Frequently asked questions

• I’ve been told by a friend that because I’ve had my loft insulated, my pipes could burst if we get bad weather. Is this true?

  You’ve probably already noticed that your newly insulated loft is now very cold, which is good because you want your heat to heat your home, not your loft. However, during the cold winter months if the pipes in your loft have not been adequately insulated, then yes, there is a risk that they could freeze and the worst outcome would be a burst pipe. If you would like one of us to pop round and check, please just ring us.

• If you put a complete bathroom in my house, will you take away all the old rubbish, bath, toilet etc?

  Absolutely! We want to leave the best possible impression, so we wouldn’t dream of leaving any mess behind. For something like a bathroom installation, we would have a skip outside while we do the work and clear away all the mess at the end of each working day. For smaller jobs, we’ll take all the rubbish away ourselves… we’ll leave your home as we found it!

• I can’t decide which gas cooker / powershower / boiler / gas fire to choose, can you give me some sensible advice please?

  Of course! We live and breathe these products and know which ones are popular and reliable – tell us what you want to achieve and we’ll share our knowledge and point you in the right direction… obviously we can install your final choice too.

• My mother is elderly and finding it difficult to use her bathroom, are there any special products that would make her life easier?

  Yes there are. Things have moved on in recent years and there are now many wonderful products designed specifically for people who are less mobile and/or have health issues. Side opening baths, grab rails, anti-slip flooring, temperature controlled taps and showers, sturdy shower seats – we can swiftly transform your mother’s bathroom to make it far safer and more comfortable for her.

• I’m having an extension built on my house and would like a shower room put in, can you work with my builders?

  Most builders prefer to organise their own suppliers for this type of work, but if you are particularly drawn to us and want your builders to schedule us into the overall plan, we will be very happy to do so! Please get in touch so that we can discuss the small details…

• How do I know if I need a new boiler or a completely new central heating system installed?

  Age is the usual determining factor: how old is the current system and has it been well looked after? We certainly wouldn’t try to sell you a complete system if all you need is a new boiler and a power flush. All it takes is a half hour visit and inspection of your current system and we’ll be able to give you an honest reply.

• I have been researching an entire central heating system replacement but can’t believe how expensive it is – is there any way to reduce the cost?

  There are several factors to consider here. How old (and out of date) is your current system, will the boiler need to be relocated, does the pipe work need a lot of repair/replacement, are the radiators past their best? In older houses, an entire new central heating system installation is likely to be a large project. It is the ‘heart and veins’ of your home and we wouldn’t dream of applying shortcuts, we will however advise you of the most economical route possible, and ensure you are aware of the various options open to you.

• What’s the difference between a cheap boiler and an expensive one - the prices seem to vary so much!

  It’s not possible to buy a modern boiler that is unsafe or of low quality, by law they must all now be A-rated and comply with Part L1 of the Building Regulations, which relates to the conservation of fuel and power, and to be available for general sale, any appliance that delivers fuel must pass stringent safety tests. The more expensive boilers usually have longer warranties built into the initial cost, i.e. between 5-7 years rather than the standard 2 years, and usually these longer warranties include parts and labour. The ‘cheaper’ boilers are manufactured to the same high standards but you take a small gamble on whether they will need any repair work once their two year warranty runs out. Bear in mind that all manufacturers offer extended warranties, so you could buy a cheaper boiler and add the extended warranty to the price and probably still save money (ask us to quote and we’ll investigate for you!). The bottom line is, both ‘cheap’ and expensive boilers are manufactured to stringent standards of safety and they ALL need to be serviced on a regular basis.

• Why is it necessary to have a boiler service every year, surely these machines are reliable?

  In a word, safety. Anything that uses fuel can become dangerous if it starts to go wrong. A regular service will ensure your boiler is safe. Any minor adjustments your Gas Safe Register Engineer makes will ensure the boiler is running efficiently and reliably.

• I can’t decide which brand of boiler to choose… can you help me?

  Yes of course - there are a number of excellent central heating boiler manufacturers to choose from, including Worcester Bosch, Baxi, Remeha, Vaillant, Ideal, Glow Worm and Ariston. We can run through these and others with you and help you decide. We wouldn’t recommend a bargain-basement boiler because safety and longevity are key, and quite simply, you get what you pay for.

• Is it worth changing all my old radiator valves for thermostatic radiator valves?

  Once you have switched to TRVs you’ll wonder how you ever lived without them. You will be able to control the temperature in each room, so your bedroom can be cool during the night when you sleep, and your lounge warm and cosy in the evening, and so forth -no more wasted heat! With this level of heat management, you should see savings in your heating bills. In our humble opinion, replacing old-style ‘on-off’ valves for thermostatic radiator valves are money well spent.

• My radiator is cold at the top and hot at the bottom – is it broken?

  Hot and cold spots can appear anywhere in your radiators. They usually occur due to a build-up of sludge in the bottom of the radiator, which can be cleared out with a power flush, or, you may have a leak. To identify the problem, call and we’ll pop round and verify what the cause is…

• I used to get plenty of hot water from my combi boiler, now it seems to struggle.

  Sounds like you have a scaling problem. Just like a kettle, scale deposits build up inside the central heating system. The deposits impede the flow of water putting strain on the working parts. Before it gets to the point where your boiler fails, call us and we’ll pop round and see what remedial action is needed, the most usual solution is as a power flush.

• Will a new boiler save me money on my heating bills?

  The general consensus is that a modern boiler can save up to 40% on your heating bills compared to an old, inefficient boiler. Other factors, such as cavity wall insulation, double glazing and loft insulation all have an impact on your heating bill. However, we’d much rather visit you at home and assess your heating arrangement and potential savings than refer to general statistics…! Call us for a no-obligation, no pressure free survey…

• Another company suggested I ‘take a week’s holiday’ while my new boiler and central heating system is being put in, but I want to stay at home. Can you do the work with me there?

  Absolutely! We will be able to tell you before we start what level of mess and noise you can expect once we have identified what needs to be done. We’ll update you on a daily basis regarding what to expect on the day, so for instance on the day the pipes are worked on, you might actually prefer to be elsewhere for a few hours! But we don’t mind at all if you want to stay…and watch…! It’s the nature of the beast that there will be disruption and noise, we wouldn’t pretend otherwise, but as far as humanly possible, it will be kept to a minimum…

• I’m confused… Corgi… Gas Safe… which one is correct?

  Gas Safe replaced CORGI in Great Britain and the Isle of Man on the 1st April 2009. Gas Safe is the official regulating body for gas safety in the United Kingdom, Isle of Man and Guernsey. Tradesmen who work on gas without the proper training and qualifications risk a prison sentence and people’s lives… so please don’t take any chances – always ask to see their Gas Safe ID card, you can then check on line (http://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/) to verify they are who they say they are.

• I haven’t had my boiler serviced for over 10 years if you come to service it, might it be condemned?

  Don’t be afraid to have your boiler serviced just because it might be condemned - it could save your life! If you haven’t had your boiler serviced for 10 years, PLEASE do so. Would you drive around in a car that hadn’t been serviced in 10 years? Our service will only cost £55 plus V.A.T. A small price to pay for peace of mind.

• Is it cheaper to install a condensing combination boiler?

  Unlike conventional boilers, a combination boiler eliminates the need for a cold water storage cistern, or a hot water cylinder in your airing cupboard because it heats water on demand. Think of all the cupboard space you will gain! It is called a combination boiler because it is both a water heater and a central heating boiler. The main unit is usually wall mounted in the kitchen, utility room or even your airing cupboard. Combination boilers are popular for several reasons: - significant savings on hot water costs - space saving (no storage tanks needed) - the water is delivered at mains pressure, so no need for a pump - faster to install because there are no tanks to install and less pipe work So generally, yes, combination boilers are cheaper to install because there is less labour required.

• I’ve been messed about before by plumbers/engineers turning up late, or not at all, do you guarantee to arrive on time?

  With every last breath, we will try. However, imagine we are working on repairing a leaking radiator for you, and the problem develops, but, we drop everything and leave, saying we must get to the next customer. You would be furious. Unfortunately in this trade delays occur because jobs can be so unpredictable – what first appeared to be a simple job can turn into a major headache in the blink of an eye. This is not due to inexperience on the tradesman’s part; it’s more a case of not being able to see through walls and under floorboards for hidden, undiscovered problems!

• I want to buy my own parts and save money, are you okay with that?

  99% of the time, what you buy will be absolutely fine. In the past there have been the odd occasions where products purchased were entirely wrong or just not fit for purpose. To avoid any disappointments, please check with us first.