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 Now that the summer months are here, it is an ideal opportunity to find a handyman in London and get him or her to give you a hand with some of those odd jobs that never seem to get done until it is too late. One such job is draught proofing your windows and doors, and this is an excellent time of year to do get this job done because it does not matter if you have to open your doors and windows to apply the draught proofing materials throughout August. It might be a different story come November!
Not only will getting your windows and doors draught proofed by local handymen in London make your home or flat more comfortable, but you will save money as well. The Energy Savings Trust estimates that you could save £25.00 (a pony) per year by keeping warm air in and cold air out. Furthermore, as draught proofing has made your home more comfortable, you will possibly turn down the thermostat on your central heating a degree or two – saving a further £55.00 per year.
Although draught proofing is a job that you can tackle yourself, a professional handyman in London will know what materials to use and where to use them. Even though it may cost a little money for their services, the savings you make over the next few years will more than compensate for the price of the initial installation. Depending on your personal circumstances, you may also qualify for a grant or offer towards the cost of draught proofing your home, and landlords can use part of their energy saving tax allowance for draught proofing their properties.
If you would like to find out more about how your local handymen in London can help you get rid of those draughts and save a pony each year, please use our “Post-a-Job” facility at the top of the page to request a handyman’s quote from the local tradesmen featured in our Tradesmen´s Directory.
Tags: Central Heating, doors and windows, draught proofing, energy efficiency, Energy Saving Trust, find a handyman in London, Grants, Handyman Services, Home Improvements, Home Maintenance, Insulation, odd job, ventilation, windows
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 “Don´t Stay in the Dark” is one of the key phrases being used by the Energy Saving Trust to advise people of the money that can be saved through changing existing standard incandescent light bulbs to more fuel efficient energy saving bulbs. Up to 90% of the power consumed by “old fashioned” incandescent light bulbs generates heat, rather than light, and the new compact fluorescent light bulbs use a fraction of the electricity to generate the same amount of light – meaning lower electricity bills and a cooler home in the summer.
 For more than a decade, local electricians in London have been offering the option of compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) to homeowners changing their electrical lighting installations for something a little more modern. However due to the unattractive design of the initial range of CFL light bulbs, the time it used to take for them to reach full brightness and the addition cost of a CFL light bulb, their recommendations have been met with resistance by those conscious of the awkward shape these bulbs had, the safety issues surrounding a lack of instant light and the expense.
 As the government phases out incandescent light bulbs as part of its drive to reduce CO2 emissions*, more modern CFL light bulbs are becoming available through your local electrician in a range of styles with instant lighting, and coming down in price as well. In the recent “Pepsi Light Bulb Challenge” held at the Bluewater Shopping Centre, over half of the people who took part in the event could not tell the difference between the old-fashioned incandescent light bulb and a modern CF replacement.
* If every household in the UK replaced just three 60-watt bulbs with light efficient equivalents, the pollution savings would be like taking 3.5 million cars off the road.
How much can you save?
 By changing your existing light bulbs to more energy efficient replacement, not only are you helping the environment, you can save money too. Your local tradesman will be able to advise you on the exact amounts, but depending on the strength of the wattage and the length of time that your light is usually turned on, you will save (in electricity bills alone) between £3.00 and £6.00 per year per bulb. Furthermore, as each CFL light bulb lasts ten times as long as the old incandescent bulb, you could be saving a further £20.00 over the lifetime of the bulb.
 Many modern light fittings are now designed to incorporate CFL light bulbs and the latest bulbs can now be operated with a dimmer switch (which was not previously available) and are available for halogen lights in areas where a stronger light source is required. If you are planning a new electrical installation in your home and would like further information about the environmental and financial benefits of “making the switch”, you are welcome to use the “Post-a-Job” facility at the top of this page to ask your question, or use the Tradesmen´s Directory to contact a local electrician in London who will be happy to talk you through the changes in modern electrical lighting.
It costs nothing to ask, so “Don´t Stay in the Dark”!
Tags: CFL bulbs, compact fluorescent light bulb, dimmer switch, energy efficiency, energy saving, Energy Saving Trust, environment, incandescent light bulbs, light bulbs, save money
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 Vampires have never had a good press and deservedly so. Vampires in your home suck the life out of the environment and at least a tenner each month out of your pocket – and you may need the services of the highly rated London tradesmen from our tradesmen´s directory to get rid of them.
What we are talking about are gadgets which consume “Vampire Power” – a term first used in the States to refer to the energy used by domestic appliances left on standby overnight. The wasted power consumed by appliances such as TVs, computer equipment and mobile phone chargers in the UK not only costs you money, but indirectly causes the release of millions of tones of CO2 emissions into the environment.
How to Slay Vampires
It sounds easy to say that all that you have to do is to turn off all your electrical appliances each night, but how many of us do that? The reason that these gadgets have a standby facility is for convenience to the consumer and not only is it inconvenient to remove the plug each night, it is a pain to plug them all back in when you next want to use them. However, if you place your hand on a mobile phone charger that has been left all night, you will feel the heat coming from it – heat which has been generated by electricity way after your mobile phone has finished charging. This is electricity that you are paying for and not using. Not only is this a waste of money, but causes needless energy to be generated by power plants which are a major contributor to high levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, pollution and global warning.
 Your local tradesman can suggest a number of effective devices that remove the element of inconvenience and help you save money by using less power in your home. These include power strips that enable you to turn off multiple devices with just the flick of a switch – you can even have a switch fitted by a local tradesman adjacent to your light switch so that you disconnect the power as you turn off the lights in the evening. Not only does this mean that you are not inconvenienced by switching off all the gadgets in your home, it also reduces the risk of fire breaking out.
 You might even want to consider having timing devices fitted by your local tradesman to your electrical sockets so that you do not even have to worry about remembering to disconnect your power supply, and for the very technically advanced, you can even ask a local tradesman to install a program on your computer that controls the timings for all the electrical appliances in your home. For those that have Internet access via your mobile phone, all you have to do is press one key on your mobile to turn off all your power wasting appliances and put those vampires to bed!
How much difference does it make?
In turns of saving the environment, individually very little. But here are some statistics that an energy-conscious local tradesman would be able to confirm:-
- One computer left on all day results in the emission of 1500 pounds of carbon dioxide in a year. It takes up to 500 trees to absorb that amount of extra carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere.
- A video recorder left on standby uses 80% of the electricity consumed when it is actually playing.
- If everyone in the UK turned off their TV overnight it would save more than £66 million in electricity bills each year.
- Incredibly, stereos and radios left with the little red light on, account for over 1.6 million tonnes of carbon emissions each year. Based on the computer scenario above, that amount of carbon released into the atmosphere requires over 2.35 million trees to soak it up – more than are planned in London in the next fifteen years.
For more details about the volume of carbon we pump into the atmosphere, there is a news item on the BBC you may find of interest, you can visit the Energy Saving Trust web site or speak to one of the local tradesmen familiar with energy saving issues and are featured in our tradesmen´s directory.
How Much Will I Save?
 It is difficult to put a definitive figure on your potential savings because so many homes use different appliances and of these, some will be older and less energy efficient. However, a report prepared by the University of Strathclyde calculated that the energy wasted through appliances left on standby in an average home amounted to 525Kw per year. At current electricity prices in London, that amounts to £99.75 per year for the average household. If you have children, it is likely to be much higher.
 Plus there are other considerations to take into account. We have already mentioned the heat that is generated from a mobile phone charger when it has been in use. All of your electrical appliances are a source of heat, and by switching them off when not in use you will also save money on the cost of cooling your home during the summer months. Furthermore, if using a power strip with a surge detector, you will eliminate the possibility of damage to your appliances when they are switched on through a spike in voltage.
 It is always financially worth speaking with a local tradesman about energy saving devices. Some electrical changes in the home required Part P Approval by a qualified engineer – particularly in the bathroom and kitchen – and the highly rated tradesmen featured in our tradesmen´s directory are always happy to pay a visit to your home to advise you on the most efficient way to rid your house of the vampires, help the environment and save you money – with not a clove of garlic in sight!
Tags: carbon dioxide, computers, domestic appliances, electricity prices, Energy Saving Trust, environment, global warming, mobile phones, Part P Approval, power strip, save money, standby, Surge Protector, televisions, times, Tradesmen´s Directory
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 Image courtesy of Spierzchala - Flickr.com As the summer holidays approach, thinking about the condition of your central heating system may not be foremost in your mind. However, while it is “off-season” for many local heating engineers, now is the perfect time to flush your hot water heating system. Not only will you find excellent prices available from heating engineers in London, you may ultimately save a considerable amount of money come October 1st – traditionally the day when many people around the UK switch their heating on for the winter.
Power flushing is a highly effective cleaning operation, whereby a heating engineer pumps a chemical mixture at higher velocity through the central heating system. The process loosens harmful corrosive deposits which, once free, are removed from the system by powerfully flushing through with clean water. A good heating engineer will be able to clean individual radiators and pipework to identify any faults within the system that could lead to more significant problems later in the year – when you will be relying on your central heating system to keep you warm!
Improve Performance – Save Money!
The major benefit of using a recommended heating engineer to flush your central heating system is that it will improve the performance of the heating infrastructure and get your house warmer more quickly – effectively saving you money in fuel costs. Other advantages of flushing include:-
- · Helps prevent pump failure.
- · Eliminates radiator “cold spots”.
- · Lengthens the life of your boiler.
- · Identifies leaking pipework and joints.
- · Identifies pin-hole leaks in corroded metal.
All of these areas would require remedial treatment at a later stage so, if they are discovered during the process of a power flush, it is an excellent opportunity for a heating engineer to make repairs now and save time and money that you may well need in the run-up to Christmas. Power flushing grants are available for up to £300.00 through the Warm Front Heating Rebate Scheme, so the actual cost of having a local heating engineer come to clean your system will be minimal.
Finding the Right Engineer for the Job
To find your local heating engineer could not be easier. Mr-Skill.co.uk has an excellent tradesmen´s directory, where you simply select the trade you require (ie ·Plumbing, Heating & Gas”) enter your London post code and the catchment area from where you wish to select your recommended heating engineer. Please review our section “Hiring Advice” section, which demonstrates some good and bad examples of how to post your job in order to get the best heating engineers – – to clean out your central heating system.
A summer power flush only takes a day to do, and while many people possibly do not consider how much their fuel bills are going to cost in the winter, poor energy efficiency is one of the main reasons for “Fuel Poverty” – now an accepted term for households spending more than 10% of their disposable income on fuel bills. Don´t get caught in the poverty trap and utilise Mr-Skill´s tradesmen´s directory to find a heating engineer local to you. Now is the time for a Summer Flush!
Tags: Central Heating, corrosion, electric, Fuel Poverty, fuel saving, gas, heating, Heating Bills, Heating Engineers, Home Maintenance, Money Saving Improvements, oil, Radiator Flush, save money, Warm Front Heating Rebate Scheme
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Drip, drip, drip … That dripping tap in the kitchen or bathroom isn’t just a nuisance. According to water saving organisation Waterwise, it could be wasting up to 75 litres of precious water a DAY.
 So, however good you’ve become at ignoring the water torture, now’s the time to call in a tradesman and sort out these faulty faucets – and any other leaky plumbing fixtures and fittings around the house. It’s good for the environment, good for your pocket – and could prevent limsescale damage to sinks, basins and baths or unsightly damage to carpets and woodwork.
The reason for a dripping tap is often put down to a failed tap washer – the rubber part that prevents the flow when the tap is closed. If the tap is very old, the rubber may well have perished, but it’s just as likely to be a worn valve seat – the part that the washer closes against. Over time, as the pressure of the water tries to force its way past the washer, tiny trenches are formed in the brass seat which allow enough water through to create the drip.
Simply replacing the washer won’t help, because the trenches will still be there to allow water through. The solution is to call in a tradesman to grind the valves seat smooth again with a special tool. This is a quick and simple job for those in the know – and means you won’t have to replace expensive taps.
If water is leaking from the top of the tap – and with London’s hard water area this is easy to see because it will leave a crusty, white deposit – the culprit is the gland seal. This usually means the rubber ‘O’ ring on the spindle is split and needs replacing – again, a straightforward job for an expert who knows where to look.
Weeping joints can occur anywhere on the hot or cold supply, but commonly around compression joints or tap connectors. The cause is often movement that has unseated the joint slightly and the evidence may range from a wet patch below the offending fitting to green streaks or a crusty deposit around the pipe. Sometimes a tradesman can tighten the nut on the fitting to stop the leak, but it may require a new fitting – or even a new length of pipe – to make it watertight again.
Similar small leaks can also occur on radiator valves and you may end up with black stains from the leaking water on your carpet. A plumber will have a special kit to freeze pipes, isolating the affected area so that a radiator valve can be changed without having to drain the whole system – saving a great deal of disruption.
Sometimes, steel radiators can develop leaks – a telltale rusty streak is the indicator. The radiator will have to be replaced, but again, a professional can remove it without major upheaval. Apart from manufacturing defects, one of the main causes of radiator failure is the lack of inhibitor – a chemical that prevents corrosion – in the heating system. If a radiator has failed, get the tradesman to add some to the system while he’s there.
Finally, lots of plumbing problems require the water to be shut off. If your stopcock is being stubborn, call in a plumber to replace it. It’s a job a professional can tackle with ease – and one that could prevent a disaster in the future.
Tags: basin, bathroom, builder, carpet, dripping tapk dripping water, environment, leak, leakage, leaking tap, plumber, pocket, radiator, radiator valves, save environment, save money, save water, sink, steel radiator, tap, tradesman, woodwork
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From zero carbon to wind turbines, there are tons of eco features that can be added to your home. With Home Reports having been made statutory, it is more important than ever to be seen to be green. It is easier than ever to add a few eco features to your existing home – thus salving your conscience and saving you a few pounds on your energy bill.
 Green Eco Home Even if you just want to re-decorate, it’s possible to do this in an eco way. Many paints used in home decorating contain harmful chemicals, however natural paints are more popular than ever, and you can even choose from a gorgeous range of shade. Wallpaper also comes in environmentally-friendly options, using paper from sustainable, renewable forests, and even using water-based inks that don’t contain toxic chemicals or solvents. Eco design warrior Oliver Heath has a great range of environmentally sound wallpapers on his website www.ecocentric.co.uk
Ensuring that your home is well-insulated not only reduces the amount of energy you consume, but also cuts your heating bills. All types of insulation benefit the environment, but there are various natural options available, from recycled materials to sheep’s wool. Your builder will be able to advise on and source these products easily. Cellulose fibre is the newest insulation material to become popular. It’s made from recycled, fireproofed newsprint making it extremely safe to use as well as massively friendly to the environment. Other insulation types can be made from old denim jeans, hemp, cotton clothes or even recycled plastic bottles. The traditional eco choice, sheep’s wool insulation is highly efficient and very environmentally friendly. Once again, various grants may be available, depending on your circumstances. See www.government-grants.co.uk for full details of government grants.
Moving inside the home, another option is to install a wood burning stove, which is much more efficient than an open fire. Whether you want to just heat your lounge or the water for your whole house, wood burning stoves and boilers are becoming an increasingly popular alternative to oil and gas. And wood is a carbon neutral resource – well-managed woodlands also have benefits for wildlife and conservation, making your eco choice all the more effective. Stovax are one of the best manufacturers of stylish wood-burning stoves – see www.stovax.com for their modern and traditional models.
While it’s great to ensure you’re maximising the heat in your home, it’s even better to ensure that heat is generated in an ecological way. One of the most efficient ways of saving money in the long term is to maximise the free heating from the sun: harness solar energy. By absorbing as much natural sunlight and heat as possible, an eco home reduces the need for supplementary heating, a technique known as passive solar gain.
If you have a house or are on the top floor of a maisonette or flat, the roof pitch of your home could allow for solar panels. Water heated by the sun can cover around 65% of a family’s annual hot water needs, in the summer this can rise to 90%. A builder will be able to give you an idea of how effective this will be in your particular area.
Wind turbines are growing in popularity and are a great way to provide clean, renewable energy. They convert the kinetic energy in wind into mechanical energy. The cost of implementing this method really depends on how much energy you wish to generate. A low efficiency wind turbine can be picked up for as little as £200 and can be fitted relatively easily – although it’s always best to call the professionals! Planning permission is needed for the installation of a wind turbine, so make sure to check the legalities, although your builder or supplier should be able to advise. Also, if you should wish to sell your turbine at any time, there is a market for second-hand models. See www.provenenergy.co.uk for information on buying and selling wind turbines.
Geothermal heat harnesses energy from the earth by circulating water through plastic pipes buried in the ground. Because they can be fitted to the outside of any building (subject to the relevant planning permissions) they are perfect for retro-fitting. Grants can be available to add to the inherent financial incentives of incorporating these green technologies in your eco home. Further information can be found at www.energygrants.co.uk.
Saving water is an important consideration when trying to make your home more eco-friendly. A grey-water system stores water you have already used in a large tank underground. The water comes from the dishwasher, washing machine, bath and sinks, and is then re-used for flushing your toilet or watering the garden. Rainwater harvesting systems follow the same principle, collecting water that falls on the roof, discarding leaves and other debris, before storing the water for re-use. It is estimated that more than 50% of mains water can be substituted by rainwater – a very important saving when you think how much water we all use in an average day. A plumber will be able to maximise the effect of this sort of work. Dual flush systems on bathroom cisterns also minimise water wastage – something that can easily be installed as part of a bathroom renovation.
By using local builders, you also put money into the local economy. Thinking global and acting local is an important part of saving the planet. Compile a list of the eco jobs you need doing – whether it’s upping your insulation or installing solar panels – and let our local tradesmen quote for them. Being green is as easy as that!
Tags: boiler, cellulose fibre, dual flush cistern, eco, eco features, eco paints, green, green issues, grey water system, home insulation, home report, Home Reports, Insulation, lower heating bills, natural paints, passive solar gain, rainwater harvesting, re-using grey water, refurbish, renewable energy, renovate, roof, save money, saving water, sheep’s wool insulation, solar energy, solar heating, solar panel, solar power, wind energy, wind turbine, wind turbines, wood-burning boiler, wood-burning stove, zero carbon
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When choosing new or replacement windows for our properties, the two things most frequently considered are appearance and price. If, however, a London window fitter could show you the potential energy loss as a style or a discount, we may reconsider our priorities. According to the Energy Savings Trust, replacing single glazed windows with energy efficient double glazing in London would save the average homeowner £130.00 per year. When you consider that a good quality double glazing unit should last 10 years or more – that represents a considerable saving!
Conduction – The direct transfer of heat through the windows to the outdoors.
![](http://www.mr-skill.co.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/dripping-tap1.jpg" "Water dripping from tap")
