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Posts Tagged ‘Central Heating<’
Posted in Electrical Work on Aug 17
According to fire experts, the many fatalities resulting from fires in our homes could reduce to virtually zero, if householders just made themselves more aware of their domestic situation, and what causes fires in the first place. Mr-Skill has a passion for safety both at home and at work, and any accident prevented is good news indeed! We dedicate this article to the matter of safety, with a particular focus on the common causes of fires at home. Creating awareness is the first step towards a better understanding, and averting potential disaster.
Kitchen Fires
Invariably, these result from using faulty appliances, or from unsupervised pots and pans left alone during the cooking process. Open frying takes pole position when it comes to serious kitchen fires. The message is clear:
- Have your appliances checked by an electrician if you suspect any safety issues. You can find an electrician right here on Mr-Skill – we have several members on board and on call to assist you now.
- Never leave a pot or pan unattended on the hob, and keep a careful watch over food cooking in the oven too.
- If you fry frequently, rather buy yourself a modern sealed appliance such as an air fryer. Apart from fire safety, you can dramatically reduce the cooking odours in your home too, not to mention the calories adding to your midrift!
Central Heating Fires
Faulty equipment, malfunctions, and dust make our home heating systems the second most common cause of home fires. During the winter months, our heating systems are running 24/7, so get an electrical quote right here, and have your central heating system serviced regularly. Mr-Skill loves the timeless adage that prevention is far better than cure!
Other Common Causes
Cigarettes, candles and general electrical fires are all potential threats in our homes. Many of our regular London electricians are amazed at the sheer carelessness that all too often results in a devastating home fire. As one of them put it recently “a naked flame in an enclosed space is a recipe for disaster, particularly where children are concerned”. It all boils down to vigilance and common sense, but one last word from Mr-Skill – make sure you know all your emergency contact numbers, and teach your kids what to do if they find themselves in an emergency.
Tags: accident, awareness, Central Heating, children, cooking, cooking utensils, dust, electrical fault, electrical quote, emergency, emergency contacts, fatalities, faulty appliances, find an electrician, fire, frying, home fire, house fire, london electricians, malfunction, pans, pots
Posted in Electrical Work | Comments Off
Now that the cold weather has moved on, it’s time to be thinking of your central heating system with a view to some maintenance. Just like a car, regular maintenance on your core heating system is vital. Left to chance, you could end up facing enormous bills for entire system replacement, where routine inspections could have avoided all that.
Thermostat Check
Modern home heating systems allow you to control the degree of heat through a conveniently mounted thermostat – it’s usually located in the hallway passage.  In the warmer months you can switch off the thermostat or set it well down, so that the system never actually kicks in. Keep in mind that thermostats can develop faults, but replacing them is probably a job best left to an expert – you can find a heating technician right here on Mr-Skill.
Other Areas You Can Check
Assuming you are quite familiar with your central heating system, there are some tasks you could perform yourself. Remember though, that the skills level is moderate, indicating that we assume a minimum level of knowledge and experience here:
- Furnace Filters – These should be changed each year, especially if you have furry friends such as cats and dogs. Moreover, if you run air-conditioning in the hotter months, you can expect more dust and fluff in the atmosphere of your home. Dirty furnace filters are easily detected when the central heating struggles to push warm air about.
Interlude: Don’t forget that central heating systems cost a lot of money, so rather than fiddle with them yourself, get a heating quote right here on Mr-Skill.
- Internal and External Wall Vents – It is essential to clear obstructions from the vents to ensure efficient air flow. Inside, you should check for household dust and insects, whereas outside vents tend to clog with leaves and other debris. Don’t forget to keep your cold-air return vents clear as well.
Cautionary
Pilot Light Inspection – About the only other routine maintenance you can perform yourself, is to check the flame-quality of your central heating pilot light. With the prevalence of natural gas these days, you should see a clear blue flame. If it’s yellow or orange in appearance though, then a problem is indicated, so find a heating technician without delay.
A Little Knowledge Can be Dangerous
One of our London heating experts laughs to himself when he gets called out to fix a problem caused by a DIY “heating expert”. He says that the old adage “penny wise and pound foolish” is so relevant to his line of business!
Tags: Central Heating, dust, find a plumbing-heating-and-gas expert, flame, furnace filters, heat, knowledge, leaves, london heating specialist, maintenance, plumbing-heating-and-gas quote, thermostat, vents, warm air
Posted in Plumbing, Heating & Gas | Comments Off
During the long cold British winter the central heating system in a house should be the friend that welcomes you back  home and keeps you tucked up snugly at night as well. Unfortunately some of take this friend for granted for too long, and so we see it breaking down at the very time we need it most.
This should all be avoidable when we find a plumber on Mr-Skill to take care of it on a maintenance contract for us.
A central heating system should in theory be foolproof were it not for the impurities in our water that cause scale. The owner of Mister Plumber London has a stated policy of attending to the following once or even twice a year:
o External inspection for visual damage and corrosion
 o Examination of radiators, radiator valves and feeder pipes for structural integrity
o Inspection for scale, and scale removal as required
o System adjustments to ensure optimum thermal efficiency.
When you get plumbing quotes to attend to your central heating system, remember to make sure that a Gas Safe registered technician will be on hand as required. Mr-Skill lists many plumbing companies that match this requirement and are rated too.
Tags: adjust, Central Heating, corrosion, damage, descale, external, find a plumber, gas safe, inspect, leak, maintenance contract, pipe, plumber london, plumber quote, plumbing job london, plumbing quote, radiator, remove, repair, requirement, rust, scale, thermal, valve, winter
Posted in Plumbing, Heating & Gas | Comments Off
During the incredibly cold weather over Christmas and New Year everybody’s central heating systems and gas effect fires were maxed (and many probably still are) while the cooker worked overtime preparing roasts and curries. Unfortunately  not everybody knows what to do when a gas related problem occurs, usually after a long period of poor maintenance. If you are in any doubt at all about the safety of your equipment then you are urgently advised to find a Gas Fitter on Mr Skill.
As a homeowner or landlord you are responsible by law for the safe functioning of the gas fittings and appliances on your property, and are required to ensure that these are checked annually by a Gas Safe Registered Installer. Tenants are obliged to cooperate and to admit a Gas Repairperson whenever their services are required.
Each year people in the UK die unnecessarily from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by improperly installed or maintained domestic gas systems. You cannot see, taste or smell it, yet it could kill you after just a few hours exposure. Symptoms of poisoning include headaches, difficulty in thinking clearly, and feeling tired and sick.
 If you suspect a problem …..
o Extinguish all open fires and cigarettes
o Switch off all heating and cooking appliances
o Open all doors and windows
o Consult a doctor at once
o Find a Gas Fitter registered with Gas Safe.
The best and only way to play safe in the long run is to get Gas Fitter quotes on Mr-Skill, and ask them inspect your home every year. Never try to do the inspections yourself – gas is too dangerous to take chances. Rather concentrate on enjoying a good sleep at night with no worries.
Tags: appliance, carbon monoxide, Central Heating, cigarettes, CO, cooker, cooking, doctor, doors, equipment, find a plumber, fitter, fitting, gas, gas fitter, gas related problem, gas safe, homeowner, installer, landlord, maintenance, plumber london, plumber quote, plumbing job london, plumbing quote, problem, safety, see, smell, symptoms, system, taste, windows
Posted in Plumbing, Heating & Gas | Comments Off
 With no sign of an Indian Summer this year, it looks as if autumn is well and truly upon us and time to prepare the home against the ravages of winter. Mr Skill has prepared a checklist below of the most common jobs that need to be done around your property at this time of year to ensure that, when the spring arrives, your home is still in good condition and you do not have to make costly repairs.
Dealing with the 4 Seasons
The October Checklist
Draught Proofing
 One of the biggest and most expensive wastes of resources this winter will be the heat that escapes through your un-draught proofed windows and doors. As well as wasting around £25.00 per year in lost heat, once you have properly insulated your doors and windows, you will be able to turn the thermostat down a degree or two and safe another £50.00 over the winter months.
You can get free quotes from handymen in London for draught proofing your doors and windows through our Tradesmen´s Directory, or tackle the job yourself with a little help from the Mr Skill Project Advice section.
Replacement Doors and Windows
 If doors and windows themselves are in a poor state of repair, it may be time to consider replacing them. Typical tell-tale signs are when doors and windows stick or squeak when you try to open or close them, and installing new doors and windows can add to the kerb appeal of your property as well as saving you money by being more energy efficient.
We have a number of highly rated local window fitters in London listed in our Tradesmen´s Directory, or you may choose to install a replacement window yourself with assistance from Mr Skill´s Project Advice pages.
Central Heating Systems
 An inefficient central heating system will cost you money throughout the next six to none months and potentially have its life span reduced if rust deposits and air-locks hinder the flow of water and induce pump failure. Flushing your central heating system is the best way of improving your central heating system´s performance, but it may only be necessary to bleed your radiators to ensure your house remains warm throughout the coming months.
It is a busy time of year for companies providing gas fitting services in London, so it is recommended that you use the “Post-a-Job” facility at the top of each page to get plumbers quotes from heating engineers in London.
Trees
 If you have trees in you garden, it is the right time of year to prune them back and remove any weak branches that may fall during high winds and heavy rain. As well as the safety aspect of not having great weights of wood crashing through your car windscreen or damaging you patio furniture, pruning your trees in autumn will allow more light to enter your home, potentially saving you money on lighting. Local gardeners in London would also suggest that the dead and decaying would is not just thrown away, but used to make stumperies for your garden´s wildlife.
Walls
 You should do a regular inspection of the walls surrounding your home – garden walls and the brickwork of the property itself – to check for cracks and damaged bricks which may suffer from the freeze-thaw effect over the winter. Our “Post-a-Job” facility will enable you to get quotes from bricklayers in London should you need to replace damaged bricks or repoint your brickwork. If the weather is kind in your area over the next couple of weeks, you may also want to consider re-painting the exterior of your property – but only once you have read our blog about “What the Exterior Colour of Your Home Says About You”!
Guttering and Roofs
 It is also the time of year to clean and repair guttering on roofs, garages and conservatories. Gutters can easily be blocked at any time of year by leaves, moss, feathers, dirt and other rubbish which has blown into them and the guttering runs can age prematurely when water fails to flow away. Whilst you are up the ladder, it is also a good opportunity to check for damaged or displaced roofing tiles which will allow the rain in and potentially cause a damp problem. A good selection of local roofers in London is available in our Tradesmen´s Directory should you find that you roof could benefit from a professional´s opinion.
Tags: brickwork, Central Heating, doors and windows, energy efficiency, Find a Bricklayer in London, Find a Builder in London, Find a Gardener in London, find a handyman in London, Find a Plumber in London, Find a Roofer in London, freeze-thaw, Guttering, Guttering & Drainage, Home Improvements, Home Maintenance, Insulation, Kerb Appeal, tradesman, windows
Posted in Dealing With The Four Seasons | Comments Off
Posted in Bricklaying, Carpentry & Joinery, Electrical Work, General Building, Handyman Services, Plastering & Drywall, Plumbing, Heating & Gas, Roofing, Gutters & Drainage, Tiling & Flooring, Window & Door Fitting on Sep 15
 According to research conducted by Saga Personal Finance, more than a third of UK homeowners over 50 say that their homes are in need of repair, and an alarming one in seven state that they cannot afford to fix their problems.
London appears to be the worst hit area, with 42% of respondents from the capital saying that their houses needing some sort of repair, with the most common complaints being inadequate roofing, blocked gutters, and failed central heating systems – jobs that the elderly are unable to do themselves and need a handyman in London to perform.
The findings disclose that as many as one in five women over 50 living on their own are forced to let their homes deteriorate as they cannot afford to make the necessary repairs, whilst over half have to reluctantly dig into savings, as their pensions are inadequate to cover the cost of home maintenance.
Although Saga Personal Finance suggest that the way forward for these London homeowners is to take out equity release on their homes, we would suggest that anybody requiring a home roofing repair or central heating service done before the winter sets in should use the “Post-a-Job” facility at the top of the page to attract quotes from tradesmen in London and get the best deal to prevent your London home from falling apart.
Tags: Central Heating, find a Heating Engineer in London, Find a Roofer in London, find a tradesmen, Guttering, Guttering & Drainage, Heating Engineers, Home Maintenance, home repairs, Roofing, tradesmen london, tradesmen quotes
Posted in Bricklaying, Carpentry & Joinery, Electrical Work, General Building, Handyman Services, Plastering & Drywall, Plumbing, Heating & Gas, Roofing, Gutters & Drainage, Tiling & Flooring, Window & Door Fitting | Comments Off
 When you touch your central heating radiators and they feel hot at the bottom but cool on top, it is time to bleed your radiators. Bleeding your radiators releases air that has got trapped in the central heating system over a period of time, and makes your central heating system work more efficiently and your house warmer.
Check if you have a combination boiler or gravity fed central heating system – if a combination boiler, you will need to know how to re-pressurise the system after you have bled the radiators. The manufacturers guide should explain this to you or a heating engineer in London will be able to do it for you at a reasonable cost.
The bleed valve is situated at the top of your radiator, and you should insert the bleed key and give it a small turn anti-clockwise until you start to hear a hiss as the trapped air starts to escape. It is useful to have an old cloth at hand in case some drops of water escape with the air. When the water in the radiator reaches the level of the valve, give the key a clockwise turn to close the valve – although not to tight as you may damage the thread.
Check all the radiators in your system as if one needs bleeding, quite frequently they all do – you just have not noticed it yet. If you have any problems accessing the bleed valve or do not know how to re-pressurise your central heating system, please consult a heating engineer in London via our Tradesmen´s Directory.
Please also read our blog post – “A Summer Flush will Save you Money” – as we approach October 1st – traditionally the day on which many people in the UK switch on their central heating systems for the winter
Tags: Central Heating, Combination Boiler, find a Heating Engineer in London, Heating Engineers, Home Maintenance, radiator, Radiator Flush, radiator valves, save money, Tradesmen´s Directory
Posted in Plumbing, Heating & Gas | Comments Off
There is a little confusion amongst homeowners and DIY enthusiasts about what can and can´t be done in terms of electrical work in the home. Although it is always best to refer to a qualified electrician in London, there are a number of jobs you can still do by yourself without having to seek approval from your Local Authority Building Control.
 Change white electrical switches, sockets etc. and replace with decorative finishes- Replace or repair a socket, light or cable in any room Add extra spurs, sockets or lights to an existing circuit (except in a kitchen, bathroom, or outdoors)
- Fit or replace an electric shower, cooker, garage doors or gates (unless a new circuit is needed)
- Install CE marked prefabricated modular kitchen lighting systems to an existing connection unit or socket outlet
- Install security lighting or air-conditioning to the outside wall of the house provided that there are no exposed outdoor connections (unless a new circuit is needed)
Instances where you do need to get Building Control approval include:-
- Adding new circuits to your existing installation
- Any work (other than repairs or replacements) in a room where there is water (e.g. kitchen, bathroom, etc.)
- Any work (other than repairs or replacements) outdoors (e.g. installing garden lighting or sockets, etc.)
- Replacing a consumer unit
- Installing new central heating control wiring
- Installing a socket outlet on an external wall
It is strongly recommended that any electrical work you carry out yourself is checked by a registered electrician in London to ensure your safety and also that it complies with Part P of the Building Regulations.
It is also advisable that you familiarise yourself with the cable colour changes that were introduced in 2006 – particularly if working on an older property which may still have the original wiring. You can > Click Here < to download the IET guide to the new cable colours or consult with one of the local electricians in London featured in our Tradesmen´s Directory.
Tags: bathroom, Building Control, building regulations, Building Regulations Part P, cable, cable colours, Central Heating, Electrical Work, Electricians in London, Find an Electrician in London, lighting, plug, Plumbing, socket
Posted in Electrical Work, Handyman Services | Comments Off
 If you are a long suffering parent, trying to get your kids to shower frequently (girls as well as boys in our experience!), you might find a solution to your problem amongst our inspirational shower options. Although many may look like you need an advanced physics degree in order to get your hair wet, these showers offer the ultimate in comfort, style and hygiene.
Modern shower cabins may closely resemble the appearance of the space shuttle, but for a healthy and luxurious “vertical bathing experience” there is nothing that comes close in personal hygiene. Many of these cabins double up as saunas with a high temperature steam generation facility to expedite blood circulation.
 Saunas also help to relax your body, improve blood circulation, eliminate fatigue and recover physical strength. For anybody who has breathing difficulties in your family, the shower cabin steam facility has a curative effect on asthma and bronchitis as well as easing rheumatism, rheumatic arthritis, and back pain. It helps you lose weight too!
The more advanced models have computerised LCD control panels to control the flow of water in the “rainfall” ceiling shower, production of steam, lighting, massaging jets, foot massager, ozone sterilisation system, sound system, telephone and the Whirlpool 96 model (pictured right) has an 8.4 inch television and four litre fridge!
 And it is not just shower cabins that can provide the ultimate showering experience. This exceptional shower from German manufacturer Kuhler (pictured right) is built into the entrance of an en-suite bathroom, so there is no excuse for forgetting to have that shower in the morning yourself – it is barely something you can walk past and ignore!
We have added a few more inspirational designs below to encourage your children to step into a world they may have never experienced before (a shower cabin – not a wash!). At around three grand per installation, you are going to spend a lot of money keeping your kids clean, but surely the little darlings are worth it?
For something a little more modest, you might like to try your hand at fitting your own shower units. We have a four part guide in our Project Advice section which covers how to install the drainage, how to connect the water supply, how to fit the shower tray and how to install the shower enclosure. If you do not fancy doing it yourself, why not ask one of the highly rated tradesmen in our Tradesmen´s Directory to email you with some tradesmen´s quotes. London is also the home for many good plumbers, builders, electricians and handymen, and you can alert them to your need for a new shower installation in our “Post-a-Job” facility at the top of each page.
Tags: Bath and Heating, bathroom, body jet shower, Building Regulations Part H, Building Regulations Part P, Central Heating, Electrical Work, Find a Builder in London, Find a Plumber in London, Find a Tiler in London, Find an Electrician in London, Handyman Services, Part P Approval, Plumbing, shower cabins, shower enclosure, shower tray, showers, water pipes, water pressure, water pump
Posted in Plumbing, Heating & Gas | Comments Off
 To install a shower in your bathroom requires four stages – the waste pipes and trap, the water supply for your shower, the installation of a shower tray and fitting the shower enclosure. For the first two elements, you may need the services of a plumber in London or, for the latter two, a local handyman to help with the installation. Also, if you are going to be including a direct heat water boiler in your shower installation (rather than run it from your existing central heating supply) or a new shower pump, you will need to have your electrical work checked by a London electrician to ensure that it complies with the Building Regulations Part P.
Please note that if you are considering a body jet shower, direct heat water boilers do not have the power capacity for delivering a sufficient volume of water.
Stage4 – Fitting the Shower Enclosure
If you have not yet bought your shower enclosure, you might just want to take a look at our “Inspirations” feature about body jet showers and shower cabins. There are many different types of shower enclosures you can choose from and many of them will come with their own fitting instructions, but as a rule they follow the procedures below.
Note: With any enclosure it is vital that the wall and tray are fully waterproof, and that the uprights of the frame are vertical.
Start by laying the two fixed side panels flat, and putting a bead of anti-fungal silicone sealant into the channels at the top and bottom. Then gently attach the head and sill rails (there are normally screws provided) and slide on the plastic guide tracks. If the tracks are too long, use a hacksaw to trim them to the required length.
Push two of doorstops into the guide tracks and move them into the middle but do not tighten them up yet.
Stand the shower enclosure upright and slide the curved sliding doors into the head and sill rails, ensuring that the doors are the right way round! Then insert another doorstop into both the head and sill rails. Again, do not tighten them up yet.
Attach the wall channels to each side of the shower enclosure and stand it up on the shower tray – double checking that it is vertical. From the inside of the shower enclosure, use a wipe-dry marker pen to mark the positions for the fixing holes on the wall through the pre-drilled holes in the wall channels.
Take the shower enclosure away from the shower tray and check for hidden pipes and cables behind the fixing positions you have just made on the wall with an electronic detector. If all is clear then drill the fixing holes in the marked positions. Push rawlplugs into the holes, making sure they go in beyond the depth of the tile.
Run a generous bead of anti-fungal silicone sealant down both wall channels. Put the enclosure back onto the shower tray, screw in the fixing screws and remove any excess sealant with a wet sponge.
From inside the shower enclosure, drill holes in the wall channels and into the frame. Secure with the screws that are normally provided and cover the heads with screw caps (usually also normally provided). Drill through the plastic guide track and inner head channel, and now you can screw the doorstops into position.
If you have not already done so, seal the join between the tray and the tiled wall with a continuous bead of sanitary silicone sealant and continue around the outside edges of the enclosure.
If you have difficulty with fitting the shower enclosure, or with any stage of installing a new shower, you may wish to take advantage of some of the services available from tradesmen in London to help you finish the job
A tiler in London if your bathroom or shower room requires tiling or you have recessed the pipework into a wall. This is best done before completing the installation of your new shower.
A London plumber will also be able to help connect the waste pipe from your new shower to an existing waste water escape and assist with construction of the pipework for a new installation.
Local electricians in London will be required if you are installing an electric water heater or pump for your shower. Even if you are confident of doing this part of the job by yourself, your finished installation still requires “approval” under Part P of the Building Regulations
For other stages of “How to Install a Shower”, please see:-
Stage 1 – Drainage
Stage 2 – The Water Supply
Stage 3 – The Shower Tray
Tags: anti-fungal, Bath and Heating, bathroom, body jet shower, Building Regulations Part H, Building Regulations Part P, Central Heating, drainage system, drainpipe, Electrical Work, Find a Builder in London, Find a Plumber in London, Find a Tiler in London, Find an Electrician in London, Handyman Services, Part P Approval, Plumbing, shower enclosure, shower tray, showers, silicone sealant, waste pipes, water pipes, water pressure, water pump, water trap
Posted in Plumbing, Heating & Gas | Comments Off
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