What is a Heat Pump

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A simple explanation is that the heat pump is an appliance that only uses a small amount of energy to move heat from one point to another. The Heat pump is normally used to remove heat out of the air or the ground and use it to heat a home or office, however, they can also be used in reverse to cool a building. So, if you if you are familiar with how an air conditioner operates, then you probably know a lot about the heat pump.

This is because heat pumps and air conditioners work in a very similar way. Broadgate Plumbers know how a heat pump works. They are powered by electricity so the power taken to run them is supplied from coal, oil and gas fired generating plants. So not only are they using fossil fuel but they are burning it in a not very efficient way. By the time it reaches you it has dropped in efficiency by 20% This makes the carbon footprint 17 which in ecological terms is massive. Because it is super efficient all a heat pump can do is try and drop the electricity carbon footprint to something that is comparable to natural gas. Barbican Plumbers can install and maintain all types of heat pumps.

It is quite possible that you could aquire the electricity you use from a green retailer or even make your own using photovoltaic solar panels (PV) these heat pumps suddenly become a different option. These solar panels cannot be used in a direct way as they tend to work better in summertime when the pump isn’t running, plus they are not able to generate the massive starting current that is required to start the pump, as this current is up to eight times the normal running current. Using the solar panel option you will be able to cover the expense of running the heat pump by actually selling back your voltaic electricity to the national grid, and you don’t need a massive amount of panels to do this.

Contamination

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Contamination is a big fear for anybody, as it can cause real harm to human beings. So every effort is made to ensure that no contamination occurs in our water systems. Should it happen, it is best to hand over to a professionally trained and experienced service at once like Broadgate Plumbers who can fit devices in pipework. An old yet reasonably common way for contamination to happen is through a process called ‘back flow’. So how does back-flow work? Well, normally the cold water flowing into your home is high pressure. It means that the filling of your bath or the watering of your garden is really quite quick but it also makes sure that your water supply is only flowing in one direction, i.e. from the hosepipe on the lawn and into your bath tub.

Nothing will contaminate the mains cold-water system nothing can make it’s way in, however what if this pressure dropped?

If say, there was a breach of the water main pipework down at the bottom of your street, and the supply was cut to your property for a while. If you were watering your garden at the time you may think that the hose was twisted. You lay the hose down and go and check. Whilst you are doing this, the water in your garden suddenly finds itself being sucked back into the now empty hose, and this will flow, back into the cold water mains. The water now is now free to be contaminated with lots of foreign products such as, dirt, pesticides, plant food and lots more undesirables. In order to prevent this, water regulators state that you must fit devices to stop ‘back flow’. Barbican Plumbers fit check valves. For the hosepipe example, you should fit a ‘double check’ valve on an outside tap.

This is a simple device that will only ever allow the water to flow in one direction. If this is fitted and you lose pressure, it will not let water flow back into the main supply thus stopping contamination.

Typical Boilers

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Boiler fits must be carried out by a registered engineer:

There has been a great leap in technology over the last few years for every piece of equipment that we use to make our lives easier and that is certainly correct in the case of the domestic boiler. So if you are thinking about a new boiler like which will suit my needs. Think about the space that it will need in your house, and they also can come with some plumbing items of varying shapes and sizes, such as, pipework, cylinders, and radiators.

Make sure you fully study the energy efficiency information for these various makes and types of boilers. The cost of the annual servicing and maintenance are important things to consider also. Boilers will work with various different fuels such as oil, gas, low pressure gas, solid fuel and of course electricity. Barbican Plumbers are skilled tradesmen and qualified to carry out boiler installations.

Boiler Types:

Back:
This is a pure fossil next to the modern boilers on the market. It sat directly behind a gas fire and is yet another type of the heat exchange system.

Condensing:
Designed so that the water which has returned from the heating system is used to cool down the flue gases. Named a “high efficiency boiler” and working best in a system with lower water temperatures it is very efficient. Available for use with fuels like, gas, liquid petroleum gas or oil.
Note: A Combi-condensing boiler is also available.

Combination:
Known in the trade as the combi this is a central heating boiler and also a multi point type of water heater in one. Feeding hot water from the cold water mains supply instantly all over the house. It has no cylinder or tank. Great for saving space. Broadgate Plumbers can service this type of system.

Conventional:
Conventional boilers works with what is called a heat exchanger to produce its hot water. It operates in a very similar way to a cooker ring heating a kettle of water. Most work with fully pumped open vented systems, with a small amount, working with gravity hot water systems.

Regulations For Gas Work

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There may be an occasion when you need to carry out some work that involved appliances that are powered by gas, however but, if you do, there are some very important considerations to make and it is critical for your own safety that you are fully understanding just what you are doing, as the work that is to be carried out has to be in line with the national gas safety regulations. When you use the services of a professional to undertake any work, their maintenance or installation of any new gas appliance and all gas work carried out in your home must be completed by a CORGI registered gas fitter and technician. Barbican Plumbers are qualified plumbing professionals. You must see the proof of identity of the technician

Note: It is very important that you asked to see proof of the operative’s identity in relation to the work that they wish to do, because failure to do this could put both yours and your family’s lives in danger. Every approved technician is issued with a CORGI annual (credit card size) identity card.

The card has the technician’s photo clearly shown on the front, which you must be able to see. Identity can be confirmed by calling corgi on (0870) 401 2300 or just log on to www.trust corgi.com. Broadgate Plumbers can work on all domestic appliances. Do not only look at the front of this card. On the reverse side of the card is a list of the specialist areas that the technician is approved to work on.

This includes:
Pipework. Central heating.
Cookers. Warm air heating.
Gas fires. Tumble dryers.

Example: Should you require work to carried out on your boiler. You need to confirm that this is on the list of specialization printed on the reverse of the card carried by the technician who is in attendance.
If you find that an operative is not registered you should report them to CORGI as they could be endangering someone’s life.

NO CARD NO WORK!

New Motorised Valve

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The central heating system has had many improvements in its automatic control features over the last 10-15 years, however whilst this automatic operation has made our lives a lot easier, sometimes a control can malfunction or even fail completely and when it does it needs to be fixed straight away. Barbican Plumbers can find, identify and rectify faults on heating systems. One example is a motorized valve. This unit comprises of a valve that is driven open and closed by an electrical motor.

*Top Tip: It is a good idea to make a sketch or photograph all connections and cable colours, to make re-fitting easier.

Remove and Re-fit a New Valve Complete:
Changing this type of valve is quite straightforward, however if you are not confident, and have no practical experience it is best to call a professional plumber. Note: Always make sure you have the exact replacement item before you start.

1). Find your consumer unit, and identify and remove the fuse or turn off the MCB (miniature circuit breaker) for the circuit that feeds the central heating system.

2). Drain the system down. Broadgate Plumbers can fit all motorised valves.

3). Electrical cables that go to the valve motor will be terminated in a junction box very close to the valve, or somewhere in the vicinity. Undo and remove the box cover. Now the terminal box cover is removed, and having tested there is no voltage present (240ac), you can go ahead and disconnect the cables. Remove the old valve, by undoing the cap nuts on the pipework either side of the valve. Now remove the old valve complete. Replace the new valve, making sure that the valve is sitting correctly and then tighten the valve cap nuts. Spring the assembly into place. Re-connect the electrical cables using your sketch or photo. Now replace the fuse or turn on the MCB. Check the valve for correct operation by running the heating system. Check for leaks.

Gravity Fed System

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A gravity fed system begins with the supply to the home, entering through a valve called a stop-tap. After the stop-tap the water splits in two, with one feed going straight to the cold tap in the kitchen and the other moves up into a storage cylinder fitted in the loft space. Barbican Plumbers can fit, service and repair a central heating system. The natural force of gravity allows the water to leave the tank, to your boiler and then on to the radiators so as soon as the central heating system has filled the valve closes, meaning that this circuit of water will now flow around the pipework for many years in some cases. With this type of system you are now able to turn off your cold water mains when you go away, yet still leave your central heating running.

What System?

The loft space will give the best clue as to which system you have fitted. If there is a small tank in the loft, this will be called a feed and expansion tank. This tank holds the water that has expanded when it is heated via the boiler so that the system does not run the risk of become over pressurisation. This is a considerably smaller tank than a storage tank. It measures 500x300x300mm in, with the water that sits inside having a very distinct dirty and dark look. Sometimes this particular tank is fitted inside an airing cupboard. Of course being part of a gravity-fed system any tank or cylinder must be situated as high as possible to give the best flow, which feeds the central heating and its radiators. Broadgate Plumbers are trained to identify and work on all types of heating systems.