British Gas have just released a new offer that runs until 25th October 2008. In summary this is as follows and applies to new boiler and central heating installations

• Save up to £604 off a new boiler with British Gas – hurry as the offer ends 25th October!
• £300 off when you trade in your boiler with British Gas, £100 off for existing Homecare customers and save £204 with a year’s FREE Homecare 200 worth £204
• You could save up to 1/3 on your energy bills by replacing your boiler with an energy efficient one
• British Gas have 5,500 Corgi registered engineers that will install your boiler quickly and with minimum interruption

Call 0845 358 2286 to benefit from this great offer or click here to read more about British Gas and the advantages of using them.

The last thing you want when you have a plumbing job that needs doing is to hire the services of cowboy plumbers. These dishonest tradesmen regularly pass themselves off as reputable plumbers but then go on to provide sub-standard work for the price you pay. So how do you tell who is honest and who is the cowboy? The following 10 point guide will hopefully help you to decide:

1. Reputable plumbers will be able to provide credentials and certificates if you ask for them. They may also show that they are members of the trade association ‘Institute of Plumbers’. There is no law to say that plumbers have to be members of the association, however, those that take pride in their work as honest plumbers will almost certainly have membership.
2. When you ask for a written quotation, honest plumbers won’t have a problem providing one but cowboy plumbers may only offer a verbal quote or a scribbled note with some figures written on it and in these cases you should avoid using their services.
3. You should also ask to see their Certificate of Public Liability Insurance. Any plumber without this type of insurance is sure to be a cowboy plumber.
4. Most reputable plumbers will also be able to supply the names, addresses and phone numbers of past customers that are willing to vouch for the quality of their work. Cowboy plumbers on the other hand will probably make excuses why they can’t provide suitable references.
5. Most tradesmen today, and this includes plumbers, offer a standard contract that guarantees the work they do in return for the agreed payment. Cowboy plumbers almost certainly won’t offer this extra service which means their work will in no way be guaranteed should something go wrong with it later on.
6. Along with the standard contract, honest plumbers will also offer some form of insurance-backed warranty on the work that they do.
7. Quality plumbers are normally booked up for weeks or even months in advance. This means that if a plumber says he can start tomorrow then he probably isn’t the kind of plumber that people recommend or return to for a second time.
8. Good plumbers are often recommended by customers to their friends and family whereas cowboy plumbers aren’t. If someone you know recommends a plumber by name then he is probably worth taking a look at.
9. When having plumbing work done, you shouldn’t be asked to pay anything in advance. If you are asked for payment up front then the plumber is probably a cowboy. The same goes if they ask for payment in cash and don’t offer a receipt for the money.
10. Legitimate plumbers will be able to provide you with a business or home address and a land line phone number as well as their mobile number. If they can’t provide this information then you should look elsewhere.

Conclusion

With a bit of common sense and forethought it is quite easy to spot cowboy plumbers. Saying this, thousands of people fall prey to them every year and so it is advisable to use a recommended plumber before you go searching through the local phone book for one.

Avoiding Co2 Poisoning

Carbon dioxide, or Co2, is an often-overlooked killer. Although the air always contains an amount of Co2 that we breathe in and out every day, and is perfectly harmless in normal conditions, a build up of Co2 in the air will cause humans and animals to absorb less oxygen into their bloodstream through the walls of the lungs, instead increasing the levels of Co2 in the bloodstream in its place and slowly starve the body of oxygen, leading to brain damage and even death. Co2 is not harmful in itself, it is just the over accumulation of it will take up space for oxygen in the air – usually in air there is around 21% Co2, much less outside or in greener areas, but anything significantly more than that is dangerous. Co2 is both colourless and odourless and is classed as a ‘greenhouse gas’, and the increase of it is debated to be one of the main causes of global warming.
Babies are the most susceptible to Co2 poisoning due to their delicacy and the habit of parents to wrap up babies in many layers of clothing and blankets as they sleep, especially in areas that may have lower than usual ventilation. Co2 has been argued by many to be one of the causes of ‘SIDS’ – Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Boilers and Central Heating Systems and Co2

Boilers that create Co2, such as a gas boilers, are all fitted with a special flue that directs the gas up and out of the home without it leaking into the air of the household. It is rare, but sometimes these flues can become damaged and cause Co2 to seep out into the household, and cause a higher ratio of Co2 in the air, which could be dangerous. To prevent this, it is strongly advised that you service your boiler thoroughly by a qualified CORGI trained engineer once a year, who will check for any leaks or damage to your boiler system.

Methods of Prevention

Keeping your home well-ventilated is key to preventing a build-up of Co2. Air conditioning systems in offices and homes are usually effective at only transporting the same air round an area without replenishing oxygen, so it is wise to keep windows open with a fan circulating air in small rooms containing babies, the elderly or small children if you are worried about Co2 build-up. Adults and the more active are less likely to be affected by Co2, but never keep all windows and doors closed in the home, or enter poorly ventilated areas for too long or without someone keeping an eye on you. Co2 poisoning is quick and undetectable, and can cause damage in only a breath or two, with people often slipping into unconsciousness without even realising. Sensors that detect Co2 are costly, and not essential like a carbon monoxide detector.
Appliances in the home can create extra Co2 in the atmosphere, so making sure that they are all serviced and functioning correctly is essential, and therefore not creating any extra unnecessary Co2.

It’s been a turbulent week in the energy and utilities market with gas and electricity price increases from British Gas, with more companies to follow suit it’s a good time to ensure you’re on the best tariff available and if not , switch.

There are two tariffs you should be investigating, fixed price plans which guarantee your energy prices will stay at the current market rate and online tariffs, which have variable pricing but are usually cheaper in the short term.

Fixed Price 2011 from British Gas is currently a market leader in the fixed pricing sector and are offering to set your rates at 2008 prices until 30th September 2011, British Gas are also claiming that on average customers save £240 on a fixed price plan, with the current volatile energy market this figure could well be a lot higher.

If you’d rather a more flexible plan where you can cancel at your leisure then Click Energy 5 is currently the cheapest online tariff of any major supplier and boasts savings of up to £200. To maximise this you should opt for the dual-fuel option with direct debit.

Either way, investigate your options and choose wisely.

Home heating systems obviously vary in complexity, cost and suitability from property to property. The most affordable home heating system is a gas-fired combination – or “combi” for short – boiler which allows all the major components to be housed in one unit and does away with hot and cold water storage tanks. A combi boiler may, of course, not be suitable for home heating in all households. Other energy efficient home heating systems – LPG (”Liquified Petroleum Gas”) or oil-fired boilers for example – do exist but they do tend to be very expensive in comparison. The British Government maintains a SEDBUK (”Seasonal Efficiency of Domestic Boilers in the United Kingdom”) database in which each boiler model is rated “A” to “G” for energy efficiency.

Of course even the most energy efficient boiler cannot provide you with fuel savings if your central heating is not controlled properly or if heat is allowed to escape through inadequate home insulation. A home heating system should be controlled by a timer and room thermostats and insulation should extend to the walls, floors, loft, pipes and tanks within your home. Cavity wall insulation is the most effective form of home insulation – roughly 33% of the heat lost from an uninsulated home is dissipated through the walls although other areas should not be neglected. If a loft is insulated to the recommended depth of 270mm it is possible to achieve a saving of £150 or more per annum in heating costs.