Underfloor Heating Expert Highlights Need For Expertise

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With summer nearing its end and the prospect of the cold weather in the months ahead being combined with soaring energy bills, many householders will be looking at changing their home heating systems to something that is more energy efficient.

For many, the answer lies in underfloor heating, but not every system that could be installed might be the best one for any particular home, an expert has warned.

Steven Dunne, the manager of Snug Underfloor Heating, made this point in an article for Builders Merchants News, stating that establishing the right system to use is the biggest single challenge householders and installers face.

His conclusion arose after the firm consulted 150 installers at the Installer Show 2022 on the biggest hurdles they faced in their work, with the question of finding the best system being the toughest part of the project and the task of transforming the design into reality coming second.

This is why using experienced underfloor heating installers in north London is essential if you are to get the best result for your home, one that will keep it pleasantly warm even in the depths of winter while working with maximum levels of energy efficiency. By using our extensive expertise, you can get a system that provides the best results for your home.

Mr Dunne said his firm’s approach to this issue was to make sure they liaised closely with electricians, plumbers and builders to ensure they were getting the right system installed.

Earlier this month, price comparison site USwitch produced its own guide to heating systems for those keen to change, including underfloor heating.

For instance, a ground source heating system may not be the ideal for someone living in north London, as Uswitch said these are very expensive to install and the householders most likely to benefit from it would be those living off the gas grid. This would mean people residing in remote rural areas, rather than major urban areas.

Top Tips For Saving Money On Your Water Bill

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Over the past few months, two of the biggest news stories have revolved around water.

The first is the increase in water bills, often reported as part of the wider cost of living crisis, as well as the record hot summer leading to hosepipe bans in many parts of the country.

During a time when every saving helps and every drop of water counts, here are some simple steps you can take to save money on your water bill.

 

Hunt For Leaks And Drips

One of the most common reasons for huge energy bills, particularly if you do not use much water personally but are on a metered water plan, is drips and leaks from taps and pipes.

If you feel there is a leaky pipe, consult a plumber as soon as possible, but if you keep control of those water drops you can save almost half a bath’s worth of water every week.

 

Don’t Leave The Tap Running

A common habit people have that could cost them money is to leave the tap running whilst brushing their teeth, washing their face, shaving or doing the washing up.

A lot of that water is used without being used by you and can add up to a huge amount of water over time.

 

Showers Over Baths?

One common piece of advice that is given is that you should take showers rather than baths, and whilst this can be true, and often is for particularly deep baths, it is only necessarily the case that you save water if your showers are also short, particularly if you use a power shower.

Whilst water efficiency statistics vary, if you are using a power shower for more than ten minutes, you are probably using more water than a bath.

 

For more information and advice about plumbing services in London, get in touch today.

Are You Eligible For The Household Support Fund?

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Households have been hit by rising energy bills over the last few months, leaving many families having to choose between putting the heating on or feeding their children. Those who are worried they cannot pay their fees might now be eligible for the Household Support Fund.

From Friday (July 8th), local councils will be distributing some of the government fund, offering £200 to those who need it to pay for energy, water, and food bills, reported iNews.

This comes after the Household Support Fund was introduced in September last year and was due to come to an end by March 31st 2022. However, it was extended as the price of energy has continued to soar.

In May 2022, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a new £15 billion support package for low-income households, which includes one-off cost-of-living payments of £650 for eight million households who are already on Universal Credit, Tax Credits, Pension Credits and legacy benefits.

Pensioner households will also receive £300, while those being given disability benefits will obtain £150.

Additionally, from October 2022, the energy bills support fund will increase from £200 to £400, and households will not be required to pay it back.

Mr Sunak stated: “We know that people are facing challenges with the cost of living and that is why today I’m stepping in with further support to help with rising energy bills.”

He went on to say everyone has a “collective responsibility” to help those who need it.

Those who want to apply for the fund can do so through their local authority. The eligibility criteria will vary from council to council, and households will need to produce evidence of why they need the financial support.

 

For solar panel installation in London to lower electricity bills, get in touch today.

Underfloor Heating A Feature Of New London Development

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With the nights only just starting to get longer, there is plenty of summer still to enjoy in London. However, the inevitable arrival of autumn and winter will leave many fretting, with energy bills set to rise if, as expected, the price cap is raised again in October.

This means energy efficiency will be more important than ever and for some, that will involve discovering the benefits of underfloor heating. Indeed, underfloor heating installers in north London may be very busy over the coming months.

Some people in the capital will be lucky enough to have this facility already in place when they move into their home, with the developers being smart enough to incorporate it into the design.

Property Wire has highlighted one such case, a development of 33 new homes by Guinness Homes at Leaside Lock in east London. Underfloor heating has been installed in all of the properties, which are all two-bedroom apartments available on a shared basis.

Of course, the developers have been swift to highlight the other features of the apartments too, such as the proximity of the river Lea, green spaces and proximity of public transport connections such as the Bromley-by-Bow Zone 2 Underground Station, just three minutes walk away. Even so, it is hard to ignore how the homes will be kept warm.

The value of underfloor heating was recently highlighted by uSwitch. In an article on the topic it noted that while the fitting work, like any major development work in a home, will be “messy” and disruptive for a short time, it is eminently worth it.

It stated: “There’s no doubt that it can be an effective alternative to traditional radiators or hot air heating systems, especially in rooms with traditionally cold floors made of stone or tile.”

All this goes to show that, if you live in London and don’t happen to be moving into a brand new apartment, you can still get underfloor heating and enjoy the benefits of warmth and energy efficiency when the colder weather returns.

Why Now Is The Time To Fit Underfloor Heating

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Right now, the last thing anyone in Britain is likely to do is turn on the heating. With lots of sunshine and the daylight hours at their longest, energy bills will be extremely low.

However, much as few will want to imagine it, shorter days are on the way. With Midsummer having passed, the nights will gradually draw in and a few months hence these long, light, sunny days will have given way to dark, cold, wet, frosty morning.

That may sound depressing, but it is important to think ahead, especially after the huge increases in energy bills last winter, a trend that could continue.

A key reason for this is that a major factor in the increases – the disruption of global gas supplies caused by the Russia-Ukraine crisis – is likely to continue, with fears that Russia may cut off supplies to ‘unfriendly’ nations altogether in the coming winter. Indeed, Germany, which uses more Russian gas than most, has made plans to ration use.

While Britain uses a mix of domestic and Norwegian gas, the knock-on effect on the global market will continue to push up process, so now could be the best time to invest in new ways of heating a home, by contacting underfloor heating installers in north London.

This will enable your home to be heated more effectively, meaning you can minimise the amount of energy used.

Of course, this will not be the whole story; energy efficiency also depends on good insulation so that when the heat has been generated it will not be lost too soon.

The government is believed to be considering a £1 billion plan to insulate low income households across the UK, but even if you do not qualify for such a scheme it could be well worth having it fitted.

With underfloor heating to keep your home warm and a few other measures, you can keep those winter bills down for years to come.

Have You Turned Off Heating To Cut Bills?

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Households typically lower their thermostat at this time of the year as the weather warms up, but subdued temperatures have meant many people have kept their central heating on to avoid the chill. However, those who are worried about their future energy bills might be facing cold conditions anyway, as they look for ways to reduce their heating costs.

Sky News has reported how more and more pensioners are switching off their heating and putting on lots of layers of clothing instead to stay warm.

One-fifth of retired men and women in the UK are already living in poverty, and with the cost of living expected to soar, this problem will only worsen.

Earlier this month, the energy cap was increased, which means households could spend up to £246 more on their gas bills every year, according to the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU). For many people, this extra expense is not one they can afford, particularly as the price of food and petrol are also increasing at a rapid rate.

Doreen Moore, 74, is just one example of someone who is relying on an electric fire, closed doors, and drawn curtains to keep her home warm.

She told the news provider: “It’s depressing. And it’s getting worse.”

BBC News also revealed how some pensioners are staying in bed all day to stay warm, skipping meals to save money, and using hot water bottles for extra heat.

One way to reduce energy bills is to upgrade your boiler and make it more efficient to run. Find out more by calling us today.

Radiator Covers “Drastically Increase Bill”

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Rising fuel prices are going to have a big impact on household bills over the next few months, so one thing homeowners will not want to do is force their heating fees up even more. That is why it is advisable to remove any radiator covers, no matter how fashionable they are at the moment.

Commenting on the matter, Daniel Nezhad, director of UK Radiators, told The Express that many people want to hide their heating devices, particularly if they are not designer or particularly stylish.

However, one thing they should not do is use radiator covers to disguise them, as this “could actually cost you more than you think”.

“Covering your radiator will significantly impact its ability to heat your home,” said Mr Nezhad, due to the fact the heat will remain trapped within the cover and will not be able to heat the house as efficiently.

Consequently, homeowners will turn their heating up higher or keep it on for longer to stay warm, which could “drastically increase the cost of your energy bills”.

Instead, Brits who want to hide their unsightly radiators could paint them the same colour as the walls, which is currently a very popular interior design trend.

Something else they could do is remove some of their radiators entirely and install underfloor heating in their North London home instead.

These have many benefits, including creating more wall space by removing radiators, spreading heat evenly throughout the house, being more environmentally-friendly, keeping bathrooms and kitchens free of water on the floor, and saving money on energy bills.

Why Underfloor Heating Should Be Home Improvement Priority

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At a time when the cost of living has been soaring, many people will have been thinking carefully about how to manage their household budgets; not just in terms of day to day costs, but also in their larger spending decisions.

Home improvements are a case in point. For much of the last two years the desire for more home working room or extra outdoor leisure space has motivated many to focus on extensions.

Now, however, circumstances have changed. With the pandemic easing and the clarion call to return to the office having gone out, there may be other priorities for home improvement, like more energy efficiency as gas prices have skyrocketed.

Alongside this may be a matter of particular interest to Londoners. As property website Rightmove has noted, the capital is seeing prices rise as the ‘race for space’ that pushed people out of the capital has reversed and living in commuter land is back in a big way.

As the Evening Standard noted, the 7.3 per cent rise in prices over the last 12 months represents the strongest London price growth since the Brexit referendum.

With the average house price in the capital now £661,000, it may seem householders will not have to do too much to boost their property price. But the corollary of that is that for those wanting to sell, and move up the ladder in London will also be costlier than before.

That may be one reason for installing underfloor heating in north London. By boosting the value of a home, householders could gain a real edge in a Metropolitan property market that is now reasserting itself after years in the doldrums.

However, it is not just the shift away from needing home working space that could change priorities for home improvers, nor even the benefits of property value. A more efficient means of heating will be especially valuable if energy price inflation becomes even more pronounced due to the impact of the current Russia-Ukraine conflict on gas prices.

For all these reasons, investing in underfloor heating may be the most efficient, attractive and cost-effective way to improve your home.

5 Tips For Using Underfloor Heating In A Bathroom

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Underfloor heating in the bathroom can be wonderful when it comes to taking the chill off cold floor tiles on a chilly winter’s morning, transforming the space into a warm, spa-like heaven.

If you’re in the process of renovating your bathroom, you might be considering whether to use traditional radiators or underfloor heating, which may be dependent on your budget and your property. We have a look at five tips to ensure you get the best out of your underfloor heating (UFH).

 

  1. Pick the best underfloor heating system

It will be largely dependent on your circumstances, for example, electric UFH systems are typically easier to install, but will have higher running costs. Whereas water-based UFH systems need a little more work to install, the monthly tuning costs will be lower. It is vital to choose the right system for you.

 

  1. Get the positioning right

To ensure you get the correct and even heat output, the cables/pipes must be laid at neat, regular intervals. The higher the heat output required, the closer together the pipes/cables should be.

 

  1. Choose the right flooring for underfloor heating

UFH works well with wood, tiles, or stone flooring, but smooth, hard surfaces like porcelain and ceramic tend to have an edge over other solutions when it comes to heat conductivity.

Some laminate and vinyl products are not suitable for use alongside electric underfloor heating. So be sure to check with your supplier that the UFH kit and floor surface are compatible.

 

  1. Leave your underfloor heating on

During the colder times of the year, it can take a while for UFH systems to warm up, and constantly turning your heating on and off for short bursts will waste energy. Keeping the system continuously running will ensure that the system is running efficiently and provides a constant level of warmth.

 

  1. Consider a hybrid setup

Removing redactors will free up space, especially in small bathrooms, but there are some advantages to including a radiator, such as a slim towel rail for a handy spot to warm towels so they’re toasty for when you step out of the shower.

 

If you’re looking for underfloor heating installers in north London, get in touch today.

Major Energy Firm Offers Free Energy Efficient Boilers To People On Low Incomes

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A large energy company has offered a boiler installation worth £2,500 to people on low incomes to help them manage their energy bills more easily.

The scheme, offered as part of E.ON’s Affordable Warmth Scheme, offers the free standard boiler to people on a low income that are in receipt of certain benefits and are currently dealing with a broken or faulty boiler.

The criteria for which benefits qualify is somewhat specific but includes:

  • Universal Credit,
  • Other forms of income support for unemployed and low-paid staff, such as the Employment And Support Allowance and Jobseeker’s Allowance.
  • Carer’s Allowance,
  • Disability Living Allowance, Severe Disablement Allowance, Personal Independence Payment and other disability-related benefits
  • Several Armed Forces benefits, including the Armed Forces Independent Payment and War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement.

E.ON has noted that people do not need to be an existing customer of theirs to be eligible for the support, as it is part of a government scheme to help improve the energy efficiency of homes for people who are on low incomes.

It is also separate from a similar scheme known as the Green Homes Grant, which covered up to two-thirds of the cost of heating improvements that helped to boost the energy efficiency of a home or convert to a low carbon heating method.

This can include some forms of boilers, such as those which use biomass, as well as heat pumps that convert ambient heat in the air or from a ground source into heat to warm a home.

Once the Affordable Warmth boiler is applied for, E.ON will undertake a home survey to help identify areas where energy can be saved. Some of these works may not be covered under the scheme and the homeowner may have to pay part of the cost if they wish to go through with them.