apb-plumbing

Why I Love Air Source Heat Pumps!

Thu, 10 Jun 2021 08:58:26 GMT

Did you know that the average air source heat pump is around 400% efficient?

Have you ever stood near or behind a fridge and felt the fan pushing out warm or hot air? Well, an air source heat pump works in the opposite way. It uses electric (in the same way as a fridge) to push energy (heat) into your home and expel the cold air via the unit (mounted outside.)

For those of you visualizing your electricity meter ticking away, you might be surprised to know that the average air source heat pump is around 400% efficient. This means you put roughly a £1 in and you get approximately £4 worth of energy out!

So, if they’re that good, why are they not as popular as other more traditional boilers or ground source heat pumps? A lot of people are put off due to the increased initial install cost and don’t seem to be able to see beyond this.

Due to the fact that air source heat pumps are highly efficient heating systems, they do have the potential to lower your energy bills but this will of course depend on the current heating system you have in place. However, this is not the only financial benefit to installing an air source heat pump. You can currently actually earn money from having one of these clever pumps installed. Indeed, the kind of money you can earn from these pumps could cover the initial installation cost!

Renewable energy is cost efficient and helps the environment

Most people are familiar with schemes and subsidies offered to people who use renewable energy sources at home and sell their energy back to the grid, not only helping to lower their energy bills but improving their carbon footprint, too. The Renewable Heat Incentive will pay homeowners that have invested in renewable technologies and air source heat pumps come under the “renewables” umbrella. So, if you don’t fancy installing a wind turbine in your front garden, you could still be paid quarterly over 7 years, potentially seeing you earn back the initial costs – probably worth noting at this point that only air-to-water heat pumps are eligible, not air-to-air heat pumps.

That said, for all the eco-warrior money-saving experts out there, you could turn your property into an entirely self-sufficient energy hub, by using PV (photo-voltaic) panels on your roof or mounted in your garden to off-set the electricity used to run your air source heat pump! On the eco-warrior front, it’s also worth noting that air source heat pumps generate less CO2 than more conventional heating systems.

For optimal cost-efficiency, due to the fact that the heat produced by ASHPs is at a lower temperature than that produced by more traditional heating systems, it’s recommended to use a pump in conjunction with underfloor heating rather than radiators. That said, valuable savings can still be made, even with radiators.

Save energy, save money, save the planet!

Similar to PV panels, air source heat pumps are often referred to as ‘fit and forget’ technology. Even if you’re a landlord, have a second property or occasionally do an Air B&B let, you can forget about having to call a plumber or gas engineer out for your yearly service or maintenance certificate. These marvellous pumps require very little maintenance and can be left alone to get on with efficiently heating your home. It is, however, recommended, but not a legal requirement, to have the appliance serviced annually to make sure it’s operating well and this is particularly true if it has been fitted near to a hedge or tree where falling leaves or debris need to be cleaned from the grill to improve efficiency.

A standard, good-quality, modern combi boiler lasts approximately fifteen years and is legally required to be serviced in rental properties every year. The operating life of an air source heat pump is up to 20 years, with some even stretching as far as 25 years and it does not legally require servicing, even for rentals. Currently, the approximate cost for a standard boiler service is between £60-£80. Clearly over time, as with all things, this price could increase but if we say £75 on average over 15 years, that’s a cost of £1125 that a landlord could save on servicing and potentially have a fully-functioning, highly-efficient, environmentally-friendly way of heating his/her property for another ten years on top!

So how much are we talking to have an air source heat pump installed, including all parts and labour? in a typical home, it can cost between £4,000 – £11,000. This may sound like a hefty price tag but when you consider that it could be efficiently heating your home for around 25 years with greatly reduced heating bills, earning potential through RHIs (Renewable Heating Incentives) and little to no maintenance, it will soon start paying for itself.

Homeowners that have invested in and installed the latest A-rated boilers can rest assured that they already have an efficient heating system that will be able to heat their home at high temperatures. However, as efficient as your boiler might be, you won’t be able to benefit from potential RHI payments and your boiler may not last as long as the “fit and forget” technology you would find in an air source heat pump.

If you’re moving into a new build or live in an off-grid home that’s well-insulated then an air source heat pump would be a long term investment that, when partnered with underfloor heating, could see your energy bills reach a new low!

If you are interested in installing an air source heat pump in your property, why not give me a call for a chat or a free no-obligation quote on 01983 608308 or send me a message .

How can I solve issues with Legionella in my hot water system?

Sun, 09 May 2021 10:46:39 GMT

Roughly 200 people per year die because of Legionella and these deaths are entirely avoidable.

The design of most pipework and hot water systems aims to avoid temperatures within the system that encourage the growth of Legionella. Legionella is a bacterium that is naturally found in small quantities in most water systems, but faulty systems and poor system management will increase the growth of Legionella which can cause potentially fatal consequences.

Roughly 200 people per year die because of Legionella and these deaths are entirely avoidable. Maintaining a supply temperature of at least 60°C from the heat source and/or storage vessel (calorifier) is essential in avoiding the build-up and growth of Legionella as it would not survive these temperatures.

Hotels, care homes and large private residential properties need to ensure they are protecting themselves against Legionella.

The hot water priority circulating loop should be designed to give a return temperature very similar to the outlet temperature, if the pipe work is well insulated. Ensuring you have appropriate means for measuring temperature by manually checking with a thermometer or with a built-in BMS system, is essential.

All pipe branches (subordinate loops) to outlets such as showers, basins or baths, should be sufficiently insulated to enable the hot water at each outlet to reach 50°C or above within one minute of turning on the tap.

This is written in the HSE regulations (L8) about water temperature testing and is the basic rule of thumb for a standard hot water system. However, many large buildings, including hotels, care homes and large private residential properties need to look a little closer at the HSE guidance to ensure they are protecting themselves against Legionella.

Are you testing your system at least quarterly?

If a tap took 55 seconds to produce hot water of 50°C or more it would “pass the test” as it would be under the one-minute guideline. However, the same tap could only be a few metres away from the subordinate loop and should therefore only take a few seconds to heat up. This kind of reading would tend to indicate a significant issue with the pump and/or balancing valves on the subordinate loops. These issues would contribute to the growth of Legionella and presumptive CFUs (other potentially harmful bacteria or algae) in the subordinate loop and yet, the whole system could be said to have “passed the test”. Knowing the layout and schematics of your hot water system is essential as by law, commercial businesses and properties need to test the subordinate loops at least quarterly, and monthly if there have been previous issues with Legionella.

If you know the length and diameter of pipe from the subordinate loop, it is fairly straightforward to calculate the time it takes to get over 50°C. If, after your calculations, hot water is slow to arrive at your tap, it will mean that the subordinate loop is not moving adequately and can grow Legionella.

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It’s well worth getting a plumbing specialist to balance your hot water system flow and return circuits in order to avoid long lengths of stagnant pipework. If there is no flow or poor flow in your pipework, slow moving water is likely to be at a lower temperature, encouraging bacterial growth.

Dead legs and redundant pipework wherever possible, should always be removed and spare bedrooms with en-suites that are rarely used should, be flushed at least weekly to prevent stagnation. It’s often surprising how many people have sinks or basins that remain unused in their homes without realising that they are potential breeding grounds for Legionella.

If you need support to inspect or balance your hot water system and identify any Legionella risks, please contact Adam by calling on 01983 608308 or click here to send a message .

Is it worth getting a water softener fitted?

Mon, 12 Apr 2021 13:18:26 GMT

We have naturally hard water here on the Isle of Wight, but we don’t have to have it in our homes.

Some people have just accepted that their plates and glasses will be streaky when they come out of the dishwasher, that their hair isn’t as glossy as the adverts had promised after washing it with that expensive shampoo, that their towels aren’t quite as fluffy as they should be unless they’ve doubled up on the fabric softener before washing them or that they regularly spend a fortune on cleaning products to get rid of chalky residue on shower heads or screens.

The recent Coronavirus epidemic has made a lot of people think about a change of career. One lucrative option on the Isle of Wight would certainly be to sell white goods and domestic appliances! These items bear the daily brunt of the hard water here – it’s rich in minerals like calcium, manganese and magnesium carbonate - which can end up costing us a fortune in both time and money.

Repairing and replacing washing machines, showers, taps, dishwashers, boilers and even coffee machines, kettles, tiles and shower screens on a regular basis can be an expensive and stressful business, which can so easily be avoided by having an affordable and cost-effective water softener fitted.

Limescale can clog up your shower heads and pipe work and it makes them much less efficient. I am regularly asked to fit extra-large, rain fall showerheads for designer bathroom makeovers. People will spend a fortune on these but ignore the fact that within a few months, the majority of the jets will be blocked with limescale, rendering their beautiful, expensive purchase no more effective than the most basic, budget-range shower head that could have been purchased for a fraction of the price.

Clean kettles and fluffy towels

The thing is, we might have naturally hard water here on the Isle of Wight, but we don’t have to have it in our homes. We can have a kettle that is not furred up and a cup of tea or coffee that doesn’t taste chalky.

It is actually possible to have shiny hair that doesn’t require expensive shampoos to make it glossy and we can have fluffy towels, too!

Types of water softener

There are two common ways of softening water and/or inhibiting limescale in a property. Fitting a Zinc Anode Limescale Inhibitor is a simple procedure; the product is very small and fits within the pipe run of the cold water main. It’s WRAS approved meaning that water that has passed through it, is safe to drink. This stops the limescale from forming bonds within itself and sticking to your appliances. It can usually be fitted within an hour and is usually guaranteed for up to 5 years.

The alternative, although more expensive and time-consuming to fit, is the larger, more standard water softener. Instead of preventing the limescale from sticking to your appliances, this option simply removes the limescale. It is usually fitted next to your incoming main under the kitchen sink and requires fortnightly or monthly top ups with salt pellets to maintain its efficiency.

AB Plumbing & Heating can advise you on fitting your water softener

Most of the damage I see on a regular basis with white goods and domestic appliances on the Isle of Wight has hard water and limescale at its source. Softening your water using either of the methods above saves time, stress and money in the long run and is well worth looking into. As far as hard water is concerned, prevention is most definitely better (and cheaper) than cure!

For a free quote for water softening services, please contact Adam on 01983 608308 or click here to send a message .

Underfloor heating – is it really worth it?

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 14:44:43 GMT

The bathroom and the kitchen no longer need to be the coldest rooms in the house.

The simple answer is yes.

We’ve moved on from a time when we were happy to unlock the door after an autumn’s day at work or a chilly winter walk and for our home to simply be warm.

Nowadays, we want our homes to look good but also for them to be energy-efficient and environmentally friendly whilst not costing the earth to run. More than ever, we’re interested in investing in our home in the right way to make more money, or at least make our money back, when we re-sell it.

Whether, like me, you’ve made the move to get rid of carpets for the easy-to-clean and more fashionable wooden, laminate or tiled flooring option or whether you’re passionate about interior design and can’t put your furniture in its optimum position because of bulky radiators, underfloor heating could well be for you.

Underfloor heating is a great way to keep your home warm. Not only is it lovely to walk on, it distributes heat evenly around each and every corner of the room, and it frees your walls from radiators, making more space for paintings, shelf units, furniture or even allows you to create an ultra-modern minimalist look if you so wish.

Warmer feet and a cooler head - oh, and good coffee!

However, many people are put off due to the cost it requires to install, particularly in older properties, so it’s important to seek advice and get as much information as possible before making a decision.

I have lived in properties both with and without underfloor heating. In life, it’s often the small things that make a big difference. Think about something we all do every day – imagine if that small thing was made lovely, what a difference it would make to your life. This is why people spend a fortune on expensive coffee machines! If your first cup of coffee every day is suddenly a luxurious experience, a moment you can savour and look forward to, rather than being just a cup of coffee before work, then the price of the coffee machine is worth it, no?

Imagine being able to walk around barefoot all year - it’s particularly lovely when stepping out of bed in a warm bedroom when it’s a cold and frosty morning outside and walking to the kitchen or the bathroom without the chill of the floor waking you up with a freezing jolt! The bathroom and the kitchen no longer need to be the coldest rooms in the house – they are welcoming and warm no matter what time of the day or night. What’s more, your floors will stay warm even if the windows are open or the room is very draughty – a common problem in older properties.

With a radiator, heat can and will escape easily through open doors or windows as radiators work on convection systems as well as radiating the heat outwards. Heat from underfloor radiates upwards, heating the floor area, not the ceiling allowing warmer feet and a cooler head!

You don’t need a special boiler or heating unit for underfloor heating, but investing in an air source heat pump is well worth it due to the potential for earning money through Renewable Heating Incentives (RHIs). That said, a good A-rated combi boiler would work equally well.

The bonus with under floor heating is that your boiler doesn’t have to work anywhere near as hard as it would do with a more traditional radiator system as the underfloor heating works at an altogether lower temperature (around 27°C). This uses less energy (around 16% less on average) which is a saving of around 16% off your energy bill.

So, if you’re spending £1000 on your energy bill per year, this could save you around £160 – that’s £1,600 over ten years which could be spent on a holiday, a deposit, or even having a heat recovery ventilation unit fitted, which could then save you even more money and increase the value of your property in the long term!

Underfloor heating can be installed below stone, tile, wood or even carpeted floors. That said, it works best if the carpet isn’t too thick - a 1.5 tog is generally considered the maximum suitable thickness.

Underfloor heating makes for clean lines, an uncluttered look

The drawbacks that are often quoted about underfloor heating are the initial costs in installation.

However, underfloor heating has a reputation for being state of the art and high spec and could attract buyers looking for a luxurious property. Have you ever looked at a room in a property and considered how your furniture would fit in it and then given up on the property as your sofa or bed wouldn’t work with the position of bulky radiators?

After all, who wants to sleep with their head next to a radiator and do you really want to pay for heat that is being trapped behind your wardrobe or disappearing out of an ill-fitting window?

When a buyer looks at your house, they need to imagine it as a blank canvas so that they can easily reconfigure the room with their own furniture. Blank walls that aren’t cluttered with dust-trap radiators are highly desirable and could enhance your home’s selling price.

Would you like to find out more about underfloor heating?

If you’re interested in underfloor heating and would like a chat or a free no obligation quote for your property, please get in touch by sending me a message or phone 01983 608308.

Gas Safety Information for Landlords

Tue, 02 Feb 2021 16:18:15 GMT

Understanding your gas safety responsibilities and protecting your tenants.

At APB Plumbing, we take gas safety seriously. For this reason, we have put together this handy guide for private landlords, so you can be assured that you are doing everything you need.

Call or email us for further information or to book an appointment.

Who is a landlord?

A landlord is anyone who rents out a property they own under a lease or a licence that is shorter than seven years. This may include a room in a private household, a bed-sit, a flat above a shop, an annexe, but also a block of flats, bed and breakfast accommodation, a hotel or even a narrowboat!

Even if you rent your property out using a managing agent, the responsibility for gas safety remains with the landlord unless it is clearly stated in the managing contract that the agent will carry out this task. If you rent out multiple properties, each will require its own certificate.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Advice for landlords

The HSE have provided specific guidance for landlords, to help them understand their responsibilities during the pandemic. https://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/help-and-advice/covid-19-advice-and-guidance/landlords .

This information applies only to England. Landlords in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland must check local guidelines.

What are your responsibilities as a landlord when it comes to gas safety?

As a landlord, you are responsible for the safety of your tenants. The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 cover a landlord’s duties to make sure gas appliances, fittings, chimneys and flues provided for his/her tenants are safe and working correctly.

For gas appliances, the three main legal responsibilities for a landlord are annual gas safety checks, providing the correct records to tenants and carrying out regular maintenance.

Gas safety checks
To ensure your tenants’ safety, all gas appliances and flues need to undergo an annual gas safety check - and always by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Think of gas boilers, gas cookers or gas fires. The regulations specify that a safety check must be carried out within 12 months of installation for any appliance you provide, and thereafter every year. Once this has been done, your gas engineer will provide you with a Landlord Gas Safety Record or Gas Safety Certificate. This includes details of all the checks that were carried out, and is also sometimes referred to as a CP12 certificate.

It’s worth noting that while tenants are responsible for their own gas appliances, you, as the landlord, are still responsible for the pipework they’re connected to.
Gas safety record
As a landlord, you must provide proof of the annual gas safety check to your tenants. This can be done in several ways:
Current tenants: By law, a copy of your current Landlord Gas Safety Record should be given to your tenants within 28 days of the gas safety check.
New tenants: A copy of your current Landlord Gas Safety Check must be provided at the start of their tenancy.
Short-term tenancies: For properties where rental periods tend to be less than 28 days, it is sufficient to clearly display a copy of the current Gas Safety Check in the property.
You will need to keep copies of any gas safety check record until a further two checks have been carried out. If the gas safety check highlighted issues of non-compliance, you must also provide proof that work has been carried out to fix the problem.
Maintenance
Landlords must make sure that all gas pipework, appliances, chimneys and flues are kept in safe condition. Check the gas appliances’ manufacturer guidelines (usually found in or with the user manual) to find out how often a service is recommended. If you are unsure, opt for an annual service visit. Please note that proof of annual maintenance is not the same as a gas safety certificate.
There are no formal requirements for you to provide maintenance records to tenants, but you must be able to show that you have regularly maintained the pipework, appliances and flues and have completed required repairs.

What if I can’t get access to my rented property?

The tenancy agreement should allow the landlord access for maintenance or safety checks, but if your tenant refuses you or your engineer access, you must show you've taken all 'reasonable steps' to comply with the law.

This includes repeated attempts (HSE inspectors will look for proof of at least 3 attempts) to carry out the checks and writing to the tenant to explaining that safety checks are a legal requirement in place for their own safety.

Keep a record of any action you take; you may need this at a later date.

How much does a Landlord Gas Safety check cost?

The cost of your Landlord Gas Safety check will depend on the Gas Safe registered business which carries out your annual gas safety check, as well as on the number of appliances that need to be inspected. Here at APB Plumbing, we carry out gas safety checks and maintenance island-wide, and we will be happy to provide you with a no-obligation quote.

Additional information

It’s always a good idea to ensure your tenants know where and how to turn the gas off and what to do in the event of a gas emergency.

Last but not least, make sure it is always a Gas Safe registered and qualified engineer who is carrying out gas maintenance or a gas safety check. Landlords are legally required to make sure this is the case - and it’s the most important step to ensuring your tenants’ safety.

A handy landlord’s gas safety checklist:

Check Gas Safe Register to find a qualified and registered engineer
Check with your tenants for convenient days for an engineer to call
Book an appointment in the 10th to 12th month following your previous check
Make sure any necessary repairs are carried out
Give a copy of the Gas Safe Record form to your tenants and file a copy for your records
Set a reminder for your next check in 10-12 months' time