Plumbing | The Happiest Homes | Home Improvement Blog - Part 2

What to Do If Your Home Floods

Dec06

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What to Do If Your Home Floods

Posted by Editor on Dec 6, 2017

What to Do If Your Home Floods

Act Fast to Minimise Damage and Loss Water can cause untold damage to property, yet we all have to deal with a flood from time to time. Water – giver of life, quencher of thirst and destroyer of property. Every one of us lives in a home that is literally surrounded by water straining at plastic or copper pipes at high pressure. We also live in a country that is famed for its unpredictable weather and the potential for a year’s worth of rain to fall in a matter of a few short hours. Put that way, it is perhaps unsurprising that just about everyone has their own “flood story,” whether it is from a burst pipe or an abnormally high tide leading to a river bursting its banks. It is really a case of when, not if, you will have to deal with a flooded home, so let’s take this moment of calm to have a think about what you will need to do when such an emergency arises. Stop the flow Your first priority is going to be to get on the phone to an emergency plumber, but even while you are making the call, you need to find out where the water is coming from and see if you can make it stop. Sometimes, that is easier said than done. If you can’t see where the leak is, shut off the supply to the whole house. In some cases, this is a shared supply with a neighbouring property, in which case you will obviously need to let them know what is happening. It is also a sensible precaution to switch off the electricity at the fuse box, as water and electricity are not a good combination. Only do this if you can safely reach the main switch without wading into water, though. If in doubt, call an electrician. Document everything Before you start the clean up, take plenty of pictures and document all the damage, particularly if you are going to be making a claim on your home insurance policy. If this is your intention, let the insurer know what has happened straight away, and follow any instructions. The fact is that many will use any excuse to deny cover, so the best plan is to bombard them with information and do nothing without their agreement....

Boiling Water Taps – Are they worth the bother?

Apr27

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Boiling Water Taps – Are they worth the bother?

Posted by Editor on Apr 27, 2017

Boiling Water Taps – Are they worth the bother?

Boiling water taps are a great convenience in the kitchen, supplying you with boiling hot water in an instant for tea, coffee or washing the dishes. The temperature of the water supplied is just under boiling point, at around 93 degrees centigrade (220F). But is this latest kitchen tech just too good to be true, or is it the best thing since sliced bread? You’ll find a number of boiling water tap in the market vying for a place in your new kitchen. The Quooker tap is probably the best known, but there are others too. Good reviews of the products currently available can be found here and here. However, what you should really do is pick the brains of a professional kitchen supplier such as The Brighton Kitchen Company where experienced kitchen experts can talk you through the ins and outs of the design, the technology and whether it’s the right solution for you. How do boiling water tap systems work? Unlike conventional water systems, no storage tank is necessary. The water is heated via the mains as it passes through the heating system. A sensor immediately detects when your hot water tap has been turned on. The cold water passes through the pipe into the water heater and the heating element heats up the water to nearly boiling. This will continue to happen for as long as the water is running, which means there’s a constant supply of hot water ready for use. Water flow rates The system’s output of water is limited by the flow rate of the water heater, and this depends on the wattage of the heater. So, the higher the temperature of the water – the slower the flow will be. The flow rate of a 3kW boiling water tap system is between 1-2 litres per minute, whereas a 12kW heater has a flow rate of between 5-7 litres per minute. Most UK homes are limited to 12kW of power, unless 3-phase power has been installed, but this is not usual. The best way to increase flow rates is to fit an additional instant water heater. Pros and cons One of the biggest advantages of a boiling water tap is that the system provides instant hot water any time of the day or night, for everything...

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3 Ways to Turn Your Home into an Energy Efficient Space

Jan15

3 Ways to Turn Your Home into an Energy Efficient Space

Posted By Editor on Jan 15, 2015

Putting new implements in place in your home to make it more energy efficient will not only benefit the environment, it will cut the cost of your energy bills too! From installing solar panels to finding the correct boiler, there are a large number of changes you could make in your home to ensure you start seeing the benefits. Smart meters Smart meters are set to gain even more popularity for households across the nation in 2015 with...

5 Steps to Unblocking a Clogged Toilet

Oct08

5 Steps to Unblocking a Clogged Toilet

Posted By Editor on Oct 8, 2014

A blocked toilet can be extremely frustrating and it usually happens at the most inconvenient times. What will you need? To unblock a toilet there are some essential tools that you will need to clear your problem: – Plunger – Rubber Gloves – Goggles – Bucket – Clearing Rods – Auger Before you begin Before you begin it is important that you locate whereabouts the blockage is and ensure that you have...

5 Basic Plumbing Tips that Everyone Should Know

Sep04

5 Basic Plumbing Tips that Everyone Should Know

Posted By Editor on Sep 4, 2014

Plumbers train for years to reach the level of expertise they need to succeed in the trade (which is incredibly competitive even at a local level, by the way). While calling out a specialist may be the first port of call for anyone who’s experiencing trouble with any aspect of their plumbing system, there are a number of basic plumbing tips and tricks that will help you prevent plumbing disasters and keep your system in top condition....

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