The Daily Telegraph is reporting a number of water companies are being accused by plumbers’ groups of turning down the mains pressure and thereby threatening boilers and power showers.

The newspaper reminds its readers that Ofwat, the water industry regulator, has already fined a number of water companies, notably Severn Trent and Southern Water, for giving false information, not reducing bills and telling porkies about leaks.

And it quotes two major plumbing firms which say that complaints about water pressure are on the increase, about five times what they were three years ago.

The plumbers feel frustrated because low mains water pressure means a boiler will not fire up properly and the consumer calls out a plumber to investigate. By the time they arrive, the pressure has reverted back to its normal levels, but the customer still has to pay the call-out charge, causing ill-feeling all around.

And the plumbers are saying customers feel that Ofwat, hard on the water companies in many areas, are not taking the problem seriously enough.

It’s pointed out if a customer sees their water supply drop below a certain level for more than an hour on two occasions in a month, they can claim £25 in compensation. But to prove their case, a customer is required to time how long it takes to fill a gallon of water into a bucket.

How many consumers will be bothered to conduct such tests, plus all the necessary paperwork, for a £25 refund remains to be seen, but a number of water companies asked for their opinion seemed to downplay the issues involved.

One replied that water pressure changes were designed not to help the water companies themselves, but the consumer. They point out that a too high water pressure causes many more problems, mainly leaking joints and pipes. And if they have to reduce water pressure on certain grids, then they let customers know when it’s to happen.

Another water company said they had reduced leakage by a quarter in the last four years and one way they did this was to ‘stabilise’ water pressure. Whether the word stabilise means decrease wasn’t clear, but with complaints rising all the time, it will remain a problem for plumbers and their customers for some time.

An Ofwat official was quoted as saying:
“Companies work hard to maintain pressure within an optimal range so that it is neither too high nor too low.”

Guest Article by Neil Camp

Ofgem says it’s going to cost the UK £200 billion to secure energy supplies and meet carbon targets.

The figure was revealed after Ofgem’s report that they claim is their most comprehensive review of Britain’s energy supplies yet.

Labelled Project Discovery, the initial report outlines the challenges for Britain’s energy industry and concludes that if the targets are to be met, then customers could face potential price rises to fund this investment.

The report focussed on the challenges facing Britain’s gas and electricity supplies, and identified that the main cause of concern is the country’s exposure to a volatile global gas market and power stations nearing the end of their life.

As part of the report, Ofgem has drawn up a total of four energy scenarios applicable for the next ten to 15 years. And in each of the four scenarios there are reductions in carbon emissions of between 12% and 43% (from 2005 levels) and increases in energy infrastructure investment of between £95 billion and £200 billion.

The first scenario is called Green Transition. This one involves rapid economic recovery and a significant expansion in investment in green measures. Targets for domestic renewables are met and energy efficiency measures are effective. Also, UK gas demand falls, but electricity demand increases due to greater use of electric vehicles and heat pumps. This causes quite a hike on domestic consumer bills, with an increase of 23% by 2020.

The next scenario is Green Stimulus and this one is based on a slow recovery from the recession and restricted availability of finance. As a result, world Governments implement green stimulus packages to achieve environmental goals and boost economic activities. High carbon prices and government policies support investment in renewables, nuclear, and carbon capture and storage. Consumer bill impact is less at 14% by 2020.

Third up is the Dash for Energy scenario and plays out the theory that global economies bounce back strongly, but security of supply concerns outweigh the emphasis on environmental targets. This means that the UK’s renewables targets and the Government’s carbon budgets are missed. The result is competition between countries for energy resources, which in turn leads to tight gas supplies and high fuel prices. What’s worse is that planning and supply chain constraints means that new nuclear power stations can’t become operational before 2020. This leads to a doomsday scenario of an incredible 60% rise in domestic consumer bills by 2016, before eventually falling back.

The final scenario is called Slow Growth. This plays out the scene of a continuing recession which results in gas and electricity infrastructure being considerably lower than before the credit crunch. Once again, nuclear power cannot save the day, because incentives to rush to the atom are reduced because of low gas and electricity prices. And the result, an increased dependence on imported gas for new gas-fired power stations. And domestic consumer bills get clobbered by 22% by 2020.

Alistair Buchanan, Ofgem chief executive, said:
“Our scenarios suggest that Britain faces a tough challenge in maintaining secure supplies whilst at the same time meeting its climate change targets. However, there is still time to act. Ofgem will be putting forward proposals in the New Year based on today’s consultation to ensure that Britain’s energy industry can meet the challenges ahead.

“These are big challenges. Consumers are already enduring high energy prices,” said Mr Buchanan. “This is why we are consulting with consumer and environmental groups, the academic community and industry to ensure any policy proposals we make are grounded on the best evidence available. Early action can avoid hasty and expensive measures later.”

Guest Article by Neil Camp

All central heating systems that are pressurised systems will need to be repressurised at some point so that they continue to work as efficiently as possible. This generally requires manually topping up the amount of water within the system and although this sounds like a daunting task, anyone can do it as long as they have a good set of instructions and the handbook to their boiler.

Why does this have to be done?
Everyone knows that heating water over and over makes some of it evaporate and this is exactly what happens in your central heating system. Every time you turn your boiler on and heat the water in the system, a small amount of it evaporates and eventually the water pressure begins to fall. If left, the pressure can fall so far that your boiler will stop working and so you need to repressurise the system as soon as you notice a fall. There are other reasons for a fall in pressure, such as leaks in the system, but these will require the help of a professional and shouldn’t be tackled alone.

How do you know your system needs repressurising?
All boilers that are part of a pressurised system will have a very obvious and easy to read pressure gauge which monitors the water pressure within the heating system. This gauge needs to be checked on a monthly basis to see that the pressure is within the recommended levels – these will be noted in the boiler’s handbook. If the pressure has dropped then it’s time to repressurise.

How do you repressurise a boiler system?
Firstly you need to locate your filling loop. This will be located close to the boiler and looks like a stop tap with one end attached to the cold water mains pipe and the other end attached to the central heating system pipe work. Occasionally, the filling loop may not be permanently attached to the heating system and so you will need to attach it first before turning the tap! In some cases the filling loop may be integrated within the boiler itself and you will need the boiler handbook for further instructions.

Once the filling loop is attached to the system you can open the tap but it is best to do this slowly as you don’t want to flood the system. When the tap is opened, cold water is injected into the central heating system and the pressure gauge on the boiler should begin to rise. Make sure you or someone else can see the gauge as you don’t want to over pressurise. If you do slightly over pressurise the system the safety valve will kick in an release the excess pressure but this only works to a certain degree so keep a close eye on the gauge.

When this is done you simply disconnect from the system if need be and check the gauge over the next couple of days to see there are no problems. Most systems only need repressurising every three or four months and then it isn’t by much however it might be worth checking a bit more frequently over the winter months when the boiler is on much more often.

Guest Article by Clare Lynock

Magnetic system filters prevent certain debris from building up in your boiler. Once installed it can easily be cleaned when your system receives its annual service. Essentially the magnets create a field which attracts particles from corrosion this helps keep the system clear.

There are a number of companies today that manufacture magnetic filter systems for the home. They are easily fitted within the central heating system – generally close to the boiler – and work to remove suspended iron oxide from the system. Many say they make your boiler more energy efficient while others say they are just a gimmick to get money from energy conscious home owners – so which one is it?

What do magnetic filters do exactly?

As the various metals in your central heating system become corroded by the water supply, the suspended black iron oxide that forms over time can turn to a sludge. This sludge then settles in the pipe work and in the boiler itself and reduces the efficiency of the entire system. By adding a magnetic filter, you can take out virtually all of the black iron oxide from the system and as more forms it is also filtered out – before it has time to settle and become a problem.

Do they work?

Plenty of manufacturers and installers say yes but of course there is always one that says no. As it is the magnetic filters that are currently on the market have been proved to remove over 95% of the suspended black iron oxide from both new and existing central heating systems. Most offer guaranteed protection from the sludge problem and improved central heating system performance and efficiency, and as we all know an efficient system reduces energy consumption and saves money.

What is available?

At present magnet filters exist for all domestic systems and a number of industrial applications and all of them are easy to install, service and maintain. You can choose the simple magnetic filter which only removes the black iron oxide sludge or if you want even better efficiency some manufacturers sell dual filters that also remove non-magnetic debris from the circulating water. The cleaner your water is as it passes through the system the more efficient your boiler and radiators will be and this is great for your pocket.

What is the cost?

Once you’ve paid for the actual magnetic filter, there are no ongoing running costs to speak of. You do have to have the filter cleaned from time to time and although it is advisable to get a professional in you can have a go yourself if you’re feeling confident. So what do they cost? This depends on the size and model you get but on average the simple magnetic filters cost from £75-£120 while the dual filters obviously cost a bit more. This may sound like a big investment for a filter but if it prolongs the life of your boiler by a good few years then it’s more than worth it in my opinion.

Are the actually energy savers though?

Well the magnetic filters available today do make your central heating system more efficient from the word go and in the long run this can only save you money. It may take a few years to recoup your investment but every year after that is money in your pocket.

Guest Article by Clare Lynock

Virtually everyone I know is dreading winter because of the extortionate energy bills that will come through the door in the spring. There are ways of cutting the amount of energy you use through the winter though and when used as a plan they can save you a decent amount of money. Below are ten good energy-saving tips to help get you started.

1. Have your boiler serviced during late autumn so that it is running efficiently for the start of the winter. This can also identify any problems that may arise when it’s being used day in and day out.
2. Bleed your radiators so that they warm your house as efficiently as they possibly can. If you have unused rooms in your house then you might want to manually turn the radiator off and keep the door of the room closed.
3. Draught-proof your external windows and doors to stop cold air coming in and warm air going out. This is an easy DIY job and all you need is some quite inexpensive weather strips and maybe a tube of caulk. You may also want to use good old fashioned draught excluders at the foot of your doors.
4. Turn your thermostat down by a degree or two and wear an extra jumper! A single degree can save up to 5% on your energy usage which can in turn save a good few pounds each month.
5. Insulate your loft and walls if you can afford it. There are government grants available to help with costs in most homes. In fact, many people can get full insulation for free if they receive specific benefits, and even if you don’t you can still save around 70% on the normal price.
6. Some say that keeping your home at a constant temperature of about 68 degrees costs less than letting your home go cold during the day or through the night and then turning your boiler up to re-warm to a comfortable temperature. This idea is often debated by gas engineers so please don’t take it as gospel.
7. Switch off any lights when they are not being used as light bulbs can use a fair amount of energy without you realising it. As an additional point you might want to think about using energy efficient bulbs as they are often less than £1 each now.
8. Have showers instead of baths whenever you can, especially if you have a shower that heats the water itself and doesn’t involve the boiler. It has been estimated that a family of four can save up to £90 per year by taking showers instead of baths.
9. Check online to see if you can save money by changing to a different energy supplier. Some may offer the same prices but will guarantee a price freeze for the next few years – which will save you in the long run.
10. If all else fails, visit as many of your friends and relatives as you possibly can each evening and make use of their energy instead of your own!

Guest Article by Clare Lynock

See also: Top Ten Tips for Saving Energy Around the Home