Our Favourite Kitchen Styles We Cannot Wait to See in 2023

The humble kitchen is the most important and influential room in your entire home. Even for those who are perhaps not avid cooks, kitchens are still important parts of any home. They are where stories are told, meals are enjoyed, experiences are shared and memories are made. With the world moving in a direction of combining aesthetics with practicality, we’re excited to see what 2023 has in store for kitchen interiors and styles. And if you’re hungry for a new kitchen installation this year, have a gander at some of our favourite kitchen designs and trends cropping up this year for some inspiration. Trending Styles Organic & Eco-friendly With the population shifting focus towards nature and the environment, kitchen interiors have been and will continue to make a beeline towards organic, natural and sustainable styles. Homes in general have seen an increase in natural materials and decors such as plants, woods, wicker, and concrete incorporated into rooms and it would seem this won’t be stopping this year with kitchens. We’re pretty thankful to see this style becoming mainstream. Anything that can help reduce the use of microplastics and materials that aren’t brilliantly friendly to the environment is a win in our books! Re-use & Recycled Out with the old and in with the new couldn’t be farther from reality in 2023. We’re seeing a lot of repurposing of items and furnishings, all being added throughout entire homes in general. It’s a great way to show some love to an item that either had a previous purpose or belonged to someone else. And don’t discredit the idea of recycling something to add to your kitchen so easily! Yes, there are large-scale DIY projects you can do to repurpose an item for your kitchen but sometimes just buying a second-hand set of chairs off eBay or Facebook Marketplace and giving them a fresh lick of paint can really bring your food-prepping haven to life. Warm & Earthy Creating warmth via colours, textures, lighting etc creates an inviting and comforting feel which is one of the biggest attributes most people want when it comes to their kitchen. It needs to feel safe, welcoming and accommodating so using soft elements and natural lighting will bring this feeling of warmth into the kitchen. Combining rustic features with softer elements such as wood floors and neutral wall paints or wallpaper (and vice versa) can help to achieve this and make your kitchen feel earthy and spirited. Waking up to get breakfast or your morning coffee in a kitchen that breathes energy and warmth is perhaps the best way to feel rejuvenated and ready for the day ahead.  Patterns & Textures Fluted If you’re searching for textures that just scream chic, then look no further than fluted (and ribbed textures). Whether you opt for bamboo, wood or other, this texture is an excellent addition to any modern kitchen. It’s a versatile style to incorporate into your kitchen and adds a real pop of character to the room. Plus, the movement and dramatic style further compliments the natural energy harnessed within kitchen spaces. Ribbed and fluted textures can be added to cupboards and drawers but are more popularly stylised on kitchen islands.  Copper Copper and occasionally brass metals have been popular for a while now and are being increasingly introduced throughout homes, in particular bathrooms. But this style is starting to branch beyond the washroom environment and making its way into the kitchen scene. Copper accentuates other features of the kitchen such as the drawers, taps and even backsplashes. If you want your kitchen to hone in on that rustic and warm feel, then mixing in some metal features like copper is the way to go. Wood Like mentioned earlier, organic and natural assets such as wood are highly favoured elements of kitchens. Recent years saw popularity in lighter woods the likes of oaks and birch which were used for past trending Scandi-style kitchens. But now is the turn of slightly more dramatic and richer woods such as walnut and mahogany. Even painted woods are becoming quite trendy which we love to see. Whilst these can also include matte black painted wood, we have also seen some truly unique, fun and bolder choices such as greens, pinks and yellows.  Colours Forest Greens Forest green has been a popular colour in the world of interior design for some time now but is something we’re looking forward to seeing more of this year in the kitchen especially. Rich Modern Sleek Ocean Blues Deep blues have also been popular in tandem with greens too. We’re especially fans of the blue-green colours that make us think of the ocean and navy colours too.  Luxurious Adventurous Warming Matte Blacks Matte blacks are typically used in kitchens as accents but do also work well as the main attraction, especially if paired with complimentary wood flooring and furnishings.  Powerful Contemporary  Sophisticated Sage Greens Sage greens are seeing the light of day this year, particularly in those organic and natural kitchens. It’s a luscious and calming colour that replicates nature. We’re all for it. Calming Refreshing Harmonious Dusty Pinks Both a brilliant pairing with matte blacks and sage greens, but a solo trending colour by itself. Dusty pink kitchens are on the rise and partner superbly with lighter woods and patterns such as herringbone.  Youthful Warming Invigorating Earthy Terracottas Terracottas and colours in the clay and rust palette are excellent for creating that organic and earthy feel that we’re looking forward to seeing in 2023. Somehow, it’s a style that is both classical and modern. Inviting Stimulating Enthusiastic Warm Whites Classics are timeless. The familiarity of whites for a kitchen is comforting but with the trend of warmth, whites that are not too polished seem to be taking over this year. We think they look brilliant and work well with all of the kitchen colour trends of 2023. Friendly Classical Versatile Features Styled Tiles/Slab Backsplashes Gone are the days of plain white wall tiles and backsplashes. 2023 is the

Skills and Qualifications Needed to Become a Plumber

Whether you’re a school leaver searching for your first job, trying out different industries to see which fits you best or someone with plenty of past job experience but looking to retrain into a new career, the life of a plumber is certainly a fruitful and dynamic one. It’s a role that is always in demand and valued. If you enjoy helping people and doing hands-on work, this vocation is certainly one to start considering if you haven’t already. Here’s what you need to know about kickstarting this journey, including the skills and qualifications you’ll need to have in your back pocket. Responsibilities A plumber is a tradesperson that either works for themselves, a company or a local council. A plumber installs and maintains water, plumbing and central heating systems for homes or commercial buildings such as offices. Plumbers can also be a part of blueprinting tasks and work on designing systems and fixtures for a property. The responsibilities of a plumber will vary from project to project. The general duties of a plumber include, but are not limited to:  Skills As with any career, there’s a mixture of hard skills and soft skills required to become a plumber. But the combination of these two skill types is so important for a plumber. You deal with members of the public and are entrusted to work on their properties so a strong toolkit of both personal attributes/characteristics and learnt skills are paramount for generating the ultimate customer experience for our clients. Some of the skills usually desired for plumbers to possess include: Working hours This can vary from tradesperson to tradesperson depending on the hours you work and your employment type, whether part-time, full-time, contract, permanent or temp. One thing that is guaranteed is that you don’t have to worry about sitting behind a desk for 8 hours a day. Plumbers operate on fieldwork so are usually on their feet for most of the day. Whilst the estimated hours of work are the usual 9-5, plumbers can also be required for emergency call-outs and last-minute emergency fixes. After all, a burst pipe doesn’t work on our time. Because of this, the estimated working hours for a plumber is around 37 – 40 hours per week but are subject to being longer as they may be needed for morning shifts, late-night shifts and even weekends/bank holidays. The hours are basically as and when you’re needed. Salary Your salary will be dependent on the hours you work and your skills/experience level. This isn’t uncommon and is usually the case for any vocation – the newer you are to a role and if you’re still learning the ropes, you’ll likely be sitting on the lower salary mark but with time, experience and expertise, so will too the money. In saying this, as there is seemingly a constant demand for plumbers due to how valuable and significant the role is, the pay for plumbers isn’t too shabby. The salary starts at roughly £15,000 per year for starters and can meet £40,000 per year for experienced plumbers. (Source: National Careers Service) The current average salary for plumbers in the UK is £30,838. This is as of February 2023 and subject to change. (Source: indeed) How to become a plumber Now you have a bit of background behind the career, earnings and requirements of a plumber, think it’s something you’re ready to go after? In that case, let’s walk through the different ways you can achieve your goal of becoming a plumber. Although you need to work hard, it’s not a career that you need to dedicate years and years to get into. And if you didn’t come out of secondary education with an A* in every single subject, don’t worry. It’s desirable to have at least your Maths and English GCSE at a grade C (4/5). What’s sought out more than GCSE results is your further education after secondary. You can apply for a plumbing college course or apprenticeship. Even work experience or working alongside a friend or family member as a ‘plumber’s assistant/mate’ can help further you along the path of becoming a plumber. If working on a construction site, you will need to make sure you have a CSCS card first.  Qualifications you’ll need to have as a plumber Whether you obtain these qualifications via a college course, apprenticeship or other, you’ll ideally want to come out from your training/learning with a suitable qualification to add to your CV that shows your credibility and demonstrates employability to an employer.  The most common qualifications for a plumber in the UK are: To further add to your credibility, you’ll also want to become registered as a Gas Safe engineer/plumber on the UK Gas Safe Register. In order to be added to the register, you will be required to hold a Level 3 Diploma in Gas Utilisation Installation and Maintenance or a Level 3 NVQ in Gas Installation and Maintenance.  What is the typical career progression ladder for a plumber? Already thinking of the journey ahead and the career progression of a plumber? Of course, you must learn to walk before you can run but there’s no harm in scoping out the potential future promotions/pathways set out ahead of you. The role of a plumber can be varied and whilst sometimes you can specialise in one area such as ventilation, pipework, gas etc, you can also become a jack of all trades. If you’ve got your sights set on bigger sights, you may even become a manager or director of a plumbing business. Alternatively, if you enjoy passing your knowledge on to others, you could redirect back to where you may have begun your training and become a tutor or training professional for a college or educational institute.  Think it’s the career for you? You’ve learnt what you need and how to become a plumber, now the power is in your hands and ultimately it’s your decision if it’s a career you want to pursue. We

6 Useful Plumbing & Heating Tips for 2023

Our homes’ plumbing and heating system is something that doesn’t really cross our minds. It’s just there working in the background and doing its job. That is until a problem occurs. Whilst larger problems require professional assistance, there are smaller ones that you can attend to by yourself such as unclogging the toilet or tightening a loose pipe fitting. However, no matter how manageable the problem is, it’ll be much less tiresome to prevent these issues from occurring to begin with. These tips can help you save the hassle and time of having to tend to any potential problems that could arise. Plus some are just good-to-know to help save some pennies. 1. Know where to locate your home’s main water valve/stop tap It’s incredibly useful to know where your home’s main water valve/stop tap is in case of those extremities such as a burst pipe. There are two types of stop taps, internal and external.  An inside stop tap will typically be situated under a kitchen sink or in an airing cupboard, but if not you can also find it underneath your stairs, floorboards, near your front door, or within a utility room such as a bathroom or garage. The valve itself looks just like a tap without a spout.  In order to turn off your mains water supply from the stop tap, turn the valve itself clockwise. If you can begin to feel resistance when turning the valve, do not exceed this and stop turning. 2. Try to avoid using chemical drain cleaners – they can do more harm than good A lot of the chemical drain cleaner products on the shelves are pretty convincing but don’t be easily fooled. Most of the time they’re not too effective and can sometimes even cause more harm than good. Because of the harsh chemicals that are used within these products, they can damage pipes and can even cause erosion. 3. Don’t pour grease, oils, or food down the drains Pouring grease, oils, and food down your drains can cause pretty severe blockages within your waste pipework. The blockage isn’t usually immediate and will build up over time. Greases will solidify and large chunks of food can get stuck, ultimately creating stubborn blockages in your pipes. If you want to dispose of any fats used for cooking, try using a material such as tinfoil to capture the waste. Place it on top of the drain and slightly push in to mold the drain shape and pour the oils in here (once cooled down, not whilst they are scorching hot!). Then scrunch up the material to capture the greases/oils and dispose of it with normal household waste. For food items, particularly those that are a combination of liquids and food chunks (such as soups and canned items), use a strainer/sieve to separate the two so the liquids can go down the drain as normal but the food chunks can be binned. 4. Prevent pipes from freezing over with insulation Insulating pipes (especially in unheated areas like lofts and garages) will help prevent any frost buildup and allow the water to flow easily. There are plenty of affordable pipe lagging and tank jackets available online and in most DIY/hardware retailers that you can use to insulate your home’s pipes yourself.  5. Minimise draughts by insulating your windows, doors, and more Older UK homes that have poor insulation suffer from draughts more so than newbuilds, so applying some preventative measures to help tackle these will keep your home warmer at lower costs. You can purchase plenty of different types of insulation for windows, doors, and floors to help draught-proof your home without breaking the bank. However, if you do want to be more sparing with your money, you can makeshift a few draught excluders that can be used at the bottom of your doors to stop the cold air from creeping in. Just simply take some old materials such as blankets, shirts, jackets, or anything that you’d be ok with having on the floor and roll them up and place them at the bottom of your doors to obscure the gap where the draughts enter. 6. Turn individual radiators off in lesser-used rooms One thing to save money on your heating is to manually turn off the dials of radiators in rooms that are not used. Whether it’s the spare bedroom that only has guests 3 times a year or the bathroom that you only visit a handful of times throughout the day, turning the radiators off at the valves means heat won’t be distributed to a room that there’s no point in heating. If you need help identifying the valve for each room’s radiator, it will be the manual lever at the bottom of your radiators, usually labeled with marks from 1-6, with a 0 to turn it completely off. And that concludes our tips to take with you this year. If you want to prevent any of the larger, more severe problems from occurring within your home, you’ll want to look at getting a boiler service completed. And if those problems have already begun to appear, it’s high time to get them sorted. Get in touch with one of the expert and friendly GreenSmart Services engineers so that those emergencies can be dealt with promptly. 

A Guide to Smart Meters: Modernising Energy Monitoring

Whether you have one or not, you’ve likely heard about smart meters in recent years. Their presence is inescapable and won’t be phasing out any time soon thanks to a government-led initiative being rolled out which is offering smart meters to all UK homes by 2024. Throughout this article, we’ll explore more about what a smart meter is, the benefits of having one, and if it is a mandatory requirement to have one in your home.  What are smart meters? A smart meter is an electronic device that replicates a home’s gas and electricity meter box. The device itself is an easy-to-use small display screen that allows you to easily read your gas/electric readings. It works by taking automatic readings of your gas and electricity usage which are then sent to your energy supplier via a remote connection whilst also displaying your home’s energy consumption via the display screen to you. No more do you need to be trekking outside in your dressing gown and slippers in the cold with your key in hand or have to feel like you’re trying to land a plane with the systematic display controls to take a reading. A smart meter eliminates all of that hassle whilst also bringing energy reading methods into the modern age of digitalization. We all love a good touchscreen device. Types of smart meters There are two types of smart meters currently being rolled out, 1st generation and 2nd generation (abbreviated respectively to SMETS1 and SMETS2). SMETS1 smart meters are, as the name implies, the first generation of meters to be distributed to homes. They use a 3G connection to feed readings data to your energy supplier. This does present an issue of the meter itself becoming incoherent if switching energy suppliers. However, these first-gen meters are being gradually replaced with second-gen meters. SMETS2 smart meters are the successor to the SMETS1 smart meter. These are the types of smart meters more commonly being rolled out amongst UK homes. These don’t rely on 3G technology and instead work by having all of the data collected sent to a central network that can be accessed by your energy supplier, meaning they won’t become incoherent if you switch suppliers. Are smart meters compulsory? The initiative to roll out smart meters to homes was introduced in 2012, with the target goal in place of offering every UK home a smart meter by 2020. However, this timeframe was reevaluated and pushed back to a more reachable deadline of 2024-2025. With this being said, it is not actually mandatory to have a smart meter. Your service provider must offer you one, but you do not have to accept. It’s important to do some research beforehand and weigh out the pros and cons of smart meters to help you decide if you wish to have one. We would also advise discussing the processes and steps required with your service provider to ultimately help you make your decision. So, if you have not yet been approached by your service provider about a smart meter, you will be offered the option to have one installed at some point. Likewise, you can check to see if you are eligible for one by contacting your service provider. And when you are contacted about a smart meter, you are not obliged to have one if it is not something you want.  How much will it cost? There is actually no upfront cost for getting a smart meter installed in your home. However, you will want to enquire further with your service provider as sometimes, the cost to cover the rollout may be included within your gas/electricity payments. What is the benefit of a smart meter? As is the case with anything, technology especially, there will also be plenty of pros accompanied by some cons. Smart meters themselves are plenty beneficial for you, your energy supplier, and the environment. Provides more accuracy on bills You won’t be billed for an estimation of the energy you use within your household but instead only for the absolute, accurate amount of energy consumed. Reduces energy consumption Because you get an immediate view of your home’s energy consumption as and when energy is being used thanks to real-time data, you’ll be able to better manage what you use and how much, which can ultimately reduce the amount of energy (and money) you consume. Smart decisions, smart savings. Modernizes our energy systems A network of smart meters will help contribute to the country’s efforts to make a more sustainable, smart energy grid. Your one small smart meter will be part of millions of others that are now installed amongst UK homes and businesses, meaning you’d be helping to positively reduce our global carbon footprint. Provides insights for energy providers As energy suppliers can track and analyze the data they receive from the recordings to understand more about our collective energy consumption, they will be able to make smarter and more efficient decisions with energy production. Make use of time-of-use tariffs With a smart meter, you can make use of exclusive tariffs offered by some energy suppliers. These are ‘time-of use’ tariffs that provide cheaper prices to smart meter owners. You’ll need to inquire about this with your energy provider, as not all offer them and the tariff will be different per supplier.  Are there any negatives? Subject to signal issues Because smart meters solely rely on transmitting data across a mobile network, any disruption to the signal would result in the readings sent to your service provider being inaccurate and estimated once again, potentially increasing your energy bill. Cannot revert back to an old system Once a smart meter has been installed, you cannot revert back to an old system, meaning that you’ll need to be certain that going down the smart meter route is correct for you. Could lead to family friction If you know what energy is being used and when, it could potentially lead to some finger-pointing and squabbles in family households

Ways to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient

Journeying to make a home more energy efficient is now a shared goal of many UK homeowners and renters alike, no thanks to the colossal expenses and bills that most are having to dish out. By improving the energy efficiency of your home, you can avoid having to pay out of pocket on unnecessary expenses. 2022 already has been hit heavily by a cost of living crisis, which has resulted in many UK families having to pay more than previous years. In fact, the energy price cap has raised to above £3,000 per year, which has increased by roughly £1000. Not quite sure where or how to start making your home more energy efficient? We’ve got some guidance on ways to achieve this so that you can save your money whilst also doing your bit for the planet. How energy efficient is my home? First things first though, what is meant by energy efficiency and how do you find out how energy efficient your property is? Energy efficiency means consuming less power/energy to achieve the same outcome. The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) defines it as a means of eliminating energy waste, something that a lot of homes in the UK do without realising. A study conducted by Ofgem in 2020 showed that the average British household uses roughly 242 kWh of electricity and 1,000 kWh of gas each month. Most of the population strives to do a little better when it comes to our carbon footprint for the sake of the planet and the first step in doing this is by identifying how energy efficient your home is in its current state. The easiest way to get an understanding of how energy efficient your home is, will be to look at your Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). Your landlord should have provided you with a copy of this when you initially moved into the property, but for a digital view, you can search through the GOV.UK EPC register. An EPC will give you a visual graph that depicts your property’s current and potential energy rating, with a rating from A to G. If you use an EPC to gauge your home’s energy efficiency, you can identify improvements to make in your household then have another EPC completed after to get an updated report based on the changes made. Alternatively, for a more detailed reading of your home’s energy usage and consumption, you can perform a home energy audit. How can you make your home more energy efficient? Insulate your home Floor Adding insulation to floors in a house of any age, whether new or old, can massively prevent heat loss from your home. The materials of your floors will determine the type of insulation needed. If your home has suspended flooring, wool or foam insulation can be inserted between the joints of the suspended floors. If your home has solid flooring made of stone or a type of aggregate such as concrete, a layer of insulation will be placed on top of this before a floor covering is applied to prevent the coldness of the hardened material from seeping through. As heat rises, it shouldn’t really matter about insulating floors in rooms upstairs. However, if you have a room above an open and cold space such as a garage or an outside walkway (if you live in a maisonette), floor installation can be beneficial. Wall The walls of your home will typically be the biggest contributor to heat loss, in fact roughly one third of heat lost is attributed to a home’s walls. The amount of heat loss your home will suffer from depending on the type of property you rent or own. For example if you live in an apartment, or semi-terraced house, you’ll be less susceptible to heat loss however, a terraced house will be more susceptible to heat loss. Because every home is different and certain neighbourhoods were collectively built at different time periods, the type of insulation you’ll need for your home’s walls will be different from someone else’s. If your home has solid walls, internal wall insulation boards can be fitted to prevent heat loss. If your home has cavity walls, which most now do, then insulation can be built in the gap within the cavities. Roof A lot of heat can escape through your roof or loft if not well insulated. You’ll want any heat that’s in your home to stay firmly inside your home and rebound back around your home to keep it heated rather than escaping through the roof. Usually a wool-type insulation is laid out on the surface of your loft both between the joints in the loft and then with an additional layer on top of the joints. Double or triple glazing Majority ‘newer’ UK homes will be fitted with double glazed windows, simply as it is part of the building regulations that tradespeople must comply with as a means of improving energy efficiency. Although in saying this, it is not actually illegal to have single glazing installed in homes. A double glazed window is just two glass panes fitted with a gap inbetween usually filled with air or an imobile gas. The best part about double-glazing is that not only is it energy efficient, but also helps with noise reduction. Triple glazing is the same but with one more layer of glass, and hence another gap of air/gas. Whilst triple glazing is more effective, it is also more costly. If your home has single glazed windows and you want to upgrade, double-glazing will do the job. Central heating system Your central heating system does what it says on the tin. It’s important to make sure you’re maximising its potential without creating any heat loss. There are some ways you can achieve this and they’re pretty straightforward. Firstly, it may be worth looking at installing a more energy efficient boiler than your current one. Now each type of boiler will have its own model that is ‘more energy

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

We’ve had a great year here at GreenSmart Services and are massively thankful to all of our clients and partners during 2022 for their custom and kindness. Our business has clocked some brilliant milestones this year and we wouldn’t have been able to do any of it without you. We: So as a little Christmassy thank you from us, we have a video made just for you: It’s been a real honour to have served all of you in 2022, whether we were needed for an installation, renovation, some scheduled maintenance, or an emergency call-out. We’re still around during the holidays, so are available if you need us. However, the team will not be working on Christmas Day. We hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Underfloor Heating

In our world today, everything is about finding a fine balance between practicality and aesthetics. One major feature that a lot of homeowners and even businesses like to implement into their spaces is hidden furnishings and electrics. By ‘hiding’ elements of a property such as wiring and pipes, it helps to keep spaces looking neat and refined. Underfloor heating is slowly becoming more popular and demanded in homes across the nation with the underfloor heating market (UFH) having grown in the past few years with a last reported market share of 7.7%. We’ll look through the pros and cons of this heating system to learn if it’s worth the investment. What is underfloor heating & how does it work? As the name suggests, this is a type of heating system that is installed underneath your floors, essentially functioning as a giant radiator. Underfloor heating provides heat distributed evenly around your house, leaving it beautifully toasty and comfortable. There are 2 different forms of underfloor heating, water and electrical, often referred to as ‘wet’ and ‘dry’. Water systems use a continuous stretch of pipe to run heated water from your central heating system whilst electrical systems use electric wires to generate heat. Both of these will be installed on top of insulation so that the heat may rise up. A traditional radiator’s water can reach very high temperatures, making it extremely hot to the touch while also posing a risk of increased energy waste. Due to the even distribution of the heat and the fact that underfloor heating operates at lower temperatures, less energy is wasted and heat is gradually distributed throughout your room(s). Is my home suited for underfloor heating? Most homes are eligible to have underfloor heating installed. Perhaps you’re concerned that because you live in a new-build, your property will not be permitted or suitable for the installation but this is not the case. In fact quite the opposite as new build homes have been constructed under the Building Regulations legislation, meaning they meet the insulation requirements stated within. Underfloor heating can also be installed in older homes too, although if lacking in insulation, this will need to be addressed prior to any underfloor heating installations. There’s almost no limitations when it comes to underfloor heating, it’s brilliantly versatile and suited for most properties. You can choose whether to have underfloor heating installed in just one room, multiple or under all your rooms’ floors. Typically, the most common room to have underfloor heating installed in is the bathroom, with the kitchen being the second favourite.  What are the advantages of underfloor heating? Efficiency Whilst many homes will typically have a radiator in roughly every room, there will always be ‘blind spots’ where a draft can be felt or where the temperature is generally lower compared to that closer to the radiator. This can make for mismatched heating within rooms and a generally uncomfortable feel. Underfloor heating is far more efficient as it heats rooms evenly and because hot air rises, the heat will eventually be distributed across every square inch of the room. Lower energy bills As underfloor heating is operated at much lower temperatures compared to radiators, they do not require anywhere near as much energy to power them, saving some money on bills which is a plus in most people’s books. Opens up some space Although not the largest objects in a room, radiators can cause some spatial issues from time to time. Underfloor heating eliminates this and frees up some wall space for decorations and any furniture that you previously could not push all the way up against the wall. Plus, you no longer would need to fish out toys and all the other bits the kids throw down the radiator.  Compatibility There’s little to no limitation to the types of flooring you can install underfloor heating underneath. Regardless of if your home has carpets, floor tiles, lamination, vinyl, wood, stone, underfloor heating can still be used.  Safety They may not appear unsafe on the surface, radiators can actually be fairly dangerous objects, especially with bump-prone little ones. Not only this but radiators can cause minor burns due to the incense temperatures they emit. Underfloor heating does not pose this risk as everything is tucked away and hidden beneath the floors. Out of sight, out of mind. No maintenance Whilst bleeding traditional radiators is quite an easy job and requires nothing more than a radiator key and some towels, it’s still extra maintenance to do on an object that most people would rather have just sit in the background. Underfloor heating practically doesn’t need you to carry out maintenance so there’s no extra hassle involved for you. It might require the occasional servicing but that’s a job for an engineer. Silence Particularly with older heating systems, pipes can sometimes make a fair bit of noise when you turn your heating on. Underfloor heating runs silently through your home so you won’t even notice its there.  Adds value Since underfloor heating is a modern, luxurious and more beneficial heating system, it ticks the boxes for prospective home buyers, increasing the value of your home. What are the disadvantages of underfloor heating? Costs The price tag for underfloor heating installation is never going to be the cheapest. The price will massively vary from place to place but will typically be more expensive for larger rooms or whole home installation. If the conditions of your home need some work too, such as extra insulation, then prices can go up a little more to cover this addition too. Run time Because underfloor heating operates at a much lower temperature than traditional radiators, it can take a little bit longer to heat up, sometimes taking up to an hour to heat up a room. But if you have flooring that is a better conductor for heat such as floor tiles, it shouldn’t take too long to heat up. Decor restrictions Some items of furniture may be a little too

7 Ways to Increase Your Boiler’s Lifespan

Let’s face it, with the ongoing increase in energy bills, nobody is too thrilled at the idea of having to dish out extra money for a new boiler, especially not if your boiler is fairly new. But a boiler, like any household appliance, needs to be maintained and cared for in order to operate as smoothly as possible for as long as possible. Neglecting your boiler or only attending to it when a visible problem has occurred will mean higher chances of it experiencing serious complications in future or worse yet, a complete breakdown. Why is it important to take care of your boiler? We can safely say that the biggest reason has to be to save money. The more care you apply to the condition of your boiler, the less money you’ll need to spend in the long-run. Imagine if you left your boiler unattended and it needed repairs too frequently, the costs alone from addressing the fixes would begin to pile up, eventually leaving you with bills that could have been avoided. What is the average life expectancy of a boiler? The average lifespan of a boiler is estimated to be between 10-15 years. With the addition of regular boiler servicing and maintenance, your boiler could potentially exceed its life expectancy. And whilst some maintenance steps are simple enough to carry out by yourself, you don’t have to feel as if you’re expected to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. We can assist with the more nitty gritty aspects of caring for your boiler. With that being said, we’ll look at the top ways you can extend your boiler’s life expectancy for as long as possible before a new boiler replacement is considered. What are the ways I can increase my boiler’s lifespan? 1. Servicing is a saviour The first and foremost piece of advice we can give it to make sure that your boiler is serviced. It only needs to be done once a year so it’s not too much of a disruption but is a hugely effective way to increase your boiler’s life. By getting your boiler serviced by a Gas Safe-Registered Engineer, you can make sure that any and all little fixes are noted and addressed before they become troublesome. It’s like a health check-up for your boiler and does wonders for it. Plus, it means your warranty remains protected. DIY? 2. Invest in and install a magnetic filter Debris, sludge and the iron compounds from water can easily get clogged in heating systems, making it a huge vulnerability. The more build up of this, the less likely your boiler will be able to effectively provide heat around your home. A magnetic filter helps to filter all the grime and metallic components that get built-up in your system, leaving it cleaner for longer. This is a brilliant little addition to install to your system as it also helps to save more on energy bills, considering your boiler won’t need to work harder and longer as it would if it was full of sludge and magnetite etc. DIY? 3. Bleed your radiators When air gets trapped in your heating system, it means that heat emitters such as your radiators are not able to provide heat around your home as efficiently. If you feel your radiators and they are warm to the touch at the bottom but colder towards the top, they will need bleeding. Learn more in our guide: How to bleed your radiators. This only requires a couple of different affordable and accessible tools and is a brilliantly simple way to help release the air trapped in your home’s heating system. Your radiator will have a bleed point at the top where you can insert a radiator key to release the air. Place a towel or absorbent material underneath to catch any water that may release too. DIY? 4. Apply inhibitor to your heating system Build up of limescale is to be expected in a system that’s purpose is to move water. But leaving limescale to teem in your heating system can cause corrosion beneath it, weakening the metal that makes up your heating system. An inhibitor is a liquid that helps to protect your boiler against limescale, rust and corrosion by applying a protective coat to your system. DIY? 5. Give it a power flush A central heating system power flush essentially gives your heating system a deep clean by using water at a high pressure combined with cleaning chemicals. It will help to clear out anything that may be sitting in your heating system that could be causing build up or damage. With the presence of a magnetic filter or inhibitor, your system would less likely be in need of a power flush. But whether you have these installed or not, giving your heating system a bit of TLC can help to completely cleanse and revitalise it, making it almost as efficient as when it was first installed. DIY? 6. Turn the heating on in the summer Whilst it sounds completely contradictory, it is advisable to turn your boiler on for short periods throughout summer. This only needs to be very short bursts occasionally. Once every month for about 10-20 minutes should do. A boiler doesn’t cope very well being left unused for long periods of time. Turning the heating on every so often during the summer months helps to prevent moving parts seizing and keeps the water flowing through your heating systems. After all, the last thing anyone wants is to get to autumn/winter and have insufficient heat in the home. DIY? 7. Keep pipes insulated It’s important to not forget about the pipes, particularly ones that are exposed to cold air like up in the loft or outside in a garage. These are prone to freezing in the winter months, which is one of the biggest causes of boiler problems during these colder periods. Insulating the (typically copper) pipes with lagging helps to prevent a major boiler

Save Some Pennies This Winter by Draught-Proofing Your Home

With the nation battling increasing energy bills, it’s becoming more and more crucial to find alternative ways to save money. Draught-proofing your property is one of the ways you can help to keep the heat inside your home during the colder months as well as helping to keep your money in your pocket. What is draught-proofing exactly? Draught-proofing means to seal any gaps present in your home to prevent cold air from entering. Gaps that cause cold spots and draughts can exist in different forms all around your home, such as cracks in structures, gaps in windows and even the spaces underneath doors.  Why bother draught-proofing your home? If the thought of saving your wallet from the trauma of being dented by energy bills wasn’t enough of a convincing factor, then allow us to list a few more reasons as to why draught-proofing your home is beneficial and will serve you positively. Helps keep your home warm Less energy is used, lowering your carbon footprint Affordable and easy to do yourself How much does draught-proofing save? Whilst there’s no magic number or fixed price of how much you’ll save on your energy bills with draught-proofing, it certainly does make an impact and helps you to save money in the long-term.  Depending on the type of property you live in and whether you decide to draught-proof yourself or seek out professional help, the amount you save per year is estimated to be around £20-£50. Whilst it doesn’t seem much, it is certainly an improvement from the prices of energy bills.  Your home’s draught ‘hotspots’ and how to close them Most homes will have almost the same draft-prone spots but depending on the type of home you live in, you could be vulnerable to more than just the usual ones. Essentially, any area where the outside air makes its way inside the home is open to introducing a draft inside. So what areas around the house are open to drafts and how do you close them?  Doors (including keyholes and letterboxes) Doors will be one of the first considerations as this is typically the main source of drafts. There are different areas of a door that can cause drafts. Here’s how you can combat those areas of doors: Letterbox and keyholes: Use a cover or plate for keyholes and a draft-excluder brush for letterboxes Gap at bottom of door: Use a draft-excluder brush or purchase a dedicated draught-excluder. Alternatively, you can use old or ruined clothes and bunch them up to fill the gaps at the bottom of doors. Gap on sides of door: Use foam or rubber strips/sealant or the thin gaps on the sides of doors Windows Windows are another consideration that shouldn’t typically cause drafts if insulated properly or installed with double glazing. However, in the colder months windows can be more susceptible to drafts. For this, use foam, rubber, metal or plastic strips/sealant around the frame of the window. Alternatively, you can look to purchase thicker curtains to help prevent cold drafts.  Flooring and skirting Drafts that can sneak in through floor gaps and cracks in skirting boards can be fixed relatively easily with fillers and gap stoppers. However, if you’re looking for a more long-term solution to tackle floor draughts, you can look into investing in underfloor heating. Floorboards: Use filler or caulk that can withstand constant movement to fill in the floorboard gas. Typically these will shrink as they begin to dry, allowing drafts to re-enter so it’s worth investing in airtight versions of filler. Additionally, you can look at purchasing products such as Stopgap to fill in gaps in your flooring.  Skirting boards: Use sealant or fillings for any cracks in skirting. Remember to wipe off excess sealant before it dries. Loft/attic hatch Due to the fact that hot air rises, it can often get lost within the attic. Use a fabric or foam strip, similar to how you would with a door to block gaps around the edges of the loft hatch to prevent hot air from escaping. Most lofts have insulation installed but it’s worth looking into a more effective insulation if you find that drafts still come through via the attic.  Wall cracks Cracks in the interior walls of your home are not only problematic because they cause damage to your property’s infrastructure but they also make it easier for cold air to seep into your home.  Use a filler or cement mixture to fill in smaller sized cracks in walls. This is the safest solution to making sure wires and electrics inside the walls are not impaired. If there are larger and more fragile cracks or fractures in your walls, seek out the assistance of a professional.  Perfecting the balance between draught-proofing and ventilation If you do take the plunge of committing to the DIY project of insulating and draught-proofing your home, don’t forget that your property will still need consistent air flow and stable ventilation to help with preventing dampness, mould and condensation. Make sure that when you’re draught-proofing your home to not accidentally cover, block or fill forms of ventilation such as extractor fans or wall vents.  When is it time to seek help with draught-proofing my home? Whilst most of the ways to resolve draughts in the home are easy to do by yourself, some of the more troublesome fixes will require a professional to assist. It’s an individual choice whether to DIY the fixes or hire some help depending on preference and finances. Doing it yourself is much more cost-effective and mostly easy to do. However, the slightly more tasking fixes could cost more if errors are made and are just generally more time-consuming, making it worth just seeking out a professional.  We’re able to offer support and heating services to keep your home warm and toasty all throughout the year. Get in touch with one of our gas safe registered engineers today. 

What Are the Part L Changes and How Will They Affect Our Services?

The Part L changes are applied to the current Building Regulations in place for those working in the trade industry and self-builders. The Building Regulations are a type of legislation that consists of various different standards that were ultimately put in place to outline the health and safety needs that must be met when building properties. Due to the recent changes in the Part L section of the regulations, we’ll be covering them throughout this article and how they will affect our projects and proceedings. What is Part L of the Building Regulations? The building regulations legislation has a total of 16 different areas to be covered. The Part L area encompasses the Conservations of Fuel and Power which aims to highlight the energy efficiency of both current and future homes. Part L was previously set as four different documents but recently was shaved down to be just 2, document L1A and document L2B. The presence of these 2 documents outlines an aim to reduce carbon emissions by 31% for dwellings and 27% for buildings other than dwellings. This means that procedures must be followed to ensure that new future buildings comply with these aims. Approved document L1AThis document is intended for dwellings and covers the need to make new home builds energy efficient. It is the responsibility of any tradespeople who are working on the construction of the property to ensure it is compliant with the procedures of this document. Approved document L2BThis document is intended for buildings other than dwellings, so includes making sure that renovations or extensions to current homes are energy efficient. The document observes that it is not always possible to achieve new build home standards but that if a thermal element of a home is being renovated, it must adhere to the Part L1A document standards. When will the changes come into effect? The Part L changes were announced in December of 2021 by government officials and have begun to take effect as of June 2022. As mentioned previously, these changes are being established as an effort to help advance the trade industry and work towards a greener future. The action is also in preparation for the roll-out of the Future Homes and Building Standard, a legislation due to be introduced in 2025. One thing to note though is that there is some leniency towards properties that were still within the planning process prior to the start of the Part L changes. Any property or application for notices that were applied for prior to June 2022 are still treated as part of the old regulations, as long as building starts prior to June 2023. What are the new changes? The key changes that have been made as per the Part L alterations will affect any individuals or organisations that work on renovations, builds, extensions or home improvements on both new and existing properties. The notable changes are as follows: Changes to SAP 2012 and a new energy rate New property builds will have a new metric in place to measure energy usage called primary energy, which is measured using kWhPE/(m² per year). Properties will also now be assessed and calculated as per an updated version of a previous specification called the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP 2012). This updated version, SAP 10.2, uses a dedicated software to calculate the amount of primary energy that’s needed to create the amount of energy to be distributed throughout the property. Better insulation conditions Building, transforming or extending a property to be solidly insulated should be a primary regard of any tradesperson doing construction on a property. The Part L changes will enforce new limiting U-values, which is a unit of measurement that represents the following calculation: rate of heat transfer through a structure ÷ difference in temperature across the structure. One other consideration that should be taken into account is the application of ‘thermal bridging’ – a term used to describe gaps in insulation across the property. These gaps in the insulation cause heat loss which contributes to the decrease of energy efficiency of a building, meaning they must be addressed to hit the set targets of reducing CO2 emissions. For work on existing properties, any work done on thermal elements will need to adhere to new fabric energy efficiency standards. Conducting site-audits A ‘self-audit’ must be conducted including documenting all plans and photographs as evidence. Whilst this is typically something done by most professionals in the trade industry, it is not typically a consideration for self-builders. How will the changes affect GreenSmart? It has always been in our best interest to ensure that the services we provide are the best in the business. The changes that the Part L regulation has introduced won’t change this and we will always make sure to provide our customers with high-end, quality service. Changes to our day-to-day services: As trading plumbers and heating engineers, our customers’ comfort in their own homes is a top priority and we strive to make sure they have working heating systems come rain or shine. Our installation work will be enhanced to ensure there is absolutely minimal heat loss throughout the property. We will comply with the Part L changes and make sure to further improve our client’s homes according to the set out standards.

What Is an Unvented Hot Water Cylinder (& More Questions Answered)

We’ve all heard the phrase ‘make a house a home’ but what elements make this actually true? Whilst a fresh lick of paint on the walls, stylish decor and comfortable furniture all absolutely create the full homely feel, its basic foundations such as a working heating system and hot water that brings a home to life. About GreenSmart Services: Plumbing Contractors | Plumbing and Heating Services The different types of hot water systems that you can choose from to achieve the ultimate comfort in your home each have their own respective pros and cons. Learning the differences between each can help you to identify the best pick for your humble abode. One of these options to help keep your home warm and save on your energy bills is an unvented hot water cylinder. What is an unvented hot water cylinder? An unvented hot water cylinder is a water cylinder that is connected straight to your mains water supply. Unvented cylinders store large amounts of water at high pressure which makes sure to deliver hot water at a high flow rate to your water outlets such as taps and showers. Many UK homes now have unvented hot water systems installed. How does an unvented cylinder work? There’s no need for a dedicated cold water storage tank in the loft with an unvented water system. Instead, the cold water supplied to the unvented system is provided via the mains. When a tap is turned on, the pressure from the cold water gets funnelled through the cylinder, allowing for the hot water to be pushed out the top whilst cold water is simultaneously fed into the bottom of the cylinder. An unvented cylinder will use either electricity (direct) or a boiler (indirect) to heat the water. A direct cylinder is heated by an immersion heater and doesn’t have the necessary connections to work alongside a boiler . An indirect cylinder has a copper coil installed where the heating water generated from the boiler travels through and the heat is transferred into the hot water cylinder. How is an unvented cylinder different from a vented one? A vented cylinder stores water in a separate tank typically situated within an attic or loft. The water in the cylinder is then moved around the house using gravity once it’s been heated. A vented cylinder demands extra space due to the additional cold water tank in the loft or attic space. An unvented cylinder doesn’t have a dedicated water tank but rather sources water directly from the house mains supply. As the water is supplied via the mains, the flow rate is much better than vented, making for more pleasing showers. What are the benefits of having an unvented hot water cylinder? What makes an unvented hot water system worth the investment? If the thought of an enjoyable shower experience wasn’t enough, the other benefits of having an unvented hot water cylinder installed may be the straw that breaks the camel’s back. Easy to maintain Whilst it’s important to be able to do some basic care checks on your cylinder, there’s little to no reason for you to keep on top of any heavy maintenance. The servicing engineer will schedule inspections to keep the warranty valid. High water pressure There’s nothing worse than popping into the shower to be greeted with weak water flow. The high pressure release of an unvented cylinder means a better shower experience. Doesn’t require a cold water tank Due to the fact that there’s no cold water tank installed alongside the unvented cylinder, more space is left available, typically in the attic, for you to use and to fill with all of your Christmas trinkets. Can be installed almost anywhere An unvented hot water system doesn’t require any designated space or location for installation within a home, meaning it can be put wherever is most convenient for you. Long warranties The life expectancy on an unvented hot water system is much longer compared to a lot of other types of plumbing installations. Each hot water cylinder that GreenSmart provides comes with a manufacturers warranty of at least 25 years. Will my hot water system need servicing? We would recommend getting your unvented hot water system serviced at least once a year to keep it performing in optimal condition. Neglecting your unvented hot water system will likely cause complications and costly repairs. We can arrange yearly servicing preparations to assist with keeping your new unvented cylinder healthy and viable. So what what now? It really is worth the investment of getting a hot water cylinder installed in your home, simply due to its sheer impressive and effective nature. So if you would like one we can install one for your home. You can either call us on 01225 982222 or drop us an email at hello@greensmartservices.co.uk.