water waiting to poor out,so if you've got a full container grab the second one and have some rags or something similar to hand that you can use to bung the ends as their may still be water inside. 
                                                                                         
This image shows the union nut
Once all the water has run out and you have blocked the ends off you can begin to think about lifting the rad of the wall.You need to be careful you don't injure yourself when doing this as some radiators can be particularly heavy (even if its a small rad),so a good idea would be to get a friend to help you remove the radiator from the wall,and remember to keep the radiator upright just in case their is any water still inside.

If you are re-fitting the same rad make sure to flush out any sludge that may be inside,I recommend you take the rad outside and use a hose or something similar to do this, and don't flush it out it on any nice services as they may be ruined or stained.

Now for re-fitting.Check before you fit your radiator that the wall brackets are tight and secure,then reconnect the union nuts and tighten by hand.You can then re-open the valves,this will let the water run back into the radiator.Make sure the air vent is open when the radiator is filling as it will stop any air getting trapped inside.

Now check for any water leaking form the radiator,adjust the lock shield valve into the position you wrote down before,double check that everything is tight.Now your finished.Keep an eye on the radiator for any leaks over the next few days.

I hope this post was helpful for anybody looking to undertake this job or who are new to plumbing.
If you have any thoughts concerning radiator removal leave a comment below.
thanks for reading.

Visit energy smart today for great prices on energy efficient boilers and plumbing supplies
www.energy-smart.org.uk







Tuesday, 27 March 2012

Fitting heat pumps to hot water cylinders

Today's plumbing and heating industry has definitely started to move towards renewables and energy efficiency with the release of many energy efficient products for homes and businesses.

A now common product to have fitted is a heat pump and its important to understand how this fits in with the rest of a heating system.
 
Hot water cylinder
The average flow temperature for a medium temperature heat pump is around 50oc,the problem with this is that your average cylinder is set up to work with around 60oc.If the wrong type of cylinder is fitted with a heat pump then the heat pump will suffer with some issues such as short cycling and poor hot water delivery.

 Their are two types of hot water cylinders that are compatible with heat pumps,these are the open vented thermal store type and the stainless steel invented cylinder type,both these cylinders are perfect for use with a heat pump.

A open vented thermal store is a cylinder that has been specifically designed for use with a heat pump that will provide the mains pressure for a households hot water.the difference between this type of cylinder and a normal one is that the stored water is constantly hot where as the cold water runs through a heat exchanger which is inside the cylinder

Because the hot water is produced instantly from the cold water supply the water quality will be the same as normal so this means a installer can fit a thermal store cylinder with a heat pump and not need to raise the temperature to prevent bacterial growth.

Thermal stores do not need a pressure or temperature relief valve, which means there is no need to incorporate discharge facilities in the system to keep in check with Part G of the Building Regulations, which covers discharge into soil stacks.

So that was a brief over look at fitting heat pumps to hot water cylinders. All ways check that the cylinder your buying is compatible with heat pumps if its your intention to fit one.I hope today's post was helpful and interesting thanks for reading.

Monday, 26 March 2012

How does insulation work

 Insulation is used to keep the heat inside of your home for as long as possible,as well as keeping your bills down.
Insulation is available in a few different material types.
 .fibreglass
.foam
.cellulose

Insulation can be used in lots of places through out a home but is most commonly used for walls and lofts as these are the most common areas of heat lose.

Insulation is designed to stop heat from passing through it by creating a resistance so that hot air cant pass through it easily trapping the hot air inside your home for longer.

Insulation resistance is normally measured in 'R'.The higher the R value the more resistance the insulation has.You can pick up insulation in rolls or in a Bat.Insulation that comes in these forms is best suited for use between the joists and ceilings well as walls.


Blown in insulation is a type of insulation that is applied using a spray.This type of insulation is best suited for homes that have been completed but are missing insulation.This type of insulation can be difficult to use as it needs to be blown through a gap.If a gap cant be found then a hole has to be cut to apply the spray.This type of insulation is also very good for use between walls that are a unusual shape or for hard to reach places.

 Rigid insulation comes in a few variations of extruded and expanded polystyrene foam, polyurethane foam and polyisocyanurate foam boards.Most of these types of insulation come with a protective foil to keep water from being absorbed by the insulationt,this type of insulation is very efficient considering how thin it is. Rigid insulation's although excellent does require certain fire safety measures though.

I hope this was helpful thanks for reading.

Visit energy smart today for great prices on energy efficient boilers and quality plumbing supplies www.energy-smart.org.uk

Thursday, 22 March 2012

How does a combi boiler work.

In todays post I will be covering the basics of combination boilers,
So lets get started.                                                

Combi boilers or combination boilers are the most common type of boiler you will find in a home. Around 65% of the UK's homes have a combi boiler fitted.                  

Combi boilers are popular because they don't need a separate water tank to work so you'll have more room in your loft,as well as this combi boilers can be hidden away easily due to their size.

The size of these boilers means their best suited to small house holds with one bathroom and come in common power outputs ranging from 24kw to around 30kw.A combi boiler has the benefits of being able to provide instant hot water as well which is another reason their becoming so popular around the UK.

Below is a simple diagram showing a combi boiler setup

Their are however some disadvantages to the combi boiler heating system.

A combi boiler will only really be able manage one shower or bath at a time.
As I mentioned earlier ,a combi boiler is better suited for a smaller house hold with only the one bathroom to manage.If you've got a combi boiler and 4 bathrooms your going to experience some issues.


The combi boilers hot water flow rate will be lower than some other boiler.
This is considered to be a small price to pay when you think about the space a combi boiler saves,the fact that you don't need a roof tank, and you get instant hot water.

Well that's the basics of a combi boiler system.I hope this post was interesting and helpful, feel free to leave a comment.
Thanks for reading.

Visit energy smart today for great prices on energy efficient boilers and quality plumbing supplies www.energy-smart.org.uk

Wednesday, 14 March 2012

The new Bulldog TRV Gen 2 valve

Bulldog TRV Gen 2
 The brand new Bulldog TRV Gen 2.
Quality and precision engineering come together.

The guys at Plumb Centre and Parts Centre are releasing their new and exclusive Bulldog TRV Gen 2 in over 600 branches across the UK.                                                  

 The thermostatic radiator valve was created with the help of Pegler Yorkshire, who were involved in the design process of the new valve.The bulldog valve has a great design but is still simple, making it easier for you to turn it on and off so theirs no drama's.

The valve its self does look very stylish and is not an eye sore for every one who sees it. Another plus is the improved turning action that surpasses similar products on the market making this a real quality part that feels like it will stand the test of time.

The bulldog works brilliantly for domestic application due to its low water resistance meaning its super quiet.The valve can also be used across Europe as it meets all EN215 regulations.

This really is a great product that has been designed and built to a very high standard, so check it out for yourself at www.plumbcenter.co.uk/.


Visit energy smart today for industry leading energy efficient boilers and quality plumbing supplies www.energy-smart.org.uk/

Tuesday, 6 March 2012

The new rapid-dose water treatment from Sentinel is here.

Sentinel have released their new Rapid-Dose.
 The brand new domestic water treatment from sentinel sets the bar for similar products.

 It now uses a simple to use plastic adaptor and a clear dosing tube to aid the ease of use.

So now you can use Rapid-Dose quickly and easily, you can also watch the contents of the can flow into the system so you can see better when you can stop applying.

The new plastic adaptor keeps things totally mess free, which makes the whole process quick and simple letting you carry on working when your up against it.


                                                                                         
So It’s quick, mess-free, simple to use and the can is even recyclable.

To add, you don't need to draw off  the water or release system pressure, unless the system is above 2.3 bar,also you don't have to wait for the system to cool.

 The contents is the same industry proven Sentinel you may have worked with before,but instead it was previously in the liquid form, so if you have ever used Sentinel before then you will no that you can be confident that Sentinel Rapid-Dose will do the job effectively.

If you would like to visit the Sentinel website click the link following www.sentinel-solutions.net.

Monday, 5 March 2012

Suffolk plumber jailed after health and safety breaches.

A plumber in suffolk has been jailed for working on gas appliances when he was not registered.

Paul Jowett who lives in Pakefield, Lowestoft, admited he was guilty of five breaches in the gas and health and safety regulations in 2009 and 2010. The Health & Safety Executive said that Mr.Jowett carried on working even after getting a written warning in April 2010. 
Ipswich Crown Court.
                                                                           
 After the hearing, a Health & Safety Executive inspector, said: "When unqualified workers try to bypass the law they are not only putting themselves at risk of prosecution, they are also putting their customers' lives at risk.

"To make matters even worse, Mr.Jowett was told to stop working on gas appliances and took no notice."
mr. Paul Johnston, who is the Chief Executive of the Safe Gas Register, said: "If you're employing an engineer, you should always make sure that person is Gas Safe registered.
"Don't just take their word for it, check they are on the register and check their ID when they arrive."

Friday, 2 March 2012

new training for gas and oil burners

Nu-way’s training centre in Droitwich is carrying out four courses for plumbing engineers and distributors on gas and oil burners 

The course is a in depth look at the maintenance and servicing of gas and oil burners, these courses also includes commissioning and faultfinding techniques.Courses will take place in the classroom and workshop areas,engineers will be able to get plenty of hands-on experience with the Nu-way range of gas, oil and dual fuel burners for domestic, commercial and industrial use. 



This is a really great course for any plumbing engineers that would like to learn more or even for just a refresh about gas and oil burners.every body that comes along will receive detailed course notes to help you through out and youll also receive a certificate on completion of the course.

If you would like to find out more you should checkout the website below
http://www.nu-way.co.uk/

and heres a list of dates for courses that are coming up soon.

• March 6th and 7th: Maintenance and service of M Series Oil Burner

• March 13th and 14th as well as April 11th and 12th: Maintenance and service of Class C&D Light Oil Pressure Burners

• March 20th and 21th also on April 17th and 18th : Maintenance and service of Forced Draught Gas Burners

• April 3rd and 5th: Maintenance and service of M Series Gas Burners.

Thursday, 1 March 2012

Xpelair and Redring are to show latest high efficiency products at Ecobuild

Xpelair Ventilation Solutions and Redring are coming together at the Ecobuild to show off there variety of high efficient carbon reducing ventilation, showering and hot water solutions.


You will be able to find Xpelair and Redring on stand number S3223 at the upcoming ecobuild show.

They will have a range of energy efficient products including the new Solace, their compact heat recovery units,next gen centralised mechanical extract units and also their new Xplus 2ECRF and its battery free controller.


And not forgetting that Redring will be their with them promoting their new energy efficient shower that has a 'eco' button and also a time setting to try and make it as efficient as possible as well as this being at the stand they will be promoting their CPD courses on the day.
                                                                                                   
If you would like to read more about Xpelair you can visit them at www.xpelair.co.uk
and also if you would like to find out more about Redring you can find them at www.redring.co.uk


Wednesday, 29 February 2012

Manager fined £22,500

The managing director at a St Helens gas supply firm has been fined £22,500 after he and an employee suffered serious burns in an explosion.

                                                                                                  

 John Webster and another employee sufferd burns to their faces, hands and legs at North West Gases.Also a third employee sustained minor injuries as a result of the explosion, which was powerful enough to lift the roof off the building.

The court heard that Mr Webster and another employee, who didnt want to be named, were attempting to remove the valve on an LPG cylinder when the explosion accured on

 April 10, 2008.

Mr Webster had failed to ensure the cylinder was empty and also that there was no potential ignition source before starting work.

So as a result of Mr Webster's neglagence, gas escaped from the cylinder and ignited. The resulting fire and explosion set Mr Webster's clothing alight and his employee was thrown across the building. Both men were treated in a specialist burns unit and the employee suffered post-traumatic stress disorder.



visit energy smart today for industry leading energy efficient boilers http://www.energy-smart.org.uk/

Tuesday, 28 February 2012

World plumbing day is nearly here

To mark this years World Plumbing Day, the team at UK Copper Board have created a competition to test the knowledge of the nations plumbers. 

All Plumbers and student plumbers alike from across the country are invited to visit the UK Copper Board website and test their copper pipework knowledge during the week leading up to World Plumbing Day – March 5 to 11.                                                                 

All those plumbers that correctly answer all of the questions will then be entered into a prize draw to win a fantastic digital camera.

World Plumbing Day is an international event on March 11th,that celebrates all that is great about plumbing and how it became so important to everyday life

If you would like to enter this great competition, visit : http://www.ukcopperboard.co.uk/.

Or if you would like more information on World Plumbing Day, you can visit  http://www.worldplumbingday.org/.

Thursday, 16 February 2012

Worcester's all new spares website

The Worcester, Bosch Group has increased its on line offerings further with the launch of their new spares website.The website has been designed to give installers the information they need on spare parts with great exploded diagrams to make it easier to find parts quickly.

As the cost of living rises, more and more people are choosing to repair their boiler instead of investing in a new model, which has increased the demand for spare parts.

if you need a spare part check their web site out  www.worcester-bosch.co.uk/sparesstockists.

visit energy smart today for industry leading energy efficient boilers http://www.energy-smart.org.uk/

Wednesday, 15 February 2012

shadow minister visit's plumb centre

The shadow minister for energy and climate change Luciana Berger recently visited plumb centre to talk about sustainable energy in the plumbing sector.

                                                                  
During the visit the shadow minister met with a group of installers and specifiers who were on a training course.
They expressed their concerns over current financial incentives and the challenges of convincing homeowners to invest in renewable in the current economic climate also Ms Berger was given a tour of the building which showcases many of the low carbon technologies which are currently available.

For Plumbing Merchants providing energy efficient boilers see http://www.energy-smart.org.uk/

Tuesday, 14 February 2012

practical installer is back at the excel london

 Practical Installer delivers practical knowledge…
Plumb Centre has joined manufacturers from across the renewable industry to create the live display area. 36 live presentations will be spread out over three days.

Each display will provide a view into some of the technical considerations when installing renewable technologies, they will talk about some of the myths that surround renewable technologies and showing how many of the products that are on the market now will be important in delivering a sustainable future.so if you want to be able to see the action you need to get down to the excel London on the Tuesday the 20th and Thursday the 22nd of march 2012.

For Plumbing Merchants providing energyefficientboilers see http://www.energy-smart.org.uk/

Friday, 10 February 2012

PTS have released thier 2012 brochure !

PTS have just released their new brochure full of all the latsest barthroom suites,furniture,showers,and fixstures.The brochure contains all the most upto date items to create a truley beautiful bathroom and is full of high quaility images to help you pick the right products for you.     
Bathrooms 2012                                                                                              
so if you want to get your hands on a PTS brochure you can visit your local PTS branch.
or you can visit there site http://www.ptsplumbing.co.uk/








For Plumbing Merchants providing energyefficientboilers see http://www.energy-smart.org.uk/

Wednesday, 8 February 2012

The future of plumbing....

Reading threw some recent news today i came across a young man called Michael driver. Michael is one of many young people today that are looking for work in the plumbing industry.
                                                                                                            

But after leaving college with a level 1 NVQ in plumbing under his belt
he is still searching for work 18 months later! So unsurprisingly Michael hasn't had much choice but to resort to job seekers allowance so that he can continue to travel to the job centre. 


Michael said he has applied for over 190 jobs and has only managed to get himself a months temporary placement in the whole time he has been searching.

It does make you think about the future of the trade if company's cant take apprentices on.

For Plumbing Merchants providing energy efficient boilers see http://www.energy-smart.org.uk/

Tuesday, 7 February 2012

In July 2010, a Vaillant auroTHERM exclusive three panel solar collector set and an ecoTEC 637 condensing boiler was installed at Woodlands bed and breakfast in Glossop, Derbyshire.

The installation followed the recommendation of a Vaillant solar panel system by Vaillant approved solar installers, Gas Care UK.

Woodlands’ tea rooms are now exclusively powered by the Vaillant auroTHERM solar panel system.

Brian Mairs and his wife Julie, owners of the bed and breakfast, were very pleased with the benefits that the new system has brought. “Our electricity bills have been horrendous for years. After having a conversation with Dave Wright, the director at Gas Care UK, we made the decision to have a Vaillant solar panel system installed”, Brian explained.


Dave Wright, Director at Gas Care UK, said: “Vaillant is one of our installer partners; we regularly use Vaillant products and trust the quality of the brand. Solar power was the ideal solution for Woodlands - as a guest house it has a high usage of heating and hot water. The solar panels can provide the heat source for the water and heating – so the owners shouldn’t have to pay gas or electricity bills. For this business, the investment in solar energy will pay for itself.”
Brian said: “The project has been partly-funded by an interest-free loan from a government body. It’s great to see that people like us, who want to invest in such projects, are being given a helping hand. Even in cloudy weather, the solar panels absorb the sun’s radiation, which means that the system is almost constantly running.

“This system is 90% more efficient than our previous boiler system and, in less than a year, we’ve already saved £850 in bills. We would recommend a Vaillant solar panel system to everyone; we are very pleased with this project.”

For more information on Vaillant, call 01634 292300 or visit: www.vaillant.co.uk
For Plumbing Merchants providing energy efficient boilers see http://www.energy-smart.org.uk/
Yell’s web design team has released a new infographic urging plumbers to use the internet to boost their business.

‘Stop the leak’ highlights the opportunity for plumbers to market themselves and gain more customers by having a website. It also outlines the active customer base they may miss out on if they do not adapt to the online world. 

Google statistics show that there are 823,000 searches for the keyword ‘plumbers’ nationwide, every month. UK plumbers who do not have a website could be missing out on a large number of these ‘in market’ consumers.

The infographic highlights the regular demand for plumbers with many Google searches being location-specific; there are 40,500* of these queries each month for London plumbers alone.

As stated in the infographic, 58% of all purchase decisions now begin with a search engine**. The internet is becoming the main research tool for anyone looking for a product or service, so plumbers without a website could find themselves being left behind.

Many plumbers feel that the best way to market themselves is by word of mouth and do not realise the potential value of an online presence***. These businesses fall into the 54% of small enterprises that do not have a website****.

Yell’s infographic shows various ways that plumbers can use online channels including email, web content and advertising, to turn search queries into real customers.

Marketing.yell.com, the online marketing resource from Yell, is aimed at giving free advice and information to small and medium sized businesses on how to market their businesses online. Yell provides web design services and has built more than 600 websites for plumbers.

For energy efficient boiler see http://www.energy-smart.org.uk/

Friday, 13 January 2012

Plumbers unprepared for move to energy-efficient homes

The report calls for more investment in 'upskilling' heating engineers and installers to cope with the shift to low-carbon heating. Photograph: Public domain

Plumbers are almost wholly unprepared for the "drastic change" to the way the UK's homes are heated as part of efforts to cut carbon emissions, leading engineers said on Thursday, meaning householders could need to turn to architects and engineers at a potential cost of over £20,000 per house.

In a report published on Thursday, the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAE) also warned that government plans for insulation and green energy are not adequate for the changes needed for a shift to low-carbon heating. They called for a massive switch to renewable energy such as solar water heaters and wood-burning stoves to a street by street effort to upgrade insulation in Britain's draughty homes.

About a quarter of the UK's carbon emissions come from heating residential buildings, largely with gas. To meet future carbon reduction targets, the amount of fuel used must come down drastically and millions of homes will have to use new technology such as heat pumps.

The lack of necessary skills among plumbers and heating installers is proving a major brake on the UK's ability to make this switch, the RAE found. The study found examples of inexperienced or underqualified installers causing serious problems.

One household paid thousands more than it should have because a heat pump had been wrongly connected - instead of energy bills falling as they had expected, the bills soared from £30 to £250 a month. It cost thousands to fix. In another case cited by one of the study authors, solid wall insulation was badly installed in some old housing stock, causing condensation to collect on the walls and rot floor joists.

The authors called for more investment in "upskilling" heating engineers and installers, and a coordinated approach across the UK that would enable houses to be upgraded at a lower cost.

"We can no longer just muddle through," said Scott Steedman of the RAE. "We need to make drastic changes."

The engineers were wary of government plans to upgrade homes through its much-vaunted "green deal" policy, which will come into force late this year. Under the scheme, households will be offered loans to improve their properties' energy efficiency.

However, individual households will be responsible themselves for choosing to sign up to the scheme, which will be offered by a wide range of providers from energy utilities and supermarkets and large retailers to one-man-band plumbers and builders.

Rather than take this approach - which relies on people taking a long-term view of their future energy costs by agreeing to pay back loans over years through additions to their bills - it would be much more efficient to offer insulation street-by-street and housing estate by housing estate, the engineers said. This could work by asking householders in a particular area to opt out of a bigger scheme to insulate each building, rather than having to opt in.

"Street by street, group by group, estate by estate [would work]," said Steedman. "The green deal needs to be implemented very carefully or it could be just a mad scramble for DIY equipment. It has to be done in a considered way, to standards. This is a big investment and it has to be made in the national interest."

The authors also found that the UK could not rely on heat pump technology, as other studies have suggested, because it would lead to a 50% increase in electricity use. Heat pumps need electricity to work, but generate more energy than they use.

They also found that relying on large-scale renewables on the electricity grid, and switching houses over to electric heating, would not work because of the difficulty of meeting peaks in demand. "To attempt to meet the whole of such a load by renewables based on wind, tides or sun would require a level of installed capacity that would be almost impossible to build and that would be standing idle for most of the summer months, making energy very expensive," said the report.

But if houses can be upgraded and low-carbon heating systems installed, the UK is likely to save billions and generate new jobs. "Managing the UK's [heating] energy systems in a way that reduces CO2, avoids expensive imports, ensures energy security, does not exacerbate fuel poverty, supports job creation and works with - rather than against - the market will be hugely difficult," said Roger Kemp, professor of engineering at Lancaster University. "Government is only just coming to terms with the complexity of these multiple demands on policy."

News source guardian.co.uk

For energy efficient plumbing materials see www.energy-smart.or.uk

Wednesday, 11 January 2012

Ecoflam burners specified for ‘contractor range’ of boilers

The MAX OIL burner from EcoflamEcoflam has supplied its MAX OIL burners to TR Engineering for the Trianco range of Contractor SE Kitchen/Utility boilers.

The MAX OIL burners were chosen for their performance, high efficiency and quiet operation. The Contractor SE Kitchen/Utility range of floor standing boilers is available in outputs from 14kW to 65kW.

Commenting on Ecoflam, Peter Beighton, manufacturing director, TR Engineering, said: “We’ve had a long and well-established relationship with Ecoflam for many years and have always found the company’s products to be manufactured to the highest standards. The MAX OIL range of burners is no exception and we are really pleased with their performance in the Contractor range of SE boilers.”

Mark Bingley, technical manager, Ecoflam UK, said: “The drive for energy efficiency and compliance with the new Building Regulations means that more and more new boilers are being developed for the oil market. With our many years’ experience working with manufacturers, we are able to deliver the right burners for the job which are energy efficient, reliable and easy to service.”

The MAX OIL range of low NOx oil burners is suitable for domestic and commercial applications. Available in outputs from 17kW to 546kW, the range features an efficient fan ventilation system - making it compatible with a wide variety of boilers with high combustion chamber pressures.

To make maintenance easy, the MAX OIL has a single bolt burner fixing with the capability to firmly secure it to the flange in three fixing points. Plus, the hinge flange also allows access to the burner head without losing burner settings. Additional features include an air damper with progressive micrometric air regulation, easy to assemble combustion head and monoblock electrodes for simple nozzle installation after maintenance.

For more information, call Ecoflam UK on 01386 556092

For energy efficient plumbing supplies see energy smart www.energy-smart.org.uk

Thursday, 5 January 2012

Plumbing News: Beat the big freeze

Frozen condensate pipes were a huge problem last year and many households were caught out during the severe cold weather spell – which in some areas went down to -20°C.

This has resulted in a large increase in the number of calls to boiler manufacturers and heating installers from householders with condensing (high efficiency) boilers where the condensate drainage pipe has frozen and become blocked with ice. This then causes the condensate to ‘back up’ into the boiler and can cause a complete shutdown.

British Standards, Building Regulations etc. currently allow condensate drainage pipes to be run either internally or externally, or a combination of both.

These documents give guidance on how to install the pipes in order to reduce the possibility of freezing. However, this guidance may not be sufficient to prevent freezing in extreme conditions - with widespread and prolonged very low temperatures.

In view of the possibility that UK weather patterns will show more “extremes” in future due to the effects of global climate change, the following guidance updates previous recommendations on condensate drainage pipe installation.

All other technical requirements for condensate drain installation given in British Standard BS 6798:2009, or in boiler manufacturers’ installation instructions should still be followed.

HHIC technical manager, Glyn Thomas, said: “These guidance documents have been developed in close consultation with HHIC member companies who manufacture and install boilers.

“They give additional information for installers on ways to avoid freezing of condensate drains, developed in the light of recent experience during prolonged spells of very cold weather in the UK - and for householders on possible actions to take if they have problems with frozen condensate drains during the winter ahead.”

HHIC’s Isaac Occhipinti said: “December temperatures have fallen every year for the last five years. Winter 2010 was the chilliest spell since 1979 with the coldest December on record. Our changing climate has put additional pressures on householders heating systems. That is why HHIC has issued official guidance for installers in case the high level of frozen pipes occurs again due to extreme weather.”

To find out more about the HHIC guidance, visit: http://www.centralheating.co.uk/checklists/frozen-condensate-pipes/frozen-condensate-guidance-installer.

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