A guide to energy efficient light bulbs

We are constantly being reminded to use energy efficient light bulbs, yet millions of UK homes still use the standard bulb that we are all familiar with. The EU have started to phase out this traditional light bulb and are encouraging us to invest in more energy efficient options. However, with rumours of high cost, mercury leakage and migraine inducing bulbs, what should you buy, and is an energy efficient bulb the right bulb for you?

Halogen Bulbs

These bulbs are not too dissimilar to the standard bulb we are all familiar with. While they are still relatively cheap to buy, they are not cheap to run. Although the bulbs last twice as long as a standard bulb, they emit a serious amount of heat.

Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs)

CFL bulbs are a much cheaper, and efficient, option. The cost of these bulbs start at around £2 and will last you up to five years - that's between 6,000 and 15,000 hours of light!

If you've bought a CFL bulb in the past you may have found that some omit a more yellow light than others. This is due to the 'colour temperature' of the bulb. Each bulb should have a reference to Kelvins (K) on the packaging. The higher the temperature (K) the whiter the light.

CFL bulbs contain a small amount of mercury, about 5 milligrams. Research has shown that a tiny fraction is released when bulbs break. For the mercury to reach hazardous levels it would need to be left exposed for several weeks. However, it is still recommended that you dispose of broken CFL bulbs in the right way (see the bottom of this article for advice on how to dispose of a CFL bulb).

CFLs are also deemed an enemy by some migraine sufferers. Fluorescent lights have what's known as a flicker rate, and although there have been rare cases, these flickers can trigger painful migraines. If you suffer from severe migraines it is advised that you invest in some LED lights.

Do not buy a CFL bulb if you have a light with a dimmer switch as they won't work!

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs)

The most energy efficient bulb is the LED, which uses 10% less energy than a CFL. LEDs contain no mercury, they reach their maximum light strength immediately, are migraine friendly and work with dimmer switches. One bulb will set you back around £15, however, it can last over 30 years. It seems the only downside is that LEDs are not as bright as other bulbs.

How to clean up and dispose of a broken CFL bulb

• Before you start removing the broken bulb, ensure all people and pets have left the room.
• Open all windows and air the room for up to half an hour.
• Do not vacuum the mess as you can spread mercury powder (and also damage your machine with broken glass).
• Scoop up all glass using card and sticky tape to pick up any remaining small pieces of glass.
• Place all pieces in a glass jar or in a plastic bag, including the tape you used to pick up glass.
• Dispose of all items used to clean up the mess (such as cardboard and cloths).
• Check with your local council if you can throw the bulb away with your normal rubbish collection. If so, double bag the bulb before throwing it away

Images by Chris Cummings

VIDEO: Have you had your yearly gas check?

Earlier this year we published a post about a landlord's responsibilities regarding gas, electric and plumbing. One of the most important things that a landlord should do is ensure that an annual gas check has been conducted. Aside from checking that all appliances are safe and installed properly, an annual check will help prevent any potential fatal problems such as carbon monoxide poisoning or explosions.

If you are a new tenant and haven't been given the most recent gas check documents, or an existing tenant who hasn't had a gas check in the last year then speak to your landlord.

Below is a video from the Gas Safety Register which explains what you should expect as a tenant. If you are due a gas check, or would like to find out more about what it entails, then call us on 020 8682 2244 or visit www.maintracts.co.uk.

Click here to  find our more about the Gas Safe Register.

Are you wasting energy?

We're constantly being told to conserve energy and we know that energy prices are on the up. Aside from making sure that we don't leave plugs switched on or computers and TVs on standby over night, what else can be done to avoid wasting energy?

Here are some tips that may seem obvious, but are easy to miss.

Don't charge your mobile phone or tablet over night. Most will charge within a matter of a few hours meaning that while you're asleep you could have charged your mobile devices three if not four times over!

The nights have been cold, so no one would blame you for using a heated blanket, but try not to leave it on hours before getting in bed and make sure that you turn it off as soon as you wake up.

Have you left your plugs switched on?

Most TVs have a sleep timer, if you like to watch TV when in bed make sure you have your timer on so that it's not on all night while you are asleep. Many radios, even podcast apps on your mobile device, will have that function too.

If you have a draft coming in to your home, check windows and doors. Heavier curtains and draft excluders will not only stop the draft coming in, they will stop the heat getting out.

Don't put hot food in your fridge. Wait for your food to cool completely or your fridge will work overtime to bring the temperature down.

This one will seem obvious: don't leave your windows open when you have the heating on. If you like to have fresh air in the home, turn your heating off first. The more heating that leaves your home, the more likely you are to turn up the temperature and waste money. Also, if you have a thermostat that automatically adjusts based on the temperature of the room, you may find your heat going up without realising it.

This last one is the most obvious of all: if you're not using an electrical device and it doesn't need to be on then turn it of! Here are a list of things you might not think of:

• Mobile chargers
• TV
• DVD recorder
• Digital TV box (there is no need to leave it on if you are not recording anything)
• Broadband hub (check that you don't have any devices that rely on the internet before turning it off!)
• Side/desk lamps
• Computers/laptops
• Chargers – if they are not in use why are they still switched on?
• Speakers for mobile devices
• Kitchen appliances such as blenders, slow cookers and coffee machines

There are many ways to save energy. If you're looking for more inspiration read our winter money saving tips article.

If you've followed all of our energy saving tips but still finding that your bills are still high then you may need a boiler or gas check. To find out more call 020 8682 2244 or visit www.maintracts.co.uk.

Image by Colin Brough

Is it time to upgrade your plumbing?

It's easy to not think about the things that keep your home running. Lets be honest, conversations about plumbing aren't the most exciting of topics, but it's important to know the what to look out for to avoid any damaging or expensive problems.

While there are no laws about checking plumbing, it's advisable to check your plumbing (and your tenants if you're a landlord) once a year. Any room that contains a visible pipe should be checked.

If you see stains, flaking, dimples or discolouration then you could have a problem with corrosion. Leaks are another problem you should be looking out for – even a small leak can be an indication that there's a wider problem.

It's also good to keep an eye on the colour of your water. If it looks brown in colour then it may mean there is rust in the water – another sign of corrosion and decay.

If you think that your plumbing needs maintenance or replacing then please get in touch.