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]]>When things go wrong with your heating system at home, call the professionals as quickly as possible. There isn’t time to make mistakes. But there are some jobs perfect for the plumbing savvy which can save you money. In 2018, the number of homeowners turning to DIY for home improvements increased five-fold to 15%, up from just 3%.
When redecorating your home, a radiator can get in the way of the new furniture layout, and sometimes you may find it would be more effective in another area. The good news is, moving it is possible and you can do it yourself at home with these simple tips.
Moving a radiator isn’t the ideal first project. This DIY task is more suited to people who have a sound knowledge of heating systems and plumbing. If you don’t, you could damage the heating system, the pipework, and even leak dirty water into your room. So make sure you’re competent and do your research before starting this task.
The first step is to measure the radiator and ensure it fits in its new location. This will save you a lot of time and regret knowing that when you move it, you have a viable place to put it. It’s also important to measure the distance between the bottom of the radiator and the floor to make room for the pipework below it. But if you’re not sure on how much pipework you’ll need, your best option is to consult a professional plumber who can advise you and minimise error.
Before you go to town ripping radiators off the wall, you must drain the heating system of water to avoid messy and expensive accidents. Make sure you turn off the boiler, isolate the electricity supply, then drain the system. If you leave the electricity supply on, your boiler could backfire, leading to overheating and burning out.
Once you have an empty system, it’s time to cap the pipework and prepare to move the radiator. You can use push-fit caps or the soldering method to cap off existing pipework.
You’ve already made the required measurements. All that’s left to do is install the radiator using the existing wall fixtures from the original radiator. If you buy a new set, you may find that the screws don’t fit. Do a check over to ensure the pipes are fitted correctly, before refilling the system.
Refilling the system and returning it to full working order requires a basic knowledge of plumbing. If you don’t know how to do this, contact an experienced plumber who can do this for you, ensuring you don’t cause any expensive damage.
It’s as simple as that! Even if all you have is some basic knowledge, it should be enough to get you through the project. But if at any point you don’t feel confident in your skills, contact a professional and have them do it instead.
The plumbers at GOS Heating are experienced and offer excellent value for money. As plumbing experts, we can take care of all your heating needs. Just call us on 01772 734 966 to get started.
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]]>The post Home improvements: should you find a professional or go DIY? appeared first on GOS Heating.
]]>Home improvement often feels never-ending. There’s always a job to do: the bathroom needs re-tiling, the living room’s desperate for another coat of paint, and those blocked gutters are causing problems.
For many of these jobs, DIY is the answer to get it done quickly and cost-effectively. However, larger, more complex home improvement projects aren’t so simple. They take time, require skill and experience, and can even be dangerous. Before diving right in and doing it yourself, let’s look at the advantages of calling in a professional.
When it comes to bigger, more complicated projects, chances are you may be able to complete it yourself. But it’s likely to take twice as long as a professional – perhaps even longer.
Projects like this often take more time than expected because of problems you encounter along the way. With a lack of experience, it’s easy to make mistakes and you have to waste time fixing them.
This can cause a great deal of stress for you and your family. A professional contractor will have experience dealing with similar jobs and give expert estimates about how long a job will really take.
There is a myth going around that it’s cheaper for homeowners to take on home improvement projects themselves. This may be true for smaller projects. But jobs that require skill and experience are generally more cost-effective when using a professional.
As costly mistakes are expensive to fix, lack of skill and knowledge can really bring up the costs of a project. This is particularly true for complex jobs such as boiler problems and plumbing and heating systems. In the worst-case scenario, failing to do a good job could even hurt the value of your home.
Professional contractors also have the added benefit of access to discounted high-quality materials and tools from industry contractors and wholesalers.
Clearly, the choice between DIY and hiring a professional is much more than money alone. Contractors can also offer a greater degree of safety, professionalism, quality, and efficiency. When you weigh up these benefits, it’s no wonder so many homeowners choose professional-quality work.
If you’re interested in carrying out home improvements like a new boiler or underfloor heating, GOS Heating may be able to help. If you have any queries, get in touch with us or give us a call on 01772 734 966.
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]]>If you’re planning any home improvements, it’s worth waiting for the right time. Certain times of the year lend themselves better to carrying out maintenance or renovations. Weather conditions can influence how effectively and efficiently the job gets done. It might seem obvious, but it’s worth saying – try to time any improvements around summer.
The reason for this goes far beyond the fact that most of us feel happier with the excess of vitamin D going around. Warmer temperatures, better ventilation opportunity, and reduced chances of mess all make summer the best time to switch out that old boiler or finally redecorate that living room.
It’s fair to say that in the summer of 2018 we got a generous amount of sun – way above average. June saw 142% of average and July 138%.
Warmer temperatures make summer the perfect time to switch out your old boiler or install that underfloor heating you always wanted. When it’s warm outside, you’ll be more likely to turn the heating off, and a cold shower is often nicer than a hot one. It makes this the best time to service your boiler before it causes you issues in the winter months. It’ll also give you some time to figure out any new technology before the cold creeps in.
When the temperature’s high you’re more likely to spend your time in back gardens, local parks, or on days out. The point is, you’re more likely to be spending time outside. So it won’t matter if your front room smells like paint or your floor’s ripped out for a day or two – you won’t even be there! And even if you are, it’s easy enough to take your morning coffee or lunch outside instead.
If you are at home a lot during renovations, summer is still the best time since ventilation is much easier. If it’s nice outside, you won’t mind leaving windows open during the day. Unlike in winter, ventilating your home won’t give you the chills. This means that any improvements that produce bad odours or a toxic atmosphere will clear quicker and get you back inside sooner.
In June 2018, the UK had 48% of its average rainfall, and 71% following in July. In summer, it’ll rain less, meaning people will be less likely to walk dirt into your home.
Products or equipment left outside will stay cleaner, and any installation processes will consequently run smoother. Less cleaning-up time is needed if everything remains tidier from the offset.
If you have workers helping you out, there’s less chance of work being postponed due to bad weather conditions throughout the summer. Because of this, choosing to carry out home improvements in the warmer months can even save you money.
All of these are reasons to carry out home improvements or house maintenance during the summer months. They’ll ensure the experience remains as pleasant as possible for you, and that the work runs a lot smoother.
If you’re interested in carrying out home improvements like a new boiler or underfloor heating, GOS Heating may be able to help. If you have any queries, get in touch with us or give us a call on 01772 734 966.
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]]>If there is one thing that drives us crazy, it’s household water leaks. The idea of catching water using a bucket doesn’t sound like a glamorous piece of decoration. There are several reasons for household leaks, and they’re no fun all year round. It can be a real pain to deal with – especially if you have to fork out for expensive repairs. Common issues can be found in the bathroom, kitchen, and even the bedroom. These are some of the problems that cause leaks and how you can solve them.
Imagine you’re in bed at night, you finally find the perfect spot, and you’re about to drift off to sleep when… drip, drip, drip. A leaky tap can be a nightmare, and somehow you can always hear the sound of dripping water at night even if you wear earplugs. Don’t worry about this; it’s one of the most common household leaks. But why do taps leak?
Sometimes it can be as ridiculous as not turning the tap off properly. But on the other hand, you may turn it off a bit too much, and the tightening of the tap might cause a leak. Another reason for faulty taps is the washer. With time, it can become worn out, in which case it’ll need replacing. Unfortunately, another reason for the taps leaking is a bad installation. If your sink and taps haven’t been installed correctly, especially if they’re new, they will need fixing.
Similar to taps, shower heads can start to leak when they’re old. If you find that your shower head is keeping you up at night, or the pressure is weak, it probably requires a good scrub. Failing this, it might be best for you to invest in a new shower head.
Another bathroom leak includes the shower or bath leaking. If you notice this happening, it will probably require expert assistance as soon as possible before your ceilings start getting damp and causing further issues.
A significant cause of leaks throughout your house is burst pipes. Although pipes are made with sturdy material and have a long life, rust and grime can build up and cause damage, such as a build-up of pressure. Extreme temperatures in pipes can also cause them to expand and possibly burst.
Another pipe problem might be worn-out seals. Similar to tap washers, pipe seals can be prone to a collection of grime causing the seals to wear away over time which can lead to cracks for water to leak from.
It’s critical to note that boilers can also be responsible for leaks. Again, high temperatures, especially in the winter, can cause the pipes to burst. This can be even more of an issue if the pipes are not insulated. To avoid having to mop up your floors, make sure you contact a professional to fix the problems.
After winter, your home has probably been through some harsh weather. Make sure you keep an eye on your sink, boiler, and bath. If you notice something wrong, call for a plumber to repair your utilities before the problem develops. After all, you really deserve peace of mind.
If you have a problem with your central heating or shower installations, get in touch with GOS Heating today on 01772 734 966. Don’t leave expensive repairs to chance.
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]]>For homeowners, a household leak is one of the most common problems. As a result, people have come up with great ways to fix them, and fast. Some of the most common ways households waste their water aren’t from dramatic pipe bursts or a rusty pipe that weakens over time. There are much simpler ways that water escapes your house that are easy to fix. So, what are they?
Toilets spend their fair share of time in the limelight when it comes to a household leak. A running toilet can waste 4.5 litres of water in 30 seconds. Luckily, this is usually very easy to solve. There might be a problem with the flapper or floater in the water chamber, in which case, replacements will do the trick. Sometimes, a small adjustment to the flapper to ensure it’s forming a seal against the valve seat is all you need to save precious water.
Since taps were invented, the dripping tap has always made itself known in bathrooms and kitchens. The problem can come about in a variety of ways: not closing it tightly enough; closing it too tightly; debris stuck in the pipe; or water that is too hot. Whatever the problem, solving it is usually straightforward. Learning what works for your taps might be all you need to do. Or, if you need to, replacing a damaged one is relatively inexpensive.
A leaking radiator valve often becomes a problem around October when winter grows closer, and it’s time to start using the heating. When valves are closed throughout the summer, they tend to stick and can become stiff. If this isn’t dealt with in the right way, they can cause a serious central heating water leak which can be costly to fix. Therefore, it’s best to get your heating systems checked by a plumbing professional, along with your boiler, during the summer. That way it will work seamlessly when you need it most in winter.
This is another common household leak that is easy to solve. It’s also easy to cause. Most people would assume this type of leaking comes from old pipes or general wear and tear. However, household storage under sinks can cause the pipes to be disturbed, by knocking and moving, which causes them to leak. To solve this, try to reduce the amount of storage contained under the sink, so your pipes aren’t hit so often.
Usually, the first sign of a plumbing leak from the bath is the water stain on the ceiling of the room directly below. It usually takes a few hours for the water to leak through the ceiling, but once you’ve seen this, you know costly damage has been done. It will need rectifying by plumbing and building professionals.
The best way to prevent this is to check your bathtub pipes regularly. Check all areas and seals for gaps and check the floor for signs of leakage. If this isn’t possible due to hidden pipes, make sure you have adequate cover from a reputable plumbing service so they can rectify any incidents immediately.
Have you experienced a common household leak in your home? Make sure an experienced plumber fixes them to stop the problem from becoming worse. If you’re in need of professional plumbers, don’t hesitate to get in touch with GOS Heating on 01772 734 966.
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