Plumbers London

Plumbers Blog

Powerflushing Heating Systems – The Low-Down

May 18, 2010 / by

As hot water and heating systems get older they are prone to a build up of dirt and debris that sits in either the pipe-work or radiators and can restrict the flow of water around the system generally.

This can cause all sorts of problems such has uneven flow around certain areas of radiators in your property or huge cold spots on radiators where the circulating water goes around the edges of the radiator and don’t have an easy path through the centre continue…

Hot Water Pressure Problems? Unvented Tanks Are the Solution

May 15, 2010 / by

We all know the feeling, you are enjoying a hot shower when suddenly a cold flow of water hits you, meaning your partner or child has turned on the water tap in the other bathroom or kitchen. This unpleasant experience is slowly becoming a thing of the past with the uptake of unvented hot water systems which provide steady and reliable hot water pressure, which is equal to the cold water mains pressure (provided by the local water company). Unvented systems are very popular in many other countries and have many benefits, including a good hot water pressure (solving the problem of no pressure in the top floor showers) and eliminating the need for header tanks in the loft. continue…

Plumbers – How to Choose the Right One

May 14, 2010 / by

Many people say that prevention is better than a cure. The same thing may apply to securing the services of plumbers. It is always better to maintain the plumbing than to repair them when it has already busted a leak. With the weight of a leaking pipe on one’s shoulders, it is easy to get sucked into hiring just any plumber to fix the damage than hiring someone who is qualified and thorough with the job. This train of thought is ideal but many homeowners do not have the time and inclination to maintain their pipes and other plumbing fixtures. The thought of looking for a plumbing specialist may not even cross a person’s mind unless there is a leak or a water pipe emergency. continue…

Types of Hot Water Cylinders

May 10, 2010 / by

Hot Water Cylinder Insulation

New cylinders should be insulated with a bonded foam jacket on to the outside of the cylinder, these are extremely efficient and will keep the water hot for a long time.

Hot water cylinders without a bonded foam jacket should be insulated with a glass fibre jacket. An 80mm thick jacket will cut heat loss by up to 75% and are very cheap at continue…

Choosing Your Water Heating System

May 10, 2010 / by

Choosing a water heating system can be a bit of a complicated process, as there are many choices available. It is important that you consider the range carefully, picking one system that is best suited to your individual needs and comfort. You will also need to weigh the costs against the benefits. For instance, you will need to consider the type of fuel you will be using. It will be more beneficial for you to use a gas heater if you already have a gas pipe to your property, as this will allow you to save on energy costs. However, if you are used to using electric units and this has been your main source of fuel then perhaps an electric water heater will be more suitable.

There will be other factors you will need to consider, such as family circumstances before you make your decision. You will need to consider your future at the property, and whether or not your family size is likely to increase. You should consider the following:

  • What are your long term plans for the property?
  • Do you intend to use it as a family home or will it simply be used as an investment property?
  • Are you likely to use large quantities of hot water?

It is important to also select the appropriate size of the water heater as this way you will be able preserve energy. A good alternative would be to purchase a space-saving gas or electric on-demand system in which cold water is heated as needed. This can be quite good as no energy is wasted in keeping the water hot, the unit does not take up much space as it has no storage tank, and you will never run out of hot water. However, if you will be using appliances at the same time, such as a washing machine and a dishwasher, you will need to purchase more than one.

Solar water heater – good alternative?

Another option would be to install a solar water heater. If you decide to go for this option, you may need to increase your financial budget as the installation and purchase price will be high. On the other hand, it may suit you better in the long run as you may save on operations costs.

If you decide to install a full central heating system, then this is likely to add value to a property irrespective of age. On the other hand, if you have a small one bedroom apartment, installing an instantaneous heater will be more practical and appropriate. It is beneficial to consider a range of factors before reaching your decision. You will need to consider:

  • Initial installation costs
  • The costs involved in connecting the fuel type to the water heater
  • Maintenance costs over a period of time

Generally there are a wide range of heating systems available to suit different needs. It will all depend on your own personal preference, and how much you are willing to spend.

Is your Landlord taking your boiler safety seriously?

May 4, 2010 / by

Landlords have duties under the Gas Safety Regulations 1998 to arrange maintenance by a Gas Safe Registered engineer for all pipe work, appliances and flues, which they own and have provided for the tenants use.

They must arrange for an annual gas safety check to be carried out every 12 months by a Gas Safe Registered engineer and supply you with a Gas Safety certificate (pictured). They must keep continue…

Unvented Cylinders – Adding Pressure Positively

April 26, 2010 / by

It may appear like a basic hot water system for many of our European neighbours, but it is only now finally catching up in the UK. Unvented hot water tanks and central heating systems provide hot water at mains pressure. Unvented systems ensure that there are no more cases where two users cannot draw hot water at the same time, for example with one member of the house having a hot shower while another tries to do the washing up in the kitchen.

Unvented systems build on the mains pressure infrastructure to retain sufficient pressure of hot water around the entire house. This is in contrast to the traditional gravity fed systems with a feeder tank (which is normally positioned in the loft), offering low pressure in the top floors, due to lack of head for the hot water to build up pressure.

With many new houses now boasting two or more bathrooms, along with an impressive array of systems that use hot water (whirlpool baths, jet shower), users do not accept a system that cannot cope with the hot water demands of modern life. With long working hours, time in the home is valuable and people these days do not want to wait for the hot water, nor do they accept a trickle form the hot water shower. An unvented cylinder and central heating system is the answer, providing virtually unlimited volume of hot water, in a convenient pressure for the shower or any other domestic use.

There are three main groups of materials that are used in the manufacturing of unvented cylinders. Each of these has their respective advantages and disadvantages. The three types of materials are copper, Stainless Steel and sheet metal.

  1. Copper cylinders – the lightest material, and used to be relatively cheap until the recent sharp increase of the commodity prices of copper. Still they are very popular in the UK, despite having the lowest heat retention properties of the three.
  2. Stainless Steel tanks – the most expensive of the three, offering longer lifetime, but at a price. They have good heat retention, and only a little heavier than copper tanks.
  3. Sheet metal cylinders – the most popular type in most European countries and the cheapest of the three. Inner enamel glazing ensures virtually no build up of scale. They provide the highest heat retention performance of the three, but also are the heaviest.

Before choosing and making your purchasing decision, it is important to keep in mind several points regarding your unvented cylinder:

  • Volume and external dimensions – a typical household (4-5 people) in the UK will require a 200 liter cylinder. However, the cylinders come in different shapes and dimensions. Make sure to check the width and height of the cylinder, so that it fits in the airing cupboard (or any other space you plan to position the tank in).
  • Heat retention – since the hot water cylinder is primarily there to store the hot water, it is important to check what insulation it has. The thicker the insulation the better heat retention it will have and less heat would be lost during the day. For reference, good cylinders lose less than 3 kW per 24 hours.
  • Manufacturers service and warranty – although unvented tanks have good record of reliability (they have virtually no moving parts), it is important to note what warranty and service level is provided by the manufacturer.

What type of heating system is right for me?

April 9, 2010 / by

Modern boilers are highly efficient and sophisticated systems. Since the old oil burning boilers from decades ago, the boiler manufacturers have gone a long way to make quieter, more robust, cleaner and even cheaper boilers. continue…

Can I fix my own boiler?

June 13, 2009 / by

Maintenance work on your boiler should only ever be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer, no matter how simple it may seem. You should never remove or replace parts or even remove the outer casing. continue…

Why do my radiators make a banging noise?

June 13, 2009 / by

If you hear loud banging noise when the central heating is turned on, this could indicate a fault. This could be due to a build up of lime scale or sludge which would need to be chemically treated. It may also be due to continue…

plumbers london
london Plumbers