Search for:

Author Archives: warmerhomes

1. Love your boiler this Valentine’s Day

   February 14, 2020 10:10 am Leave a Comment

   Happy Valentine’s Day! We’re calling on all our customers to love their boilers as much as we do and give them some much needed love and attention this 14th February.

   Here’s four top tips for getting the best out of your relationship with your boiler:

   – Take good care of it! We cannot emphasise enough how important this is. An annual service will help to reduce the risk of breakdowns, will help your boiler run more efficiently and, most importantly, will reduce the chances of your boiler leaking carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas which can kill you.
   – Bleeding Love – While not technically your boiler, bleeding your radiators will help your system run much more efficiently. If your radiators feel warm at the bottom but cold at the top it means there’s air trapped inside them and you’ll need to bleed them. This can be done very easily, just follow the instructions by the experts at Worcester Bosch.
   – Breathing space – Ensuring your boiler has plenty of space around it, with the right amount of ventilation, will allow it to work as efficiently as possible, helping to reduce breakdowns and cutting your energy bills. While it’s normally fine to house your boiler in a cupboard or attic, please check with one of our experts that there is enough ventilation around the boiler, and do not cram items in around it.
   – Let it go – While we are all about celebrating our love of boilers today, sometimes things just don’t work out. Old boilers stop working efficiently, they cost too much money to run and the no longer give us what we need. When this happens, you should consider swapping it for a newer, more attractive model. For example, the new sleek and efficient Lifestyle boilers from Worcester Bosch. This new boiler range features a modern new design whilst being packed with innovative new features that help to keep your home warm and your boiler working at its best.

   If you would like to talk to us about a new boiler and how it can help to heat your home more efficiently while keeping your bills low, get in touch with one of our team by calling 01375 489450. We’ll be happy to matchmake you with a boiler that’s perfect for you and your home.

2. How to Find a Trusted Trader

   January 9, 2020 10:39 am Leave a Comment

   Having any work done on your home can seem pretty daunting so employing a tradesman you can trust goes a long way in relieving some of this stress. The Warmer Homes Heating and Renewables team pride ourselves on our workmanship, professional staff and honest pricing, and this has been endorsed by our acceptance on to the Which? Trusted Trader scheme, the reviews we receive online and winning the Customer Service Award at the Thurrock Business Awards. But if you are employing a tradesman for any work around your home, how can you make sure you will get the best person for the job?

   Get recommendations from friends or family
   The best way by far to choose a reliable plumber, electrician or builder is by word of mouth. Ask family, neighbours, colleagues or nearby friends for referrals. You can also check out completely independent reviews of Warmer Homes Heating and Renewables on our Facebook page, Checkatrade, Which? Trusted Trader and Trustatrader pages and our website.

   Get a written quote
   Ask for written quotes from three separate traders to get an idea of cost for comparison. A quote is a tradesman’s offer to do work at a fixed price and will outline full costs (this is different to an estimate, which is just a rough idea of the cost). The price should be accurate barring any extenuating circumstances. We give all our customers written quote which outlines all the work we plan to do so there will be no nasty surprises once the work is complete.

   What are their qualifications?
   It’s worth checking what qualifications are recommended with the relevant trade association and what qualifications are compulsory. All heating engineers must be Gas Safe registered and you will find Warmer Homes Heating and Renewables on the Gas Safe Register.

   Check insurances
   Always ask your tradesman what insurances they have and ask to see their certificates.  Ask to see the their public liability insurance certificate. Any building work may also affect your home and contents insurance so check with your insurance company before work begins.

   What are their contact details?
   It’s still important to have a telephone number and address so you know they’re a genuine company and you can track them down if needs be. Our full address details, including telephone number, are all listed on our website.

   Agree working hours
   As well as agreeing the price in advance, it’s worth talking through some of the other practical details. Are you happy with your plumber turning up at 8am in the morning and leaving 6-7pm? Also, find out their daily/hourly rate: helpful if additional work is required over the agreed quote. Our team try, where possible, to fit in around the hours that best suit you and your family.

3. Three New Years resolutions you SHOULD keep

   January 3, 2020 8:02 am Leave a Comment

   We’re three days into the New Year and by now a number of resolutions have already been broken. Whether you’ve promised yourself you will go to the gym more often, stop spending money or give something up, resolutions can be hard to keep. But at Warmer Homes Heating and Renewables, we’ve got three New Year’s Resolutions that we think everyone should make, and keep, so as to stay warm, keep healthy and save money.

   Resolution One: Ensure you get your boiler serviced every year – We will service all our boiler installations for just £70 per year, and all our new boiler installations come with three years free servicing. If you aren’t sure why you should have one of our experts service your boiler, here’s four good reasons:

   • Cut your heating costs – The expert Warmer Homes Heating and Renewables team that services your boiler will make sure that it is working as efficiently as possible.  An efficient boiler will help to cut your heating costs, giving you more money to spend on your family.
   • Avoid costly repairs – A small, minor problem can often turn into a major boiler fault needing a repair or, in the worst cases, a boiler replacement.  During your annual service our expert engineer will examine your boiler and identify any faults or potential faults, helping you to ensure they are fixed before they become a problem.
   • Faulty boilers can kill – Although this may sound dramatic, boilers that leak carbon monoxide can kill – fast.  If your boiler isn’t correctly installed, maintained or ventilated they can produce carbon monoxide. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headaches, drowsiness, nausea, breathlessness and stomach pains.  These signs are hard to spot and can be confused with tiredness or a cold, and carbon monoxide, known as the silent killer, can’t be seen or smelt.  An annual boiler service will go a long way in helping to avoid deadly faults.
   • It’s the law if you are a landlord – If you own a property or properties that you rent out, you are legally obligated to get your boilers serviced and ensure each of your properties has an up-to-date Gas Safety Certificate.

   Resolution Two: Replace your old and inefficient boiler with a new boiler and save ££££ – Your boiler accounts for over half of your annual energy use, so installing an efficient boiler could make a huge difference to how warm your home feels and keeping your energy bills low.  Replacing an old gas boiler with no controls with an A-rated high efficiency condensing boiler and full set of heating controls will significantly cut your home’s carbon dioxide emissions, and could save you as much as £340 a year.

   Resolution Three: Install a Carbon Monoxide alarm ­- By installing one of these monitors in your home you and your family will be protected against the potentially fatal effects of Carbon Monoxide.

4. Winterproof your heating system

   November 10, 2019 10:20 am Leave a Comment

   Winter is creeping closer, and there is a definite chill in the air today. Although modern central heating systems are very reliable, extremely low temperatures can cause pipes to freeze and can also occasionally cause problems with condensing boilers. So what can you do to ensure your heating system copes with the winter, whatever the weather?

   Away from home? Leave the heating on
   If you are going away over the winter it is important that you do not switch your heating off. While turning the heating off will save money in terms of fuel bills, it will expose your home to sub-zero winter temperatures and the expense of repairing damage should pipes burst.

   Keeping the heating on will help prevent water still in the pipes from freezing, as water is continuously flowing. It is recommended to leave the heating permanently on (at least 13 degrees C), especially during cold snaps. By only having the heating on a timer, one hour in the morning and evening, pipes can still freeze as the property is not heated through.

   Service your boiler
   An annual boiler service is essential to ensure your heating system/boiler is running efficiently and prevent boiler breakdowns during cold spells.

   For as little as £70 our team will visit your home and service your boiler, giving you peace of mind that your boiler is fit for purpose and working efficiently.  But if you still need convincing that you should get your boiler serviced annually, here are four good reasons:

   • Cut your heating costs – The expert Warmer Homes Heating and Renewables team that services your boiler will make sure that it is working as efficiently as possible.  An efficient boiler will help to cut your heating costs, giving you more money to spend on your family.
   • Avoid costly repairs – A small, minor problem can often turn into a major boiler fault needing a repair or, in the worst cases, a boiler replacement.  During your annual service our expert engineer will examine your boiler and identify any faults or potential faults, helping you to ensure they are fixed before they become a problem.
   • Faulty boilers can kill – Although this may sound dramatic, boilers that leak carbon monoxide can kill – fast.  If your boiler isn’t correctly installed, maintained or ventilated they can produce carbon monoxide. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headaches, drowsiness, nausea, breathlessness and stomach pains.  These signs are hard to spot and can be confused with tiredness or a cold, and carbon monoxide, known as the silent killer, can’t be seen or smelt.  An annual boiler service will go a long way in helping to avoid deadly faults.
   • It’s the law if you are a landlord – If you own a property or properties that you rent out, you are legally obligated to get your boilers serviced and ensure each of your properties has an up-to-date Gas Safety Certificate.

   Prevent condensing boilers freezing and breaking down
   If you have a condensing type central heating boiler take steps to prevent it breaking down in cold weather. In cold weather, the external condensate pipe that takes waste water from the back of the condensing boiler can freeze solid, shutting down the system. Lagging this pipe with water-proof and weather-proof insulation can prevent freezing.

5. 8 low-tech ways to keep your house warm over the winter

   October 14, 2019 6:36 pm Leave a Comment

   Whether you have already turned your heating on or not, you are probably like most of the population and worrying about the cost of your heating bills this winter.

   While double glazing and thorough insulation can help to lower our energy usage, these can be quite costly. So what can be done cheaply and quickly to keep your house warm?

   1. 1. Swapping your curtains for a thicker, lined pair can protect your house from losing heat through the windows. Placing a curtain in front of doors to the outside adds another layer of protection.
      2. But do let the sun in. Natural sunshine is a great source of natural free heat so make sure you open your curtains during the day and close them at dusk to retain that heat.
      3. Placing reflective aluminium foil behind the radiator is a very cheap way of preventing unnecessary heat loss from radiators, particularly on those attached to external walls. Foil specially designed for the purpose can be bought for under £10.
      4. Stop heat being lost up the chimney. Many households no longer use their fireplaces and chimneys, but even if you don’t use yours, you could be losing heat up your chimney. For those chimneys not in use, consider chimney balloon. These cost around £25 and are placed inside the chimney hole, just out of sight. It’s then inflated until it completely shuts out any incoming cold air or escaping heat.
      5. Control your heating. Many experts believe that keeping your heating on all day is inefficient, except on very cold days or unless you are confined to the house all day or old or poorly. Instead set your heating timer to come on at key points throughout the day. For example, set it to come on an hour or so before you wake up and turn off during the day if you are out at work. It can be set to come on again just before you come home. Add thermostat valves on each of your radiators so you can control the heat in individual rooms.
      6. Cut the draughts. Your letterbox, key holes and cat / dog flaps are all a source of draughts in your home. Install a brush into your letterbox and cover cat flaps with a blanket when not in use. Old-fashioned draught excluders work well also work well for cutting draughts from under external doors – think “sausage dogs”.
      7. Getting your boiler serviced annually can ensure it is working as efficiently as possible and will keep your fuel bills low. Warmer Homes Heating and Renewables can service your boiler for just £70, and all our new boiler installations come with three years free boiler servicing.
      8. You may also be able to claim financial and practical help from the Government for heating your home. Government grants available include the Winter Fuel Payment and Cold Weather Payment.

    

6. Why Summer is best when it comes to replacing your boiler

   August 6, 2019 11:26 am Leave a Comment

   It may be summer but our team are as busy as ever installing new gas and oil boilers in Essex, Suffolk, London, Kent and the surrounding areas. We actually think summer is the best time to install a new boiler, and these are the reasons why:

   You will still be warm while your boiler is being replaced

   Take it from us, being without a boiler for any amount of time over the winter months is not fun. Although our team work as quickly and efficiently as possible, it sometimes can take a couple of days to fit a new boiler and not having use of a working boiler during this time can make life tricky. You can avoid this completely by choosing the summer months to upgrade your home’s heating system.

   Availability of heating engineers

   Although we try to respond to all enquiries as quickly as possible, winter months are obviously our busiest time. We tend to have more availability and flexibility around timings during the warmer weather.

   Avoid winter breakdowns

   If you suspect your boiler is past its best, don’t wait till the winter to do something about it as this is when it is most likely to breakdown. Replace it during the sumer months, or at the very least have it serviced during the warmer weather, and avoid the risk of it breaking down when you need it the most.

   Start saving money!

   We all dread the winter energy bills dropping through the letterbox, but many modern boilers will actually help you save money on your energy bills. Switch your boiler during the summer months to an energy efficient model and you will start to see the benefits on your winter fuel bill, as well as feeling the benefit of the extra warmth an energy efficient model will give to your home.

    

   If you would like to speak to the Warmer Homes team about replacing your old and inefficient boiler please give us a call today on 01375 489450. Our experienced team will arrange to visit your home for a no obligation, free survey and quote.

7. Cut the cost of heating your hot water

   June 12, 2019 9:32 am Leave a Comment

   It looks like summer might finally be here which means many of us have turned off our heating, helping to lower the cost of energy bills. But did you know hot water accounts for around 10% of the average energy bill? Since it’s not something we can do without, even in the summer, so tips to help you cut the cost of heating your hot water.

   • Check the timings and other controls on your boiler for your water heating, which on an older boiler will often be integrated with the timings of your central heating. You may be able to reduce the length of time that the water heating is turned on, especially in the summer.
   • If your boiler is over fifteen years old, it could be time to replace it. A modern combi-boiler, which provides instant hot water, is generally considered to be more energy efficient than a ‘stored’ hot water system.
   • Check to see if your power shower pump has flow controls. If it does, you should be able to reduce the flow. Fit a shower head flow regulator or a shower head that aerates the flow. Both reduce the flow of water, cutting water and energy use.
   • If you wash up by hand, don’t rinse the dishes under constant running hot or cold water.  Use a washing up bowl or put the plug in the sink.
   • If you have an older boiler and still have an immersion heater, switch to using immersion heater in the summer.
   • If you have an old cistern (tank) that isn’t insulated, then fit a tank jacket. This should pay for itself in just a few months and you can add to the insulation effect by storing bedding, pillows and towels around the cistern. Where they’re accessible, insulate the ‘downpipes’ – these are the pipes that lead from the cistern to the taps.
   • Buy a shower timer to check how long you’re really spending in the shower.
   • Make sure you have your boiler serviced annually as this will help your boiler run more efficiently and reduce the cost of heating your hot water.

8. Boiler breakdown? Have you checked the condensate pipe?

   December 4, 2018 4:50 pm Leave a Comment

   This is the time of year that we need our boilers the most, but while new condensing boilers are more efficient than older boilers, we often get call about breakdowns when the temperature drops. Although we are always more than happy to come and help our customers, we do recommend one quick check which could get your boiler back up and running without us having to pay you a visit. 

   If you find that your boiler has stopped working in freezing weather, pop outside and check your condensate waste pipe.  This is the white pipe running from your boiler, and carries waste water from your boiler to a drain on the outside of your house.  In very cold weather it is not unusual for this water and the pipe to freeze, and this can stop your boiler working.

   If you find your pipe has frozen, do the following:

   • Boil some water in a kettle and wait for it to cool slightly.  Provided the pipe can be reached without standing on a ladder / chair, pour this warm water over the pipe.  Don’t use boiling water before it cools as this may crack the pipe.
   • Pour the water over all of the exposed pipe, which should unfreeze the pipe and allow the water to run freely away
   • Find the reset button on your boiler and press it. Provided the frozen pipe was the cause of the problem, your boiler should start as normal.
   • If this doesn’t work, or you do not feel confident tackling this yourself, do give us a call on 01375 489450

9. Remember Carbon Monoxide Safety this Summer

   June 6, 2018 10:20 am Leave a Comment

   The sun is finally shining which means your heating and boiler are probably the last thing on your mind. But most of us still use our boilers every day during the summer for hot water, and if your boiler is faulty, wasn’t installed correctly or hasn’t been maintained, it could be leaking carbon monoxide, and this could be a killer.

   Although this may sound dramatic, boilers that leak carbon monoxide can kill – fast.  According to the HSE statistics every year around 7 people die from CO poisoning caused by gas appliances and flues that have not been properly installed, maintained or that are poorly ventilated. If your boiler isn’t correctly installed, maintained or ventilated they can produce carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless, tasteless, poisonous gas produced by incomplete burning of carbon-based fuels, including gas, oil, wood and coal. When carbon monoxide enters the body, it prevents the blood from bringing oxygen to cells, tissues, and organs.

   Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headaches, drowsiness, nausea, breathlessness and stomach pains.  These signs are hard to spot and can be confused with tiredness or a cold, and carbon monoxide, known as the silent killer, can’t be seen or smelt.

   An annual boiler service will go a long way in helping to avoid deadly faults, but there are a number of other ways that people can keep themselves safe.

   Maintaining and servicing appliances – Boilers, cookers, heating systems and appliances should be installed and regularly serviced by a reputable, registered engineer.  Anyone carrying out work on installations and appliances in your home must be registered with a relevant association, such as the:

   • Gas Safe Register (for gas appliances)
   • Heating Equipment Testing and Approval Scheme (HETAS) (for solid fuel appliances)
   • Oil Firing Technical Association (OFTEC) (for oil appliances)

   Warmer Homes Heating and Renewables is Gase Safe Registered and all our engineers have the appropriate training and qualifications needed to install and service gas boilers.

   Maintaining chimneys and flues – Make sure all chimneys and flues are swept regularly by a qualified sweep who’s a member of the:

   • National Association of Chimney Sweeps (NACS)
   • Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps
   • Association of Professional Independent Chimney Sweeps (APICS)

   Carbon Monoxide Alarm – Install a carbon monoxide alarm in your home to alert you if there’s a carbon monoxide leak. Please remember, an alarm isn’t a substitute for maintaining and regularly servicing household appliances.

   What should you do if you do suspect a Carbon Monoxide leak in your home?

   • Call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999
   • Switch off the appliance and shut off the gas supply at the meter control valve
   • Open all doors and windows to ventilate the room
   • Visit your GP and tell him/her that you believe you may have been exposed to carbon monoxide

10. Heating system number one “must have” for house buyers

    May 2, 2018 11:51 am Leave a Comment

    If you are planning to sell your home, you might want to make sure your heating system is up to scratch to ensure a quick sale for the best price.  According to new research out this week from Go Compare, central heating is the number one item people look for when buying a home, with 82% of people surveyed stating it is an essential item.  A good energy rating comes in at number 10, and how efficient your boiler is will have an impact on this.  37% of people also said that a new heating system or boiler is also an essential.

    So, if you are selling your home but your boiler is past its best, give us a call today on 01375 489450.  Installing a new A rated, energy efficient central heating system and boiler may make all the difference, and our experienced team will recommend the right boiler for your home.