Improving your home’s energy efficiency is vital when it comes to protecting both the planet and your wallet. From reducing heat loss in the home to installing energy-efficient appliances, there are a lot of different ways to make energy-saving home improvements that make a big difference to your energy bills. Here are our top 10 ways you can help improve energy efficiency in your home.

Install a smart home heating system

Smart home heating systems allow you to have full, accurate control over the heating in your home, ensuring no unnecessary energy is wasted. Thermostats and timers help you set your heating to come on and go off at specified times, whether that be when you come in from work or when your home reaches its desired temperature. It’s also much easier to maintain your heating with smart home heating controls, as you can control it from your phone or tablet and keep an eye on it from anywhere.

Check radiators & install radiator valves

Frequently checking that radiators are working

One thing we’ve learned over the years is that it’s never too early to prepare for winter when it comes to pipes and boilers. Every year we are inundated with horror stories of homes being left without water and central heating due to freezing temperatures.  So, with winter just around the corner (sorry guys) this blog will advise on how to keep pipes from freezing, what to look out for and how to protect them.

What happens to pipes when they freeze?

If you’ve had the misfortune of frozen pipes, you’ll know it's always impeccably timed . . . during the morning rush, just before a night out or right as you’re due to have people over!  So what is it that causes pipes to freeze?  Well, as water freezes, it expands, which causes a build up of pressure which can ultimately lead to cracked, or worse, burst pipes.  

As a rule copper pipes are more susceptible to bursting as plastic pipes offer more flexibility meaning they can expand and contract therefore reducing the risk of bursting,

If ever there was a topic to ruffle plumbers feathers, it’s the age old debate of copper pipes vs plastic pipes.  Some swear by copper and its ability to stand the test of time, whereas others prefer the speed and ease of using plastic piping.  But which are best for your home?  Well, our team of experts are here to thrash it out.

Benefits of Plastic Piping?

Plastic piping is fast becoming the go to choice of modern plumbing and it’s not hard to see why with a range of benefits including:

• It doesn’t corrode over time.
• It’s reduced installation time by around 40%.
• Push-fit fittings simply lock (or unlock incase of a problem) into place.
• Ever evolving technology makes them stronger, quicker and more reliable.
• They are cheaper to buy.
• They are thicker, therefore quieter.
• Less likely to freeze.
• It’s lightweight yet extremely durable.

Cons

While the benefits far outweigh the disadvantages, there are a few points to consider.

• It is less flexible at the joints.
• It may crack

While low surface temperature radiators (we’ll call them LST radiators for short) are nothing new to the heating industry. LST radiators have long served a purpose in protecting young, vulnerable and elderly adults from accidental burns for a number of years now, and have been a stipulation within many buildings such as hospitals, schools and care homes.  An outer casing provides a barrier between the person and the heating element, which maintains a much lower temperature of no more than 43°C, which is a considerable drop when compared against a standard radiator where the surface can reach a staggering 75°C.

So How Do LST Radiators Work? 

Much the same as conventional radiators, LST radiators use a convection heating system whereby air is pulled in through the bottom grill, it then travels up as it's heated and is then emitted from the top grill as it reaches the desired temperature.  The beauty of an LST radiator is that it responds much quicker than conventional heating, making

What if I told you that smart technology could secure your home with a few simple devices?  No clunky boxes, no mass of controls, just state of the art technology controlled by you, from virtually anywhere in the world, pretty impressive right?!  

Gone are the days of panic stricken thoughts as you jet off on holiday wondering if you’ve left the light, heating or washer on. With smart technology you can log in to any device that's connected to check, switch off or amend, giving you peace of mind wherever you are.  

So What Are Smart Devices And How Do They Work?

In today's fast paced society, convenience is everything, so it’s no surprise that connected technology is gathering momentum.  Your smart phone, your heating, your music, slowly but surely smart technology is beginning to filter into our homes, so it’s only natural that home security should follow suit.

But How Does A Smart Home Security System Work?

A smart home security system works by connecting your security

If the time has come to update your bathroom, then it’s possible that you will want to change your shower too, so if you’re considering the switch to a thermostatic shower then stick around and we’ll tell you all you need to know so you can install with confidence.

What Is A Thermostatic Shower And How Does It Work?

The thermostatic shower is a clever bit of kit that is fed by your hot and cold water supply through a thermostatic valve that maintains the perfect temperature as set by you.  The valve allows the system to mix both hot and cold water without the worry of any hot or cold spots, so there will be no sudden change in temperature should someone use a tap or flush the toilet elsewhere in the house!         

Thermostatic Shower vs Mixer Shower - What's The Difference?

Both systems rely on a hot and cold water supply but the main difference lies in the functionality.  Mixer showers are slow to react to a change in temperature, hence the noticeable difference you feel should

If ever there was a trend that demands attention then its the industrial one, with exposed copper pipes taking precedence as a must-have feature.  But don’t be fooled, while copper pipework may look like it's been there for years with it’s established rustic charm, in actual fact keeping those pipes squeaky clean does require a little TLC.  

So for copper pipework that is worthy of it’s show home status, keep reading for 5 simple steps on how to keep the tarnish at bay.

What Happens When Metal Tarnishes?

While the appearance of slightly tarnished pipework may complement your decor beautifully, it’s worth noting that an ongoing build up of residue could do more harm than good if left untreated.  When metal is exposed to oxygen and sulphur in the air, a chemical bond occurs that reacts with the metal.  This reaction causes a dull film on the surface which quite commonly turns black (or green when it comes to copper) and is what we mean by tarnish.  Unfortunately, even with all

Smart heating has revolutionised the way we heat our homes.  No more shivering around cold radiators until they warm up, oh no, we can now activate our heating from any one of our devices on the go, so you can walk into a cosy home at the touch of a button.  

So if you’re dabbling with the idea of making the switch to smart home heating, then let us talk you through with this all you need to know guide before you make the jump.

What Is Smart Home Heating? 

Smart home heating is controlled by a smart thermostat that is connected to the internet enabling you to control the temperature of your home from pretty much anywhere as long as you have internet connection.  

Smart thermostats are different to smart meters, which are usually supplied by your energy provider for free to keep track of your readings, whereas smart thermostats are not connected to a supplier so feel free to switch with no issues for your smart heating. 

How Does It Work? 

Smart heating works by sending

As the unsung hero of the home, radiators are often taken for granted and only receive any attention when things go wrong.  Therefore, to keep your home warm and cosy for years to come we’ve answered some of the most common queries we receive when it comes to radiator maintenance.  Afterall, your central heating system is one of the most expensive things you’ll ever own, so it pays to give it a little tlc once in a while.

Do radiator covers block heat? 

It goes without saying that if you place something in front of a radiator then it will likely restrict the amount of heat emitted, but the good news is that radiator covers won’t block heat entirely.  They may contribute to slower air circulation therefore it may take longer to heat the room but rest assured the radiator is still doing its job, so we advise resisting the urge to increase the temperature in the short term as this will have a negative effect on your heating bills and efficiency.  

If a radiator cover is for you but

As plumbing experts, we are often asked about radiator related queries, therefore, whether you are updating your decor, you are conscious of efficiency or your current radiators require more maintenance than you’d like, then we are here to help.  Upgrading your current radiators has many benefits to you and your home, primarily for your own comfort, but also your bank account, afterall, an efficient radiator is a cost effective radiator, so let us talk you through all you need to know when choosing the perfect radiators for your home with our radiator buying guide. 

Let's get started with some of the most common questions . . .

What is a round top radiator? 

As one of the more familiar styles, the round top radiator has a traditional design whereby the convector fins are visible by either looking straight down the radiator or in from the side.  The convector fins are a zig zag layer of metal that helps to create more surface area on your radiator, therefore creating more heat.