Article Orange » Home Improvement

Condensing Boilers – Seperating Fact from Fiction

webpromo@tradeplumbing.co.uk — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 16:57:22 +0000

What is a condensing boiler?

A condensing boiler is a boiler that employs a more efficient method of extracting heat from combustible fuel than a traditional oil or gas fired boiler. A great deal of heat is wasted in a normal non-condensing gas or oil boiler in the form of hot flue gases that escape up the flue vent. This gas will be at a temperature of about 180°C.

A condensing combi boiler is designed to permit these gases to rise as in a standard boiler but at the top the gases are redirected towards and cycled around a secondary heat exchanger, which draws heat from them, leaving them at a temperature of approximately 60°C. Some condensing boilers even have dual heat exchangers, to extract even more heat from these waste gases.

This heat extraction and subsequent loss of temperature causes much of this gas to condense into water vapour, which then falls to the bottom of the flue, where it is channelled either into a pipe leading to the household soil pipe or into a seperate drainage pipe that leads outside. A circulating fan then blasts the remaining waste gas up the flue and away from the property.

Compared to standard non-condensing boilers which peak at around 75% efficiency, condensing boilers can be anywhere from 83% to 92% efficient, giving them a SEDBUK rating of B or A respectively, the highest possible.

What are the Pros of installing a condensing boiler?

They use less fuel and can be anywhere from 15-30% more efficient than non-condensing boilers.
In real terms, a family with a £400 annual fuel bill could expect to cut up to £60 per year off that total.
Using a high efficiency or HE condensing boiler can lead to significant savings in your heating bill.
They generate lower CO2 emissions than other types of boiler available.
Each year a high efficiency condensing boiler could cut your carbon footprint by up to 1.7 tonnes.
They are no more difficult to install than traditional non-condensing gas boilers, and come in a wider variety of sizes.
Many models will comfortably fit into a kitchen cupboard.
The majority of high efficiency condensing combi boilers makes no more noise than an air conditioning or PC fan.

What are the Cons of installing a condensing boiler?

Some models have been known to generate as much noise on start-up as a jet engine taking off!
They tend to be more expensive to buy than non-condensing models, anywhere from £100-300.
They produce a visible plume of steam when they are operating.
The condensing boiler flue terminal needs to be sited carefully to avoid creating a nuisance for neighbours.
The process of condensation produces an acidic liquid that must be plumbed into a suitable waste pipe or drain.
They need an advanced heating control system in place to operate at max efficiency.
The home needs to be well insulated or the extra heat that a condenser boiler generates will be lost through the walls and ceiling.
Central heating condensing boilers need an outdoor weather sensor (weather compensator) for maximum efficiency.
If your condensing boiler is oversized for the task, it will be a lot less efficient that the proper size could have been.
Your system will require a Power Flush to be carried out before the new boiler is installed.
A chemical inhibitor such as the industry standard Fernox MB-1 will need to be added to the system.

Final Thoughts

Contrary to popular opinion based on information over 4 years out of date, condensing boilers are no less reliable than their non-condensing cousins. Early condensing oil boilers had rust problems caused by the acidic condensate but modern heat exchangers use non-iron metals to minimize or completely remove this possibility.

If your existing boiler is more than 15 years old, replacing it with a high efficiency condensing boiler could save you money, lower your carbon footprint and contribute towards saving the environment. You may even qualify for the Government’s Boiler Scrappage Scheme if you hurry!

As long as your home is sufficiently insulated, you have the central heating system fully and completely flushed before having your condensing boiler fitted by a Gas Safe Registered installer, there is no reason at all why your boiler should give you any problems.

Home Theatre Installation – Advantages with Home Theatre Installation

jamesruthod — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 01:12:17 +0000

From the past decade, it has been observed that there are so many technologies are introduced in Television market, and it is growing rapidly. If you are spending few amounts in installation of the new technology, the beneficial would be in the long run. The latest and modern technology of the will help you to take all advantages of programming. The advantages are newly released movies, enjoying the latest music albums and so many other entertainment venues. If you are installing this new home theatre, then you are sure to enjoy them for years to come. If you are planning to enjoy dinner with your family and also movie that would cost you almost hundred dollars may be sometimes it will be more. With the new home theatre entertainment, you definitely cut that bill down to less than ten dollars. You can watch new released movie from your comfortable home.

When it comes to the technical scenario of this Home Theatre Installation, it will include surrounding sound speakers and woofers and some other equipment will produce some high quality of music. If you are having some spacious room in your home, then you can convert that space into your dancing hall with this home theater installation. And also if you are inserting some lights then it will create different moods like a dance floor. Depending upon your requirements, you are able to find the best and suitable equipment and furniture, which will suit for your needs. If you are not interested in this, you can leave you home theatre as regular television of watching latest movies, shows and many more. Holographic imaging is the latest technology in this home theatre system, and it will take time to reach home. To obtain the home theatre technology you need TV Installation, and you can add some other equipment that will give you some scintillating sound.

With this home theater installing, definitely you will enjoy some entertainment oriented programming and for your kids, it will remain as best one for them. If you are able invest few more dollars, and then it would be a great idea to purchase some essential furniture and other accessories. And finally, there are some well established and well experienced manufacturers of this Home Theatre are available in California. There are providing a wide range of excellent customer services to their valuable clients. For more information and details, please visit their web site.

Call us for all of your TV Installation, LCD TV Installation, and LCD TV Installer, Fireplace TV Installation or Flat Screen TV Installation needs. We specialize in the installation of TV, devices, LCD TV’s, Surround Sound Systems and Plasma TV. For further information, please visit Home Theater Installation Website.

A Secured Way to Protect Your Home

albertflynn — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 18:32:15 +0000

From the past decade,the crime rate in every country has been increased. According to one research organization research reporting that this crime rate has been marked highly in developing countries. Most of the people in these countries are living in a very insecure world,dominated by robbery and crime. The differences between society,conflicts of culture and various other factors have been rendering the modern society a very unstable and insecure environment. The robberies and thefts which we are hearing every day have been making you doubt about the security of our homes and our lives. Most of the people are feeling some insecure even inside their doors and windows. And they are inserting extra locks and buying a guard dog to provide some protection for them. However,some of the police men are saying that experienced robbers can easily break through these home defenses,the above mentioned are false securities. And also the procedures of the robberies are revealing that it happened in front of the house owner.

The best way to protect your home from robberies and thefts is installing a reliable home security system. After installing the reliable home security system,then only you will feel hundred percent securities for your home. If your home is well equipped with these modern security systems,then it could be a hard task to breaking the inside house. If they break inside house even though security systems installed,an alerting alarm will indicate to the local station and police.

You need to consider so many things before ordering home security systems. If you put an order for this system,a team will come to your house and installed them properly. Everyone can use these systems at an easy task,and you can use features via the keypad. These features are protected by a password,if you want to change the setting of the systems,you need to type previously used password. After changing the settings,you are able to disarm the alarm. If you are using these settings properly,once you are armed the alarm than it will alert to from the breaching inside the house. It is a better idea to install the motion detector to every door and window for more security.

These security systems are monitored by the local stations around the clock. The technical process behind these security systems is very effective. Once the alarm is armed,if anyone breached into the house,then it will send a signal to the local station. The people in this station would contact the member of the house,in order to confirm that he signals is a real one or fake one. However, if you are not able to answer the alarm or incorrect password will alert the local police station. With these modern security systems,your house will be safe, and you will get maximum protection for your home.

There are some esteemed organizations are manufacturing these equipments at low prices. You can purchase this equipment from their valuable web site and al you will get professional customer services from them. All that you need to do is a small search on the internet to get most advanced security systems for your home protection.

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Why A White Bathroom Suite is Right

webpromo@tradeplumbing.co.uk — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 22:25:13 +0000

The white bathroom suite is everywhere, but have you ever wondered why nearly every suite only comes in that one colour? Seems a bit boring and one-dimensional, I hear you say.

Well let’s take a look at the reasons why white bathrooms suites are so overwhelmingly popular, and perhaps you won’t think white is quite so dull after all. You might even gain a better understanding and a deeper appreciation of the colour.

Think back to the 80s and those wonderfully avant garde avocado bathroom suites that were all the rage back then. What’s the first word that comes into your mind now?

Garish? Tacky? Tasteless? I thought so. Well with a white bathroom suite you can’t go wrong. White is classic and timeless. A white bathroom suite will never go out of fashion because it doesn’t matter what colours are “in” this season, the room will compliment them perfectly, making it the ideal blend of modern minimalism and classic elegance.

With a white bathroom suite, you have an almost infinite choice of highlighting or accent colours for bathroom accessories, bathroom fittings and bathroom furniture.

It’s far simpler to replace these than to rip out the entire suite should your tastes change over time. It’s also much easier to replace a damaged or broken part of a white suite than it is to perfectly match a coloured suite, and you don’t have to worry about availability 5 or 10 years later. White bathroom suites will always be around.

White has always been known as the colour of peace and calm. There’s nothing quite like allowing yourself to slowly sink into a deliciously warm bath and let all your muscles relax and unwind. It’s a proven fact that your environment has a strong effect on your emotional state, and a bathroom decorated in a tranquil, relaxing colour like white is beneficial for the body, mind and soul.

For all you landlords or property sellers out there, a white bathroom suite has been proven time and time again to be the most attractive colour a prospective tenant or buyer can see. It doesn’t matter what their personal tastes, a white bathroom suite is most likely to please and least likely to offend them. It may even add value to your home if you’ve done a lot of bathroom renovation.

If space is at a premium, then a white bathroom suite is your best friend. It will make a smaller bathroom appear brighter and more spacious to the naked eye. Take a look at the two pictures below. Would you believe me if I told you they are the exact same bathroom? The one with the white suite looks so much larger!

White bathroom suites are also generally less expensive than their coloured cousins, for the obvious reason that it costs more to add thick coats of multiple colours in the manufacturing process than it does a few layers of white. There’s nothing better than white to give the impression of a luxury bathroom suite and still keep your costs down.

However you should take into consideration when planning and designing your bathroom that you can have too much of a good thing.

Too much white, or too harsh lighting and you’ll lose the warm tranquil feeling you’re trying to foster in your bathroom, and instead make it seem clinical and surgical. Who could possibly relax in a bathroom that feels like an operating theatre or dental surgery? Certainly not me!

As long as you use a firm accent colour to offset any overpowering, a white bathroom suite will enhance your entire bathing experience, from the instant you step into the room right up to the moment you close the door behind you.

For advice on choosing your accent colour, and many more aspects of bathroom colour you may not have been aware of, read this article on the Mysterious Power of Colour.

This article was written by Sam Brown, Marketing Manager at TradePlumbing. Tradeplumbing.co.uk is a trading name of Clayton Horsnell LTD,a privately held company with headquarters in Colchester, UK, providing a wide variety of plumbing products starting with bathroom suites, baths, showers, towel rails, furniture, sinks, heating system, and radiators and finishing with taps and water treatment products.

The Importance of a House Plan!

terry — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:33:11 +0000

If you are considering building your own house, a house plan is of the utmost significance. How can you construct a house excluding a plan? Each and every construction project requires a plan or design because without a design, all would be in disorder. For people who wish to proceed with constructing a house, the most fundamental element to be taken into account is the house plan.

Meaning and significance of a house plan!

A house plan is the model which is constructed and adopted by the building and designing team. Think about building your own house in the absence of a house plan. It would not become reality at any cost. Essentially, a house plan demonstrates a clear image of the appearance of a house following completion of each and every work.

Despite the fact that houses vary in terms of trend, design, shape and size, the one factor which the house plans share equally is their elements. Focusing on the fundamental elements or components of a house plan would help the homeowners in arranging the components, as well as having the idea about the real consequence of the house. In particular, the principal components that the homeowner wishes to have in his home should be incorporated in the house plan. The remainder of the small bits of information which the homeowner considers to be essential may be summed up during the procedure of finalizing the house plan.

Things to be taken into account concerning a house plan!

Drafting the design of the house is an initial step. Number of stories and number of rooms are to be ascertained. Whether you would opt for a basement is also a matter of consideration.

The total square foot area of your home has to be remembered because this would help in demarcating the home. Outlining the borders of every room is necessary. There should be watchful planning of the position of the dining room, kitchen, covered entrance, bedrooms and other rooms. Working out whether there is a fireplace, garage, bathtub or exterior water tap for a pond or swimming pool is a necessity. Each and every room and principal components should be marked to shun uncertainty.

Terry Metcalfe writes on behalf of Burnley Plumbing Supplies specialists in steam showers, bathrooms, bathroom taps, kitchens and an extensive range of plumbing and heating supplies.

Cost Effective Methods to Enhance your Home

terry — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:31:59 +0000

The home improvement industry has unquestionably grown over the last decade or so, branching itself into various new classes. This makes it simpler for people to design and carry out home improvement projects. However, most of the home improvement plans are much costlier than what people can really afford. There are a large number of people who wish to restore their houses and have excellent thoughts regarding that but do not have sufficient funds to proceed with their ambitions. Nevertheless, there are a few quite inexpensive home improvement plans which can certainly provide a pristine look to your home and at the same time allow you to appreciate its market price.

Some of the inexpensive home improvement plans do not charge you any money in any way. In contrast, there are some cost-effective home improvement plans that necessitate a small investment. All you have to do is to snap up one of those economical home improvement plans, make things happen and get a brand-new look you can be proud of, to your home. For those people who urgently require economical home improvement plans for modernising their houses without spending a substantial amount of money, they may carry it out by improving the appearance of their residences through painting walls with innovative colours, horticulture and changing furniture covers. On certain occasions, you can bring a new look to your drawing room by taking away needless items.

More significantly, through going by these cost-effective home improvement plans, you can upgrade your kitchen, bathrooms and even garden and this will play quite an important role in increasing the market value of your property. This can be done quite simply by paying attention to minor details instead of designing very costly plans that may cost hundreds of pounds only for purchasing the necessary equipment. Giving attention to minor details refers to adding minor changes such as adding stylish taps, lighting and even polishing and cleaning certain items within your interior.

Other examples would be simple methods such as hanging new attractive paintings on the walls, switching covers of your toilet seats, adding mirrors and fixing some new cupboards in your kitchen are popular features of economical home improvement plans. Each of these certainly contributes and leaves a lifelong feeling in the mind of every viewer. This article gives you some suggestions about how to perform economical home improvement plans and how to upgrade your home by applying your mind instead of your money. You can take them into consideration regarding your own home and preference. What is beneficial for you is that you are not required to spend a huge amount of money and yet you find a hike in the real estate market.

Terry Metcalfe writes on behalf of Burnley Plumbing Supplies specialists in steam showers, bathrooms, bathroom taps, kitchens and an extensive range of plumbing and heating supplies.

Improve Your Families Health by Implementing a Steam Shower Room!

terry — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:07:29 +0000

Steam Rooms or steam showers are now one of the most popular attributes used for enhancing our bathrooms. The steam shower room is in fact just a glorified shower enclosure that has been fitted with a vast amount of remote controlled features. These remote controlled features can include televisions, radio, hands free telephone, mp3 players and cd players which provide you with an element of entertainment while you are showering or bathing. However alongside these technical marvels you are introduced with a selection of features that help to enable the body to relax and relieve it from toxins and aches and pains.

The reason why the steam shower has been introduced to the market is because many people need the ability to relax and take the stresses and strains of everyday life away from their hectic lifestyle. Each steam shower unit houses and steam generator that provides a steady flow of steam into the self enclosed unit when required. This is one of the main attributes offered by these ingenious systems. As people have known for centuries steam is an excellent treatment for our bodies. Right back to the early days of civilisation men and women have used the benefit of steam to improve their health and sense of well being. First discovered in the Western world steam baths were a great source of socialisation within society alongside offering a method for improving body, mind and health.

Steam works in a wonderful way with our bodies; it offers detoxification to the skin and relaxation to the body. The mixture of heat and moisture opens the pores residing within our skin alongside making the body sweat; this in turn ensures our bodies eliminate all the toxins that have built up overtime. It is believed that for every steam session your body can sweat in excess of 30% of it toxins. Another attribute provided by using steam is the increased flow of blood throughout the body. The heat contained within the steam makes the heart rate increase and is the body’s mechanism to try to cool down. Alongside improving the look and feel to our skin and the flow of blood the main attribute offered by steam is the ability to boost our immune systems. The way that the steam helps to boost the immune system is through elevating our core body temperature above its normal rate, very similar to how the body works when you have a fever. With the body core reaching a certain temperature it narrows a virus’s chance of survival allowing the body to be free of viruses and illness. Steam can also help with breathing by helping to clear the airway which is ideal for asthma and allergy suffers. Also by using aromatic and essential oils you can actually enhance the therapeutic features offered by the steam.

Amongst the technical features and the steam benefits you are also introduced to a number of delightful massaging systems which includes the body massage jets. The body massage jets are a set of strategically positioned water jets that are situated so that you are able to receive an all over body massage. These are combined with a foot and calf massage facility that provides the ultimate in tranquillity.

Previously the luxury of indulging in a tranquil steam bath would only be found by visiting your local health club or gym. However through ingenuity, innovation and today’s cutting edge technology everyone now has the ability to have their very own affordable steam room within their home.

The steam shower room is truly a remarkable invention providing you the latest in technical and remote controlled features whilst enabling the body to receive the very best in health treatment.

For further details or to view the very latest deals on steam showers or steam rooms visit Burnley Plumbing Supplies the North West’s largest suppliers of bathrooms, kitchens and plumbing and heating supplies.

Bathroom Furniture at Discount price

cascadauk — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:42:04 +0000

A bathroom is no longer believed an insignificant part of the house. Home owners are very great on decorating their bathrooms to make them more suitable places to be. They invest a great deal of time and money in designing it to make it a perfect blend of luxury and practicality.

Most bathroom furniture comes in lavish designs and involves intricate workmanship. The prices of bathroom furniture may greatly vary depending on the producer and the type of furniture. It may not be financially possible for everybody to buy the latest designs of bathroom furniture to give it a stylish look. It is important to purchase furniture that can take care of all the practical needs at wholesale prices.

Hence, bathrooms furniture includes cabinets, furniture, vanities, shelves, and space savers. Best bathroom furniture can give the bathroom a face-lift and hide all the requirement items in a bathroom. Cabinet prices can greatly fluctuate due to variety, quality, styles, type of material, and finish. Modern bathrooms furniture is esthetically designed and made from a kind of materials. Preassembled vanities come with a cheap price. However, custom vanities made from wood are a popular choice. Cabinets made from pine, maple, cherry and oak are all time favorites of most people. It is better for individuals to select bathroom furniture that can mix with the design and color strategy of the bathroom.

Browse our full range of Bathroom Furniture and Bathrooms Accessories at low price with trendy design only at CascadaBathrooms.co.uk. So don’t wait and Place your order now!

What is Hard Water and Its Effects?

terry — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:40:48 +0000

Hard water is common throughout many regions within the UK, however many people do not realise what this can imply to our health and lifestyle.

The term hard water refers to any water containing a high level of dissolved minerals such as calcium, magnesium, among others. These are minerals in the ground that came into contact with the water. Water from a well is very likely to be hard because it is drawn directly from the ground with no processing.

Water is a good solvent, which means it dissolves other substances easily. However, it also picks up impurities very easily. So as water moves through rock and soil, it dissolves small amounts of minerals and holds onto them, turning it in to hard water. The degree of hardness becomes greater as the amount of mineral content increases.

On the other hand, soft water is treated water that only contains the positively charged ion of sodium. Rainwater has no minerals, so it is naturally very soft. Often, hard water has a characteristic taste from the minerals and soft water may taste salty.

Drinking hard water does contribute a small amount of calcium and magnesium to the human body. However, hard water can be treated in many different ways including water softeners, electromagnetic water conditioners, and water filters.

Although hard water is not a health hazard, it does affect our daily tasks and the lifespan of household appliances. Hard water reduces the cleansing power of soap and produces scale in hot water lines and appliances. This in return can affect everyday household chores such as laundering, bathing, and dishwashing.

Clothes washed in hard water might look worn or feel scratchy. The minerals in the water combine with soils in the clothing to form insoluble salts, which makes them very difficult to remove. Washing clothes in hard water continuously can damage fibers and shorten the lifespan of the clothing items.

Bathing in hard water, using soap often leaves a soap film on skin. While detergent soap will lather in hard water, often body soap won’t form a lather. The film may prevent removal of bacteria and disrupts skin’s normal condition, possibly leading to irritation. Soap film left on hair may make it dull and difficult to manage.

Hard water can affect washing dishes, especially in a dishwasher. Washing in hard water may cause spotting on dishes, cups, and silverware. When the minerals in hard water come in contact with heat, they are released faster, causing spotting.

While the hard water alone may not taste different, it might affect your coffee or tea. Coffee is known to develop a bitter undertone when brewed with hard water. Delicate green teas can take on a new flavor all together when made with hard water. Build up in coffee or espresso makers could occur as a result of the lime scale.

Minerals in hard water can also have an effect on the appliances in a home. When hard water is heated, it forms lime scale deposits that can disrupt the operation of water using appliances. Even pipes may clog with the lime scale, which reduces water flow and may require pipe replacement. The presence of lime scale could increase an energy bill up to 25 percent. A similar buildup can also occur in solar heating systems, which are often used for heating swimming pools. The buildup will reduce the efficiency of the electronic pump, which decreases the overall performance.

Terry Metcalfe writes for Burnley Plumbing Supplies specialists in bathrooms, kitchens, bathroom taps, radiators, combi boilers and much more.

Electric Central Heating Systems

terry — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 18:38:34 +0000

An electric heater is a type of electrical appliance that transforms electrical energy in heat. The entire system is based on an electrical resistor that is located in every single electric heater and is based on the Joule principle of heating. The electric current that goes through the resistor will transform electrical energy into heat energy. Everything might seem complicated but in fact it is not. Electric central heating systems are very common and widely used.

As time passed electricity has become widely used in central heating systems. There are various ways to use electric heaters or you can not even use them at all. For instance, with some under floor heating systems you can use electric heaters or pumps that are powered by electricity. In both cases we could say we have an under floor electric central heating systems installed. Domestic electric under floor heating systems are referred to as radiant heating systems, even if they are based on a radiator or are powered electrically.

The problem with electric central heating systems stands in the fact that they are not tagged as environmentally friendly. This is because the biggest amount of energy generated is obtained by the use of fossil fuels. Sweden actually banned the use of direct electric heating since 1980 and there are different plans to completely remove it. Denmark also took action and banned the installation of electric space heating in newly built buildings. Modern installations are using heat pumps that can use as heat source warmth found in air or ground. This helps out a lot because there is a cut in electricity consumption and the impact to the environment is considerably reduced.

If you want to operate electric resistance heaters in order to heat an area for a long period of time, you should know that this can be very expensive. If you only plan to use the heating system partially or intermittently then the electric central heating system actually becomes very cost efficient. This fact alone makes the network very popular in office settings and in vacation houses.

The use of ground source heat pumps (GSHP) offers a new type of heat pumps that can be combined into your electric central heating system. Heat is absorbed from the ground and this makes it possible for the GSHP to cool your home during summer and heat it during winter. Electric bills are smaller and the overall efficiency of the system is higher with the use of these heat pumps. Solutions always appear and there is a method of heating a home that is perfect for every individual, although it may not be suited for another.

Terry Metcalfe writes on behalf of Burnley Plumbing Supplies specialists in bathrooms, bathroom taps, kitchens, combi boilers and an extensive range of plumbing and heating supplies.