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 Read More

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: Read More

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. Read More

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. Read More

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. Read More