Posts Tagged ‘bathroom’

High Efficiency Boilers

Thursday, July 30th, 2009
by Tal Potishman

In recent years it has become more apparent that we need to take greater care of our environment. This is due to the fact that greenhouse gases and extreme weather conditions are all contributing to global warming and some drastic changes in the way we live needs to be done.

An important part of this is the fact that an an estimated 25% of the UK’s carbon emissions come from our own homes. Furthermore, 70% of these emissions come from the energy we use to provide heat and hot water. So how can we change this? This is where high efficiency boilers come into play. High efficiency boilers are capable of making drastic change to the environment, if everyone has one installed in their homes. For one thing, they are 90% more efficient, meaning that over 90% of gas consumed when the burner is firing is converted into heat for the heating and hot water system.

If you compare this figure with an older boiler you will see the huge difference. Many of the older boilers operate at a 70-75% efficiency, some even being as low as 50%. Therefore, it is easy to see how the environment is more impacted compared to high efficiency boilers which are more green-friendly.

Therefore if you are faced with a choice to either repair or replace your boiler system, you will need to think about a number of factors. If you have the correct information, then you should be able to make a well-informed decision based on your individual circumstances.

The first point for consideration for most people before they decide to make a purchase is cost. It is true that most home-owners are deterred from installing a high efficiency boiler due to the high installation charges and the cost of the appliance. They find it more practical sometimes to just spend a little extra to repair the boiler rather than replacing the whole thing. However, the long-term benefits are often overlooked in these scenarios. For instance, it is fine to use the option of repairing if your boiler is not that old. But what if your boiler is really old and has continuously given you problems? If you keep repairing the same boiler, you may end up spending more money in the long run in comparison to just purchasing a new high efficiency boiler.

You should note that installing a high efficiency boiler will not only save you money on fuel bills, but also help to meet the government’s target of reducing carbon emissions by 20% by 2010.

How much money could I save?

If you decide to go for a high efficiency boiler, you may be looking at saving between 190 and 240 a year or around one third of your heating bills straight away. In addition, installing the correct heating controls could potentially save you up to 40% of your bills.

The average lifespan of a boiler is 10-15 years. If you feel the timer is finally running out for your boiler, it is advisable to shop around for a new high efficiency boiler.

About the Author:
Tal Potishman, editor of Heating Central, writes articles about commercial boilers, plumbers, London plumbers, underfloor heating and solar thermal. He specializes in helping save money by advising on efficient heating.

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Installing a Solar Thermal Water Heater

Tuesday, July 21st, 2009
by Tal Potishman

More and more people are turning to solar thermal water heating systems as an alternative to using conventional water heating systems. There are many different reasons behind this. Many are willing to spend more initially to save on costs in the long term. As the saying goes; short term pain for long-term gain. For others, they are thinking more strategically, installing solar thermal water heating systems as a way of adding more value to their property.

There are many points you should consider before you decide to make your purchase. You should think about:

What is the amount of hot water you will be using?

Where are you located?

How does the cost of installing a solar water heating system compare to other water heating systems?

A Solar Thermal Water Heater explained

A solar thermal water heater uses the sun’s radiation to heat the water. You will find that most solar thermal water heaters will include storage tanks and solar collectors. Many solar thermal water heaters can be used alone or in conjunction with a conventional water heating system.

So how does it work?

The dynamics behind how the water gets heated is quite straight forward. The sunlight hits the solar thermal collectors which in turn absorb the energy from the sun. This energy is then transferred to the water in the storage tank. The solar loop is responsible for preheating the water before coming into the water heater. This essentially means that very little or no energy is required by the conventional heater to heat up the incoming hot water. It is always useful to have the conventional water heater there as a back up device just in case a drab and gloomy day decides to make an appearance.

Swimming pool heating

Solar thermal heating has been popular for use in swimming pools. Especially if the pool only needs to be used during the summer, this method of heating can be the most cost effective way. The system is likely to be less complicated to use as it will not need to be operated all year long. The dynamics of a solar pool heating system will usually comprise of solar collectors, pipe work, heat exchanger, and a control system. The installation of the parts will depend on a variety of factors, such as the specification and location.

What are the main advantages behind installing a solar thermal water heating system?

There are many advantages behind installing a thermal water heating system. For instance, not only will you be responsible for reducing carbon dioxide emissions in the environment, you will also make a huge amount of savings that will last you a lifetime. Statistics have reported that installing a solar thermal water heating system can save up to five times the energy used by an electric boiler.

It is important to not devalue the significance of a solar thermal water heater

About the Author:
Tal Potishman, editor of Heating Central, writes articles about central heating, boilers, Bournemouth plumbers, underfloor heating and solar thermal. He specializes in helping save money by advising on efficient heating.

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Home Decor and Decoration

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009
by Rob Jackson

Whether you are decorating a new home or starting a new home furnishings decor project for your home you will need to start without a plan. If you don’t have a plan then you are going to have problems with your re-decoration. Components that should be considered during the planning stage are the color scheme and the furniture.

While you can re-decorate and make the room look entirely new with just a new coat of paint, make sure the paint you buy matches your home furnishings decor. You shouldn’t limit yourself to one color of paint, even if you are one hundred percent certain it will work in your house. Take many swatches home with you. Using sample paint jars and a small portion of one of your walls, you should further test out the paint you think you might like. As some paint will look great under certain light, but not as fantastic under others, you should be sure to observe the paint on the wall for at least a couple of days.

When it comes to choosing home furnishings decor you want to stick with the practical items. Not all rooms need the same type of furniture and you should buy based on the needs of each individual room. Because their functions are so entirely different, you would not buy the same type of furniture for your family room that you would for your formal living room. Measurements and diagrams showing the exact location of windows and doors in the room are essential before shopping for furniture. Always choose your furniture after you have decided upon the wall art and carpeting.

Even the best planners can have trouble trying to come up with a place to begin their project. The home furnishings decor decisions are not always easy to decide. Just because items look great in a magazine does not guarantee that they will look good in your home, so you should start your decorating by coming up with a list of goals. Always decide upon a budge as part of your goals. This way you won’t focus on a decorating idea that won’t work within your budget.

Many people turn to the internet for new ideas and to find tips on how to save money. great money-saving tip is to buy your furniture online in order to get a discount. The internet will give you more variety to choose from as well, which is particularly helpful if you are trying to come up with a specific or unique look.

About the Author:
Why not also consider stainless steel shelving for your kitchen or bathroom? It can even be made to look pretty cool and modern in other areas of the house too!

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Dual Flush Toilet & Steam Shower Bathroom Design Ideas

Thursday, June 4th, 2009
by Moe Kittaneh

If you are redesigning an existing bathroom or planning a new one, there are a couple fixtures you should consider: Steam Showers and Dual Flush Toilets. Steam showers multi-task, save space, and provide luxurious comfort while a dual flush toilet saves you money and headache.

In smaller bathrooms, corner stand up steam showers allow you to make the most of your space without compromising features. Less than three feet in depth, these showers can fit almost anywhere. There are even steam shower units designed to fit in standard bathtub enclosures that include a whirlpool bathtub.

This convenient design is probably the most popular, followed closely by the two person steam showers. For large bathrooms, the roomy two person showers are the ultimate luxury item. With dual handheld shower heads, plenty of interior space and a two person whirlpool tub, your master bathroom will never be the same again. By combining a luxury shower, steam room, and whirlpool tub in one unit, both space and money are saved.

In addition to steam sauna capabilities, the showers feature luxury amenities such as handheld adjustable shower heads, rainfall showers, massage jets, built in mirrors, seats, and shelves, chromatherapy, radios, speaker phone and more. The showers with tubs are fully equipped whirlpool bathtubs with jets, air systems, continuous heat pumps and more. Truly spa quality experiences can be had right from the comfort of your own home, from saunas, to spa baths and aromatherapy relaxation, and all at prices much lower than you would think.

The wide availability of steam shower enclosures from online retailers means competition and discount pricing for consumers. By doing some quick research and comparison shopping, you can have the bathroom of your dreams at the price of your dreams.

Dual flush toilets are all the rage overseas in Australia and Europe, and are just beginning to catch on in the U.S. When you compare traditional toilets with dual flush models, there is really no reason not to pick a dual flush toilet.

These toilets are unique because they offer two flush modes, .8 gallon liquid waste flush and more powerful 1.6 gallon flush for solid waste. The average traditional toilet uses about three gallons per flush, so the difference is quite significant over time. It is estimated that the average family can conserve 8-20,000 gallons of water a year just by switching to dual flush models.

So how do they do it? Well, for starters, the drain trap in a standard toilet is about 1.5″ or less. In dual flush toilets, it is usually 3″ to 4″. This means much less water and force is needed to move waste along and also reduces instances of clogging significantly.

Another major improvement is the use of a slide-out mechanism instead of the flapper valve, which often needs maintenance and is difficult to replace. The slide-out mechanisms, however, requires less maintenance, is more efficient, and easier to service. The last significant difference is the bowl wash method.

Traditional toilets use a siphon method, which is noisier and misses spots. Dual flush toilets use a full bowl wash method, which rinses the entire bowl after each use creating a cleaner toilet while still using less water.

About the Author:
With all of the benefits provided by steam showers and dual flush toilet units, it is hard to find any reason not to include them when remodeling a bathroom or designing a new home.

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Customize Your Bathroom To Suit Your Requirements

Wednesday, May 27th, 2009
by Luis Maragold

Improving the bathroom takes more work than it seems. Sure, it’s a fairly small space but it’s a highly functional area in the house and a poorly-working bathroom because of good-looking fixtures that aren’t useful just won’t cut it. The bathroom should look good and work well. Some people have made the mistake of spending a lot for decorating to find after that they don’t get satisfactory efficiency from their newly-decorated bathroom.

The first thing to remember while designing a bathroom decor is to have the right kind of flooring. If you are using your bathroom for the purpose of a laundry, then these wet areas require greater care and attention. Ceramic tiles can be a good option as they can be cleaned easily and they can be repaired in case of any damage. These tiles are available in different colors and varieties, which can be used for your bathroom flooring. Besides, they work out to be cheaper and affordable as well. Marble flooring can be expensive and at the same time risky as they have higher chances of slipping.

The bathroom floor material is dependent on the functions you’ve allotted to your bathroom space. If for instance you do some laundry, the floor should be able to take in the moist, water and suds. Ceramic tiles is a good option as it can be easily cleaned. The high-traffic factor of bathrooms will also have a favorable effect for ceramic tiles as this type of flooring can be repaired in a snap in case of damage. If you’re overly concerned about slipping accidents, don’t use marble flooring.

For practicality reasons, many toilets are now the mounted kind. This makes cleaning easier. Furthermore, just like with bathtubs, there are also various designs for toilets. You can also change the material if you wish. If you can’t use marble for the floors, then perhaps you might want to consider having a marble toilet. The sink can also be redecorated with a new material wherein choices vary from glass and porcelain to granite and marble.

Finally, don’t forget the cabinets or any other storage in the bathroom. Now is the time to sort your bathroom essentials and throw away items you no longer use. If you have been keeping the mouthwash for over a year now and an old toothbrush is still lying around, please do something about it! Organize your stuff and by doing so, you’ll know if you need new items or an additional storage.

About the Author:
Discover where Home Decorating professionals do their own shopping and uncover their most sort after green floor rugs.

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