What's the Right Boiler for You?

Buying a new gas boiler can be a daunting experience. Not only will it probably be one of the most expensive items you'll ever buy for your home, there are numerous brands and types on the market to chose from.

The first thing to mention is that it is vital that your boiler installation is completed by a professional and if it's a gas boiler you must hire a Gas Safe Registered engineer.

Once installation is complete they will supply you with a certificate to prove that the equipment has been tested and complies with all safety standards. Your boiler MUST then be serviced every year by a Gas Safe Registered Engineer.

Combi Boilers can be gas or electric and provide unlimited hot water and heat. You don't need a tank in your loft and they don't take up much space. The main downside is that water pressure may drop if you need hot water from more than one tap.

System boilers, or sealed boilers, come with a water cylinder that normally sits in an airing cupboard and has no water tank. Because there's no water tank it takes up less space and you can get water from more than one tap at a time. System boilers are a bit slower though and you won't get hot water straight away. Once it runs out you will have to wait until it reheats and although you don't need a tank, you will need to find room for the cylinder.

Conventional boilers have a cylinder and a tank and will allow you to get water from multiple taps at the same time, however like system boilers, once the hot water runs out you have to wait for it to reheat. Not only that, you need to find room for the cylinder AND the tank.

Condensing boilers are energy efficient because they capture some of the heat that would have escaped from the flue and reuse it. So you get more heat from the same amount of fuel, meaning you will save money.

Most UK households use gas heating, but what alternatives are there for the estimated 4.3 million households (source Which?) that are not connected to the UK's gas network? Other options include oil burners, liquid petroleum gas, wood burning stoves or electric.

When installing your new boiler make sure to speak to your engineer about heating controls, as this would be a good time to look at replacing them. Modern heating controls are an excellent way to manage heating costs as you can not only control the temperature, you can go as far as managing the heat in each room on some systems.

If you would like to find out more about replacing your boiler then please call us on 020 8682 2244.

Landlords Required to Install Carbon Monoxide Alarms

Landlords will be expected by law to install both fire and Carbon Monoxide alarms in their properties. 

The announcement, which was made this week by Housing Minister Brandon Lewis, is expected to help prevent up to 36 deaths and 1,375 injuries a year. Known as the silent killer, you can not see, taste or smell Carbon Monoxide, and symptoms can easily be confused with the flu.

The new law, which is expected to take effect from October from 2015, has caused some debate in the landlord world. Questions have been raised, such as why is the law just applicable for tenant properties and not home owners and what if the homes energy is electric?

Landlords are already required by law to arrange annual gas checks for all of their properties; what we can all agree is that installing CO alarms is another great step towards protecting tenants and WILL save lives.

If you would like to arrange a gas check please get in touch.

Electrical Visual Checks

Following on from last weeks article about electrical safety and tenant rights, we're looking at the visual checks you can make at home to protect you and those who live with you.

While we advise that you should always ask a professional to repair electrical faults, there are things you can do to prevent potentially dangerous situations at home.

• Never overload your plug sockets
• Look for scorch marks around plugs and sockets - this is a sign of an electrical problem
• Make sure that all leads are not damaged (be sure to check on a regular basis if you have pets that like to chew wires!)
• Check that your sockets and plugs are not damaged
• Do not store flammable items around your electrical meter, fusebox or electrical intake
• Do not place cables under carpets or rugs
• Never take mains powered items into the bathroom
• Always switch off electrical items when they are not in use
• Don't place electrical items near water
• Do not store anything on top of the microwave

If you find that you have an electrical problem please contact us for further advice.

Faulty Electrics in Rented Accommodation

There are approximately 70 deaths and 350,000 injuries in UK homes caused by faulty electrics and electrical equipment every year and if you live in a rented property, statistics show that you are at a higher risk of electric shock.

While it's clear that gas safety is a landlords responsibility, there seems to be a blurred line when it comes to who is responsible for electrical safety in rented accommodation. While tenants are responsible for the electrical appliances that they own, did you know that by law your landlord must ensure that electrical installations and wiring are maintained throughout your tenancy?

Whether you are moving in to new rented accommodation or learning about this for the first time, you can ask your landlord for an Electrical Installation Condition Report (which confirms that all electrical installations have been assessed and are safe to use). It is recommended by Electrical Safety First that this inspection takes places every five years OR when tenants change. They must also have certification confirming that any recent electrical work meets the UK national standards BS 7671.

If you have a problem and your landlord is not cooperating you must contact your local authority who will help. It is a landlord's legal obligation to ensure that their tenants are safe.

Most importantly - do not attempt electrical repairs yourself. Please contact your landlord who should arrange a visit from your local electrician.

(Information and statistics: Electrical Safety First).

Spring Cleaning Checklist

Easter is not far away, which means spring cleaning and home renovations are on many peoples to do lists. To help you plan the big clean, we've come up with our  very own to-do list to help you kick things off.

Dusting: Make sure that aside from the obvious areas, you dust around skirting boards, light fixtures and lamps, ceiling fans, in between blind slats, bannisters, picture frames, air vents and ceiling corners.

Vacuum: Carpets, rugs, upholstery, curtains, pet beds and behind large items of furniture.

Boiler: If it's been a year (or more) since your last boiler service, schedule one now.

Guttering: Clear all guttering, check for blockages and leaks.

Wash: Doors, windows, walls, blinds, light shades, curtains, carpet, air vents, fridge, cupboards, banisters, ovens and microwaves.

Descale: Kettle, sink, taps and shower heads.

Polish: Furniture, glassware, silverware, picture frames, flooring and mirrors.

Touch up: Clean scuffs on walls and touch up paint, remove damp and mould, repair damaged upholstery,

Furniture: Condition leather, deep clean fabric upholstery (including foot stools and pet beds), wash all cushions and blankets.

Replace: Broken light bulbs, batteries in smoke detectors, batteries in carbon monoxide detectors and extractor fan filters.

Clear out: Sell unwanted items online or donate to charity, recycle broken electrical items, check garage and loft space for unwanted items.

We may not have covered everything, but we think this is enough to get you going!

Images by Sanja Gjenero

How to Keep the Warmth in

The cold weather isn't backing down, so here are some of our quick and affordable tips on how to keep the warmth in your home this weekend.

If you have an unused chimney it is worth getting a chimney balloon. At around £20, these balloons will inflate and stop a large amount of heat being lost - just remember to remove the balloon before you use your fire again!

Draft excluders are a simple and inexpensive way to keep your home warm. Look for key areas that might be letting cold air in - such as front and garden doors.  You can use ones that are long cushions or brush excluders that are attached to the bottom of your door.

Place heat reflective tin foil behind your radiators (especially those attached to external walls) to reduce heat loss and reflect it back in to the room. You can get the heat reflective foil for as little as £10, but standard tin foil can be used too (just not as effective).

Move your furniture! If you have large items of furniture blocking your radiators then you need to move them - they can absorb the heat. You can also place shelving above your radiator to stop the heat from rising.

If you are still finding that your home is cold then you may need to have your heating and your boiler serviced. If you would like to find out more then please get in touch.

Image: Andrew Beierle

Cold Homes Week 2015

The UK has some of the most energy inefficient homes in Europe. Heat escaping from windows, doors and walls, leads to higher energy bills, unheated homes, ill health and even death - that's why we're supporting Cold Homes Week 2015. 

Created by the Energy Bill Revolution, Cold Homes Week aims to raise awareness about the struggle millions face every winter to keep their families and homes warm. 25,000 people die every year in the winter months and a third of the deaths are due to living in cold homes - that's four times more than the number of people who die every year on British roads*, but it doesn't have to be that way.

You can support the campaign by visiting the Cold Homes Week website and seeing if your local MP is in support of fairer fuel prices and warmer homes. There is still time to show your support, so don't delay and message your MP today!

*Energy Bill Revolution