Worcester-Bosch have picked up a top award for its commitment to installer support.

Installers are the gas engineers at the sharp end who on a daily basis are fitting new boilers into homes and businesses throughout the country. And Worcester Combi boilers have received a gong for offering what is said to be an “…unrivalled service to installers and customers alike…”.

Worcester on a daily basis handles over 2,000 telephone enquiries using a team of 37 advisors. It claims to have the best technical support department with the longest opening hours and can also handle enquires sent in via the post, emails, or fax.

Worcester Combi boilers were given their award at a gala ceremony hosted by the comedian Barry Cryer OBE.

Taking the gong on behalf of Worcester was Colin Simpson, Technical Support Manager, who received the proffered award from event sponsors OFTEC.

Mr Simpson said:
“We’re delighted to receive this award. One of our priorities is the support we can offer our network of installers and this award is the latest testament to that.

“We are passionate about quality and reliability and our department is extremely well equipped with a state-of-the-art telephone system, which complements our team of exceptionally skilful technical support advisors.

“We work to exceptionally high standards throughout each year and are always looking to ensure that the best possible foundations are in place to support installers.”

Worcester Combi boilers claim that their support team is one of the most highly trained in the industry. The company’s support team undergo a thorough training programme which includes practical installation, safety rules and legislation, commissioning of equipment, servicing live boilers, solar systems and heat pumps.

The Company say that with over 2,000 calls a day, they have to ensure that the support team can answer almost any enquirer quickly and efficiently, helping installers get on with their job.

Guest Article by Neil Camp 

The MP for Leeds Central who’s also the Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Hilary Benn, has been shown the new Baxi Bioflo Biomass boiler.

Mr Benn was opening one of first new generation Plumb Center branches and was given a demonstration of the new Baxi Bioflo Biomass boiler. The Plumb Center has renewable technology displays, training facilities, showrooms, and a catalogue of water efficient products on display.

With the successful refurbishment of this first branch located in the centre of Leeds, there will be much hope for the other similar upgrades planned right across the country throughout the rest of the year. With the Plum Center including training facilities, it is hoped that these new branches will be at the forefront of providing training in the industry to customers and staff alike.

This idea is one of many that Plumb Center have brought to fruition, starting back in 2008 when they made their first dedication to the renewable energy and solutions cause. In April 2008, Plumb Center backed its parent company Wolseley PLC in the opening of a show space for sustainable building products. Architects, installers and landlords could see close-up the new ideas and innovative technologies in the field of renewable solutions. The Sustainable Building Center in Leamington Spa demonstrated to many the first available micro-CHP appliance (the Baxi Ecogen), and has been visited by more than 10,000 people since it’s opening.

As for the new opening, Plumb Center are proud of their new pledge to sustainable solutions as Keith Jones, MD Plum Center, explains: "We are delighted to officially open this flagship branch which incorporates so many of the technologies, products and facilities that our customers want to see. What better way to show customers the benefits of new and sustainable technologies such as biomass than by having them as working displays in the branch actually providing space and water heating for the building."

Mr Benn appeared inspired by the opening, and will take the ideas on board as the Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: “Seeing is believing. Green technologies and water saving innovations are crucial to our future, and I applaud Plumb Center for taking this lead in encouraging both the industry and the public to see for themselves how these innovations really can work. Of course, from a local point of view, I’m very pleased that this is happening in my own constituency as I believe this will be a huge benefit to local installers and their customers."

With working displays such as the Baxi Bioflo biomass boiler within the Plumb Center, it is hoped that the funding for and proliferation of renewable and energy saving technologies will only continue to increase.

Guest Article by Neil Camp 

Energy giant is offering three thousand large for Britain’s oldest boiler.

The hometeam at nPower is offering the prize of £3,000 for Britain’s oldest boiler after its engineers discovered numerous ‘antique’ systems during the previous Government’s hugely successful boiler scrappage scheme.

The owner of Britain’s oldest boiler will get the £3,000 as payment towards the cost and installation of a brand new boiler; one that carries the latest “A” rate.

The inspired nPower hometeam are determined to find Britain’s oldest boiler and have started a nationwide hunt.

The head of sales for nPower hometeam, Richard Cotton, said:
“If your boiler is particularly old – perhaps the same age as your grown-up children, or has been in the house longer than you have been married – you could be the owner of Britain’s oldest boiler.”

Although nPower is on the lookout for Britain’s oldest boiler and the scrappage scheme has disappeared, the energy provider is still providing grants – up to the value of £400 for people who qualify under the old scheme criteria – to replace old boilers. The £400 grant represents almost a third of the cost of a typical boiler installation.

nPower understands all too well that there can only be one winner of its Britain’s oldest boiler scheme, but that should not stop people who still have old boilers – “G”, “X”, or unrated – from getting them replaced as a priority.

So householders would do well to check their heating devices, just in case they might quality for the accolade of owning Britain’s oldest boiler and being able to claim £3,000 towards the cost of a new one.

And the likely replacement for Britain’s oldest boiler is a condensing “A” rated boiler; one which is termed ‘high efficiency’ because of its ability to exploit the heat not only from the combustion process, but also the exhaust process. Indeed, building regulations now stipulate that all boiler replacements should, if possible, be “A” rated as regards the SEDBUK tables.

So get down into the cellar now and see if you own Britain’s oldest boiler.

Guest Article by Neil Camp

Has the dreaded time arrived when you need to look at gas boiler prices and you want to know how much it is going to cost? It is not an every-year occurrence so since the last time you ventured out, they may have changed. You may also need to know the difference between each one as there are so many to choose from.

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