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Which Type of Boiler is Best?

Info provided by Freeflow Plumbers King’s Lynn:

Knowing the best type of boiler is essential to enjoy living in a cosy and warm home all throughout the year.  When shopping for a boiler, it is important to be familiar with the different boiler options available for you before you make your final decision.

Each type of boiler system has its own set of advantages and disadvantages that you need to consider when you weigh your options and decide on the best option for your home. Choosing someone to either repair your boiler or install your boiler is difficult, so hopefully this guide will give you an idea which boiler to choose.

Take a look at the different boiler types available in the UK to help you determine the best one for you:

Combi Boilers

Combi boilers or combination boilers are by far the most popular and common type of boiler used in UK homes. A single unit can simultaneously supply both central heating and hot water.

A combi boiler is compact and often mounted on the wall. Since they don’t need a cold water tank or hot water storage cylinder, a combi boiler helps save home space and cut down installation time.

But since these boilers heat water on demand, these are meant to use one to two water taps or one shower at a time. If not, the water won’t be able to reach the preferred temperature or there would be insufficient pressure.

This is why this might not be the best choice for bigger homes with several bathrooms. It might not also be a good option for households with low water pressure.

Regular or Conventional Boilers

Conventional or regular boilers consist of a water storage tank and cylinder. This makes the installation more expensive, with the system requiring more physical space. The cylinder must also be properly insulated to prevent heat loss since the hot water is preheated and stored prior to usage.

While this boiler is not recommended for homes with limited space, it is possible to turn on several showers or taps at once with no problems at all. This makes this boiler the best choice for larger homes, specifically those located in areas with low water pressure.

It is also an environmentally friendly boiler since you can integrate this with solar thermal systems. This means that the house will rely on renewable water heating at the day then on the boiler at night or during times with higher consumption of water.

System Boilers

A system boiler is particularly great for homes with several bathrooms since it has a separate cylinder for storing hot water. This cylinder must be properly insulated to prevent loss of heat and maintain efficiency.

Unlike a conventional boiler, the primary hot water and heating components of a system boiler is built into the boiler itself. It makes the process of installation significantly easier and faster.

Since system boilers don’t need a cold water tank, it makes them a great choice for homes with no or limited loft space. A system boiler relies on the mains’ water pressure instead of gravity unlike the cold water tank of a conventional boiler.

Combi boilers are the most commonly installed types of boilers in the UK, perfect for small and medium-sized houses, with system boilers taking the second spot for larger houses with several bathrooms.

See our previous post here: What to Ask Before Hiring a Plumber in the UK

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What to Ask Before Hiring a Plumber in the UK

A quick search online will surely bombard you with those horror stories of unprofessional plumbers who weren’t able to fix the problem, plumbers who just made matters much worse, and plumbing companies who charge enormous bills.

To make sure that you don’t end up regretting your choice in the end, there are several questions you need to ask before you hire an emergency plumber in the UK.

Do You Have a Specific Specialty in Plumbing?

Before anything else, you should first ask about the specialties of plumber prior to hiring their services to be sure that you choose the plumber who best suits your specific needs for plumbing, heating services or boiler services you may require.

Do You Have the Necessary License?

All plumbers are required to have the necessary license for providing plumbing services. The plumbing license is like the official stamp of approval, a proof that a plumber has all the essential qualifications to work on the plumbing system of your home. The Gas Safe Register is a good place to start to find plumbing companies able to work with gas.

If a plumbing contractor doesn’t have a license at all, it will be better to look somewhere else. Plumbers with no licenses might just scam people or come up with unnecessary charges during the job.

Unlicensed plumbers also often don’t have an organization or team that they report back to. This means that if they ever charge extra or take advantage of their customers, they won’t be able to negotiate with anyone later on regarding the services they received.

How Long Have You Been in Business?

Obviously, it is better to choose a plumber with more experience. Through the years, they were able to hone and perfect their skills on the job, allowing them to identify and fix problems in a more efficient manner.

Another thing to inquire about is the experience they have in handling specific jobs like bigger tasks such as fixture installation. If they claim to have enough experience with such, you can ask them to show you samples of their past projects to get some idea if they can really pull off the job.

Do You Charge By the Hour or Do You Have a Flat Rate?

While it is impossible to determine the exact amount of time required to finish a job, it would be better if you can at least receive a rough estimate. There are jobs that might require longer hours due to unknown factors that might only be identified once the work starts. Plumbers that charge hourly rates can easily take longer to finish the job than what is necessary that might cost you more that it really should. For plumbers with hourly rates, you might want to ask for an estimate of how long it will take them to finish the job.

Are There Warranties Available?

Finally, before you proceed with any plumbing project, make sure you ask the plumber if they also back their services with warranties.

These warranties are typically time-based, such as 90 days, 1 year, 5 years, or even 10 years. There are also lifetime warranties, depending on the specific project, for those instances when a part fails or requires replacement.

Warranties also give you an assurance that the job will be done right the first time since no one would want to come back just to do the job all over again.

Be sure to ask these questions the next time you hire a plumber in the UK.

See our previous post here: What is the Safest Pipe for Drinking Water?

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What is the Safest Pipe for Drinking Water?

Info Provided by Freeflow Plumbers King’s Lynn:

It is necessary to have access to safe drinking water for health measures. Potable water supply is one of your basic human rights. Of course, the last thing you want is to compromise you and your family’s health with unsafe and unsanitary plumbing materials.

Different substances such as arsenic and lead are only two of the most common water contaminants. These substances mainly come from unregulated products for plumbing. This is why it only makes sense for you to want to ensure that all of your pipes as well as other fittings stay free of these dangerous substances.

When installing your home’s water supply system, it is important to be sure that only acceptable materials are used for plumbing. You can now find different varieties of fittings and pipes but these options are not food-grade and reliable all the time.

The plumbing pipes for homes and businesses alike are available in various materials and every type has specific uses, advantages, and limitations. This is why it should be your top priority to know the safest pipe for drinking before you proceed with your plumbing installation.

CPVC – The Best Choice for Plumbing Pipe for Drinking Water

CPVC or Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride pipes are basically PVC pipes that have extra chlorines. These are PVC pipes are safe to use for carrying hot water. At the same, this is also a safe choice for drinking water. CPVC pipes, unlike copper pipes, are smooth, producing minimal water noise. These pipes are also insulated that helps prevent loss of energy, are fire resistant, and are more flexible compared to metals.

These pipes have all the benefits that PVC pipes have to offer with extra durability. When you use CPCV pipes, you can be sure that they won’t degrade even when exposed to hot water and give you safe water for drinking. The only difference is that these pipes come with higher price tags than PVC and might also split if you allow them to freeze.

Why Choose CPVC Pipes?

The CPVC pipes can also be used in many of the applications that use copper piping. However, there are several reasons why these pipes are considered as better options. For one, CPVC pipes have a smooth interior. This means that they produce less water noise as compared to plumbing systems made from copper. It also means that you will have little to no issues with that dreaded water hammer.

Another reason to choose CPVC pipes is that these are well insulated to prevent loss of energy in cold or hot applications. CPVC is also known to have better flexibility than metal tubing that provides a little more versatility. The last but not the least, CPVC pipes are also extremely resistant to fire.

The following are the common applications where CPVC is often used where the properties of PVC are desired but PVC cannot be used:

• Delivery of drinking water

• Delivery of hot water

• Drains for hot water

• Pipes for water and waste disposal

See our previous post here: Is King’s Lynn a Nice Place to Live?

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Is King’s Lynn a Nice Place to Live?

Info Provided by Freeflow Plumbers King’s Lynn:

King’s Lynn is among Norfolk’s most diverse towns known for a long maritime history, a flourishing festival tradition, and a colourful market and shopping centre.

King’s Lynn is even named as one of Britain’s happiest and nicest places to live in.

This is a market town located 44 miles west of Norwich, 44 miles north northeast of Cambridge, and 36 miles northeast of Peterborough that is ranked on the 6^th spot in the top 10 list of the yearly happy at home index.

The survey was participated by over 17,000 people who were asked how happy and satisfied they are with the aspects of their area of where they are living.

Different factors like community spirit, the friendliness of the locals, feeling safe, the local services and the amenities available, as well as earning enough to have a comfortable life were considered.

What’s in King’s Lynn?

King’s Lynn is a solid proof how amazing topography’s effect can be. If the town was located somewhere else in the country instead of being nestled into Fens’ remoter end, tourists would have crowded the area.

Visitors would be there taking selfies with 18^th century townhouses in the backdrop or even those adorable half-timbered cottages that they often see only in costume dramas. The place would also have been filled with artisan coffee houses and bistros and several branches of retail stores. But, this is not the case in King’s Lynn.

King’s Lynn, with its relative remoteness, boasts of an independent spirit. You can enjoy in the great local culture brimming at the back of the pedimented porticoes. A fair amount of money was also spent on revamping the place.

The geography worked to King’s Lynn’s advantage centuries ago before the trade switched to the Atlantic. This is the reason why King’s Lynn remains beautiful to this day and age with all its alleys, warehouses, and cobbles.

King’s Lynn also used to be the country’s biggest port and the merchants flaunted their money on the townhouses that date as far back as 18^th century.

King’s Lynn is Well Connected

Riding the trains, it will only take you 52 minutes to get to Cambridge and 1 hour and 50 minutes to get to London. If driving, it will just take you 50 minutes to get to the A1 and Peterborough, 75 minutes to Cambridge, 70 minutes to Norwich, and 30 minutes to Hunstanton’s seaside.

Other Facts about King’s Lynn

Eastgate is the outstanding primary school in the area while Springwood High is a good choice for secondary school. The old town of King’s Lynn is a real winner in more ways than one. From the stunning King Street to the brick Georgian townhouses that line London Road, you can be in awe of amazing period properties from 15^th century onwards. Friar’s Street also has a pretty corner of cottages. You will never run out of options here when it comes to houses that will fit your taste, style, and budget.

With all of these, it is easy to say that King’s Lynn is indeed a nice place to live.

See our previous post here: How Much Does It Cost to Put in Central Heating System UK?

The post Is King’s Lynn a Nice Place to Live? appeared first on Free Flow Plumbers Kings Lynn.

How Much Does It Cost to Put in Central Heating System UK?

New central heating system installation in the UK includes pipework, heating controls, radiators, and a boiler. The cost of this particular project usually varies based on the specific size of your heating system and there are times when you might also need an expansion and feed tank as well as a hot water storage cylinder. However, the typical cost of central heating system ranges from £3,000 to £4,000.

The price of every element required and included in the system will vary depending on the manufacturer. You also need to consider the plumbing company set rates for installation and labour.

Considering all of these, it is safe to say that every central heating system installation is unique and different from each other. There are also numerous variables that can affect the final cost, including the following:

• Boiler brand, size, and type
• Size and style of underfloor heating or radiators
• Ease of installation (empty homes will require faster installation than properties with occupants)
• Sophistication of heating controls

All of these must be included and considered in the quote that a central heating installer will give you.

If the potential cost of central heating system installation of £3,000 to £4,000 feels too much for you, you can just think of the savings you will get to enjoy if you upgrade your current heating system. Today’s modern boilers are made to be more efficient, not to mention that they also use less fuel compared to older units while still offering the same amount of heat.

These modern boilers are also equipped with a condensing technology that helps in the significant reduction of the system’s loss of heat during operation. The result is that these units can reach efficiencies of more than 90%.  This means that for each £1 that you spend to heat up your home, a mere 10p gets lost in the form of wasted heat. This can then add up to significant savings on energy bills if you will consider the fact that older boilers have poor efficiency.

Maximizing your energy savings doesn’t only stop here. It will also help to invest in effective insulation and introduce smart heating controls. Insulation can stop the heat from escaping from your house while the smart heating controls will learn the heating habits in your home. The use of a smart thermostat also lets you be in full control of heating using your smartphone even if you are away from home.

Estimate Cost of Central Heating System for a 3-Bedroom House

This estimate is for the cost of an average central heating installation for a 2-storey 3 bedroom. This cost of installation is based on an engineer who charges a daily rate of £200 with £100 per day for an additional labourer.

• 9 Radiators supply and installation: £1,000 to £1,200

• New boiler supply and installation : £900 to £1,400

• Water tank supply an installation: £150 to £200

• Pipework supply and installation: £800 to £1,000

• Miscellaneous parts and labour: £150 to £200

• Total Cost: £3,000 to £4,000

See our previous post here: How Much Does a Bathroom Renovation Cost UK?

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How Much Does a Bathroom Renovation Cost UK?

Your bathroom is that personal oasis you got in your home where you de-stress and soothe your tired nerves after a long and tiring day at work. But, at one point, this oasis will need a revamp. How much will it cost you to renovate your UK bathroom, then?

Bathroom fitting & renovation cost in the UK can start from £600 up to £3295. The cost may vary depending on the specific type of renovation you want for your bathroom, how many fixtures you want to install, and if there are repair works that bathroom fitters need fixing first before proceeding with the job.

Bathroom Renovation and How Much It Will Cost You

Every household member uses the bathroom on a daily basis. After some time, however, your bathroom might start turning dull and dreary. If your home’s bathroom has already lost some of its gorgeous shine and sparkle, you need to consider giving the space the kind of spruce up that it needs and deserves.

Hiring professionals to handle your bathroom renovation project is the best way to bring your dream bathroom to life.

During the budget planning step of your bathroom remodelling endeavour, the cost is probably the top consideration you have in mind. The cost of a new UK bathroom considers several factors. These include:

• Specific type of bathroom renovation

• Type of bathroom

• Required preparation

• Materials

• Time

• Experience

• Location

Considering all of these factors, the national minimum cost of bathroom renovation in the UK is £600 while the national maximum cost can reach up to £3295. Meanwhile, the national average cost is at £2500.

Costs for Common Services for Bathroom Renovation

A bathroom renovation project is made up of several components. The average price for redoing your bathroom is dependent on the specific aspects that you want to include in the project. To give you a good idea, listed below are the costs of average hourly rates based on the service required or requested:

• Bath and shower installation – £70

• Toilet installation – £78

• Plumbing – £60

• Tiling – £20

• Toilet installation – £78

• Painting – £16

The Bottom Line

All in all, the cost of bathroom renovations in the UK includes several factors that must be carefully taken into consideration. The bathroom in your home is an important space that sees a lot of use all day long.

A renovation project is sometimes all it takes for you to improve the function and appearance of this crucial and special part of your home. Of course, no one will be able to resist a new, beautiful, or updated bathroom as a spot for doing your grooming and cleaning needs.

It doesn’t matter if you wish to renovate your old bathroom or you just want to repair some wear and tear here and there, it is highly recommended to let a professional plumbing company handle the job for you. These experts have all the experiences and knowledge required for getting the whole bathroom renovation job done right.

See our previous post here: How Much Do Most Plumbers Charge Per Hour UK?

The post How Much Does a Bathroom Renovation Cost UK? appeared first on Free Flow Plumbers Kings Lynn.

How Much Do Most Plumbers Charge Per Hour UK?

Plumbing services are probably the only kind of service that you cannot just set aside for the next day. A day or two without electricity may be tolerable but if there is something wrong with your drainage or water supply, you want to sort it out as soon as possible.

The average hourly rates of plumbers in the UK range from £40 to £80 per hour on top of the call out charge that is often two times the cost of the standard hourly rate. However, this amount often includes an hour of labour. The charge will also probably be higher if it is an emergency case.

You might find these emergency and standard prices for plumbing services somewhat steep. However, don’t expect plumbers to drop everything just to go to your house at such a short notice with no proper payment for their effort.

Sadly, you can never put off going to the bathroom for several hours straight. Everyone also needs to drink clean water and use a functional sink. If you need a plumber to check an issue with your home’s plumbing system, you usually shouldn’t waste any minute to call one. Emergencies at home will never wait for you and you need to deal with them immediately. As a result, expect that you will also be charged accordingly.

How Much Do Plumbers Charge?

Different plumbing jobs require different skills, labour times, and materials and for this reason, plumbers may charge a rate per hour, per day, or they can also charge you rate per job.

It will help to request several quotes because every plumber charges a different price. But, it is also important that you consider the level of experience of a plumber as it also affects the cost. Always remember, however, that the cheapest quotes are not necessarily the best choice all the time.

The average cost of plumbing services is £347.50 per day or £50 per hour.

Average Hourly Rate for Plumbers

Most professionals have their own minimum charge, often the price of an hour’s work. There are also plumbers that charge a call out fee. It is something they will ideally discuss with you before they go to your home. If the job takes over an hour, the extra work is usually charged per hour.

Day Rate of Plumbers

With easy and quick jobs, it is often best to request for quotes based on hourly rates. But, for plumbing concerns that might take longer to fix, it is best to choose a plumber that charges per day that might be relatively cheaper than an hourly rate.

Cost of Emergency Plumbing Services

Sadly, there are plumbing issues that occur outside standing working hours, and when this happens, you need to call an emergency plumber. Working on weekends, overnight, or during holidays means that plumbers are going to charge higher rates for the inconvenience on their part.

Most of the time, emergency plumbers charge two times more than their usual hourly rate on top of a call out charge. While you can wait until standard working hours to save money, there are problems that must be fixed immediately to prevent more serious damages.

See our previous post here: How Do I Choose the Right Boiler UK?

The post How Much Do Most Plumbers Charge Per Hour UK? appeared first on Free Flow Plumbers Kings Lynn.

How Do I Choose the Right Boiler UK?

Getting a new boiler is probably one of the most significant purchases you can ever make as a UK homeowner. This is why it is critical to ensure that you pick a reliable and trusted boiler brand that suits your home and of course, your budget.

Replacing your old boiler with a new and more modern unit will help improve the energy efficiency of the central heating system of your home by at least 30% to let you cut back on your heating costs.

Here are some of the key factors you need to consider when shopping for the right boiler before getting a boiler installation:

Cleanliness

The natural sludge and debris build-up can have an adverse effect on how efficient your heating system will be. When this happens, the entire system will grind to a halt sooner or later. You can clear your system with a regular powerflush and installing a magnetic filter help prevent the problem from happening in the first place.

Efficiency

Your resources will be significantly drained if your boiler is inefficient. For instance, estimates reveal that a boiler that is already 15 years old might already be wasting as much as 40p of each pound you spend on your hot water and heating bills. This means that efficiency is vital and today’s newest A-rated condensing boilers have a targeted rate of efficiency at 92%.

Environment Impact

Your new boiler can make your home more environment-friendly if you always run your taps as your water heats up. Aside from reducing your usage of water, it also reduces your consumption of energy because a combi boiler will hold the water that it supplies back until this is heated to the desired temperature. Your central heating engineer should know this and keep you informed throughout installation.

Freezing

You might also want to install a boiler that prevents freezing in the condensate waste pipe during extreme weather conditions to maintain the highest level of performance.

Hygiene

Hygiene is one of the most important considerations that are often taken for granted when it comes to choosing a boiler in the UK. Older gravity-fed systems have open water tanks located in the loft. This means that the water coming from the taps supplied by the tank will not be safe for drinking. This issue can be solved with the use of closed and more hygienic systems.

Limescale

Limescale is a serious problem for boilers so it is always a wise move to install a scale reducer to slow down its formation. There are now manufacturer warranties that stipulate the installation of a scale-reducing device to maintain the validity of the warranty.

Positioning

The available space in your home will also likely affect your choice of boiler. Floor-mounted boilers are often installed in utility rooms, kitchen cupboards, or even garages. Wall-mounted boilers, on the other hand, can fit in cupboards, attics, outbuildings, or kitchens.

Size

Finally, your home’s size and the level of hot water and heating requirements in your household also affect the size and type of the boiler you should get. It is a must to heed the advice of a specialist about the best solution depending on your specific requirements.

Visit our Boiler Repair, Boiler Servicing, & Boiler Installation page for more information.

See our previous post here: How Do I Choose a Plumber UK?

The post How Do I Choose the Right Boiler UK? appeared first on Free Flow Plumbers Kings Lynn.

How Do I Choose a Plumber UK?

Has someone recently asked for your recommendation for a decent plumber? Although a quick search online will show you a long list of local plumbers, choosing the best out of all the options is as tricky as trying to find a needle in a pile of hay.

It doesn’t matter how large or small the plumbing project might be because hiring the wrong provider can cause serious disruptions in your daily life and leave a dent in your wallet.

Instead of randomly picking a plumber, it will always be worth it to spend time to do your homework to ensure that the plumbing work will be smooth with excellent results.

To simplify your quest, here are a few tips to help you choose the right plumber in the UK for your needs:

Refer to Official Tradesman Schemes

Always check if the plumber has a registration with a scheme specifically meant for vetted plumbing companies that were able to prove that they got the necessary skills that the job requires. Trustmark, Approved Trader Scheme, and Buy With Confidence are only some of these schemes and these are run by operators approved by the government or together with Trading Standards. The websites of these schemes usually have databases of plumbers that you can refer to by just typing the postcode in your area to see those who are registered there.

Check Online Review Sites

The internet made it easier than ever to find what you need. Most small businesses and independent contractors don’t have big budgets to spend on TV ads for their plumbing services. Instead, they just turn to platforms like Google, Bing, and Yelp that compile reviews from service users.

It basically functions as an expanded search through asking around. Any business that is part of these sites need to work hard for their ratings to stay high. On the other hand, businesses that are not on such sites might be hiding something.

However, remember that the system of these sites is not necessarily fool proof because the services themselves might create fake profiles that will give themselves good feedback. You also have to note that online reviews have the tendency to be at the extremes. The overall rating can give you an average but make sure you take every review with a grain of salt.

Request for References

Never hesitate to ask for references from plumbers from previous customers and look into them. If you are lucky, some photos of the job might also be available. Through seeking insights directly from actual clients, you will know firsthand the good and bad sides of hiring a certain emergency plumber.

Go to Social Media

Now more than ever, people use social media to air their compliments or complaints about a specific business they dealt with. If your prospect plumber is on social media, you might want to check their Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram pages to get an idea of how they interact with clients and customers.

Follow these simple tips as you do your research so you can guarantee a hassle-free and smooth plumbing job in the UK.

See our previous post here: Do Plumbers Give Free Quotes?

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