Boilers: Repair or Replace? Why Change your Boiler if its not broken?

Top Five Reasons you should replace your boiler

1. According to Which? people in a terrace/semi-detached home could save over £400 a year on energy bills with a new efficient boiler
2. It if often more cost effective to have a new boiler installed that is under warranty than continuing to pay out for repairs to an old boiler – often the case if the boiler is more than 10 years old
3. Boilers over 10 years old can be unreliable and may not comply with current regulations
4. Health and Safety (HSE) regulations changed from the 1st January 2013 stipulating that boiler flues must be accessible, any Gas Safe Engineer that services a boiler with a hidden flue will have to class them as unsafe and they will fail their inspection
5. Affleck are currently offering a combi boiler swap with a seven year warranty for as little as £1700 + VAT

Tripwire: if you are calling out a Gas Safe Engineer more than once a year for your boiler, it’s time to change

Boilers fix or buy new?

Colin Hunt, Affleck's Head of Plumbing & Heating

"Cost of servicing a boiler for the first years is generally £85+VAT but after the warranty expires the costs often exceed £600 + VAT including parts - plus the discomfort that comes with having no hot water or heating, often at the coldest time of year. Typical parts failure includes pumps, diverter valves and thermostat controls.

There comes a point normally after 10 years where you end up paying so much to repair it, it’s far cheaper to get a new one. Not only will you save on maintenance costs and hassle but also modern boilers tend to be 30% more efficient which will save considerably on your energy bill. Which? calculates that with new condensing boilers – like the ones we’re offering – you could save over £400 a year on your energy bill in a terraced or semi-detached home. The average household saving is £310, which added to servicing costs on old boilers, gives a huge saving.”

Annual fuel costs with different boiler types (source: Sedbuk)
Boiler type	Efficiency	Flat	Terraced	Semi-detached	Detached
Old gas heavy weight	55%	£779	£1062	£1204	£1705
Old gas light weight	65%	£659	£898	£1019	£1442
New non-condensing	78%	£549	£749	£849	£1202
New condensing	89%	£481	£656	£744	£1053

Boiler Change: Case Study

Converted Victorian Terrace between the commons

Lilly - Affleck’s former Office Manager – has a common story.  When she bought her house she was alerted to the age of the boiler and the fact that the heating system was old and the house was plumbed with micro pipes.  Over the past 3 years she kept putting off buying a new boiler and instead paid for boiler services, replacement parts, new pipes throughout the house and new radiators.  All works were carried out to increase the heat capacity of the property. However the boiler continued to fail and some of the radiators didn’t heating up as well as they could – scarves and hats were all the fashion in the house.

Why Affleck Recommend a New Boiler For This Client

• Boiler was over 10 years old and prone to problems
• Lilly had already paid out for repairs and new parts to boiler over the past 3 years and bills were only going to rise
• There was a persistent dropping of pressure which cannot be traced to an obvious leak
• A planned loft conversion which would require a more reliable boiler
• Boiler flue crossed boundary wall and will need to be moved for access to flue

Boiler: Action Advised

Old boiler to be removed, new boiler with 7 year warranty (Vaillant Combi Boiler) installed in new location with easy access to flue.

Replacement Boiler Cost

£2500 + VAT

Client Feedback

Lilly - "Having paid my deposit I had a date with the plumber; the work began two days later. The plumber arrived on time and took charge of my keys and got to work. The works continued into the next day and were finished on time with minimal disruption.

"I hadn’t realised what discomfort we were in until we had the new boiler installed – my home felt cosy again and the hot water was constant, not fluctuating has it had some for some time. My advice is to take Affleck’s advice, if you have more than one service/call out per year on a boiler over 10 years old get your boiler changed ASAP."

• Affleck are currently offering a combi boiler swap with a seven year warranty for as little as £1700 + VAT – saving you hundreds of pounds
• Affleck are offering 7 Boiler Services for the price of 5 when paid for in advance. (In order to maintain your seven year warranty you will need to keep records of your annual Boiler Service)
• We are offering a 15% discount on Boiler Services for August
• Why not book a service now and receive a free estimate for a boiler swap this summer?

Call us now on freephone 0800 316 9595 - to book a service and a free estimate at at time that suits you.

How to choose a trustworthy builder or tradesman - Questions & Apps

Our Affleck tradesmen are often called on to repair or take over poorly finished or unsafe work untaken by inexperienced ‘cowboys’.  Often the client has opted for the cheapest option and left themselves exposed risk and financial loss. You can avoid their mistakes.

Talk to your Traderman App

The TrustMark organisation has recently developed an excellent app which prompts you with questions to ask builders/tradesmen and records the important information.

As a reputable local London building services company we welcome this tool. Many of the questions you should ask are seemly straightforward, but you’d be surprised by how many people do not know what to expect from a builder or what to ask.

Having a clear set of terms from a company is invaluable. Both the consumer and tradesperson will have protection and peace of mind that each party will undertake their part of the contract.

Download the Trustmark App here:

Questions to ask your builder or tradesman

• Does the company hold insurance?
• What are the payment terms?
• Does the work come with a warranty?
• What availability does the company have to undertake the works?
• Does the company follow the latest health and safety guidelines?
• Does the company charge VAT?

These questions will help you form an opinion on the builder outside of the personal and first impression you receive. In addition always ask for relevant references and visits to completed projects. Some builders will show you a work in progress, which can really help you see how the company works

When you find the right builder you will return to them for years to come and recommend them to family, friends and colleagues.

Affleck’s London Builders 100% record

Affleck are very proud to say that once again we have received glowing feedback from our annual customer service survey:  100% of customers surveyed would use Affleck again and would refer us to a friend/family member.

Affleck Property Services has a clear cut policy for projects and maintenance laid out in our terms and conditions, found on our website, in addition to the reverse of all maintenance invoices, appointment confirmation emails and written estimates for larger works.
If you are looking for experienced London Builders for your loft extension, kitchen or bathroom project, call us on Freephone 0800 316 9595 and we can organise to visit you & offer a free quotation.

Save £500 on your Annual Electricity Bill ... in under 10 minutes!

We all want to stop wasting money, but with the minimum of effort.  Here’s our 10 minute guide to saving over £500 on your Annual Energy Bill… and reducing your carbon footprint by over one tonne a year.  What’s not to like.

In February 2013, the energy regulator OFGEM calculates that the average UK household energy bill will be £1,420 a year – and those are set to rise.  According to the Citizens’ Advice Bureau almost half of people in London are worried about the strain of rising fuel bills their finances.  However for most people saving money on your energy bill is quick, simple and in some cases free.

How to save money on my energy bill/electricity bill?

• Change energy providers – £240 per annum / 17% (average) – 5 mins
• Install a VPhase unit – £65 / 4.5% (electricity only) - 2 mins
• Switch to LED lighting – £140 / 12%  - 2 mins
• Turn the thermostat down 2 degrees £110 / 9% - 2 seconds

Step 1: Find a new energy provider

To keep it simple: use uSwitch.  Get your electricity or energy bill and enter your details, it takes just a few minutes.  Average customers save 17% or £230 per year on their bill, 10% save over £310.

You can compare on price, customer service levels and save on gas and electric bill combi tariffs.  Getting both gas and electric from the same supplier, known as Dual Fuel, can also give greater discounts.

Our advice is to switch to a fixed rate tariff to avoid price rises; you may pay more initially but in the long run, it will almost certainly be cheaper. Maximise your savings by opting for monthly direct debit.

• Time taken: 5 minutes
• Cost: £0
• Savings: £200 per year or 17% off your energy bill
• Carbon Footprint: No carbon saving here; its same amount of energy you’re just paying less

*Cash Saver 1: when filling out the form on uSwitch select 'No' when asked if you would like to see the plans you can switch to today - you'll receive more options which could save you a lot more money

*Cash Saver 2: once you’ve switched check your meter occasionally to ensure your account is not in credit.  As often you will be charged more than you have used.

Step 2: Order a VPhase Unit

VPhase units save money on electricity bills, improve the lifetime of your appliances and are environmentally friendly.  When you get a VPhase unit installed by a qualified electrician it reduces the voltage used by you appliances from the UK average of around 245V to around 220V; yielding a potential 10% saving in electricity bills for a typical home.

Appliances such as fridges and freezers can deliver savings of 17%, whilst prolonging their life through reduced voltage and electrical stresses.

There is no maintenance once installed, so you can immediately benefit from the energy and money savings.  Make a quick call to Affleck now on 0800 316 9595 to arrange getting your VPhase unit installed at a time to suit you.

• Time taken: 2 minutes (to make the call)
• Cost: £400 – including installation (recovered in 4 years)
• Saving: £63 per year or 10% off your energy bill
• Carbon Footprint: Saving 500kg of CO2 emissions per year

Read more: VPhase: 10% of Every Electricity Bill

Step 3: Switch to LED Lighting

Traditional incandescent light bulbs will be phased out by the end of 2012.  So what does this mean? Candle-light or Energy Saving Bulbs only? No - the next-generation light-bulbs are bright, environmentally friendly, save you money and on top of all that they look cool too – welcome: LED lighting.

LED offer fantastic savings compared with other lighting.  The higher initial cost is greatly outweighed by the long term savings in both cutting energy use and savings on the light bulbs.  New designs mean they can be fitted in existing sockets, so make your next bulbs LED.

LED lights last around 30,000 hours! Typical energy savings of LED lighting are £7 each per bulb (yep that much), probably about £140 per year per household.  You can calculate exactly how much you can save using this LED Energy Saving Calculator.

You can order yours online now at LED Giant – it’s the best site and price we could find.

• Time taken: 2 minutes
• Cost: £200 – (recovered in 18 months)
• Saving: £140 per year or over 12% off your annual energy costs
• Carbon Footprint: Saving 585kg of CO2 emissions per year

Read more: LED Lighting – Ready to be turned on?

Step 4: Turn thermostat down by 2 degrees

The Energy Saving Trust have calculated that for each degree you turn down your room thermostat you save around £55 and 230kg carbon dioxide a year.

That’s it; just two degrees. If you want to save, wear a cosy jumper; now you may even be able to justify buying that new one.

• Time taken: 2 seconds
• Cost: £0
• Saving: £110 per year or over 9% off your annual energy costs
• Carbon Footprint: Saving 460kg of CO2 emissions per year

Additional Simple Energy Savings

Some more good advice from the Energy Saving Trust:

• Install a room thermostat if you didn’t have one before: £70 and 280kg carbon dioxide a year
• Fit a hot water tank thermostat: £30 and 130kg carbon dioxide a year
• Fit a hot water tank insulation jacket: £40 and 170kg carbon dioxide a year.
• For offices and commercial property installing occupancy sensors can create savings of thousands of pounds a year

More Good Advice on Ways to Cut Your Energy Bill

This article was complied with the advice of our expert London electricians, the Energy Saving Trust, OFGEM (the UK energy regulator) and Energy for London:

• Energy Saving Trust
• OFGEM
• OFGEM – Household Energy Bills Explained (PDF)
• Energy for London

How to Replace a Broken Slate or Roof Tile

Broken tiles and slates are one of the most common issues with roofing. Replacing a broken slate can be a very simple job, however it also has the potential to be quite tricky and certainly dangerous.  Follow this guide on how to replace a broken slate from Wayne our Head of London Roofing.

Safety

The most important advice here is on safety.  Affleck do not recommend untrained people to attempt changing a roof tile.  Roofs by their nature are generally high above the ground the potential for serious injury is very high.  Please take great care when attempting to change a tile, if in doubt, always seek the help of a professional.

Steps to Replacing a Broken Slate

1. Find a matching tile/slate
2. Get the right tools – slate ripper/nail hook, copper nail, tingle/lead strap & hammer
3. Get to roof level securely
4. Use slate-ripper to remove nails
5. Slide out the slate
6. Fix the tingle/lead strap
7. Install the new slate

Find a matching tile/slate

Replacing your broken tile or broken slate with one different to the original will cause it to look out of place.  If you don’t have a spare tile at home, the easiest thing to do is to take a photo of your roof with your phone – the closer you are and the higher the quality, the better.  Take the photo to a roofing supplier and they should be able to supply you with a matching roof tile or slate.

Essential Tools for replacing a broken slate

You will need the following tools for repairing a broken tile or broken slate:

• Slate ripper
• Hammer
• Tingle/lead strap
• Copper Nail

Get to the roof securely

We cannot advise caution enough in this step.  Please see our note on safety.  Roofs vary greatly and there are a lot of variables to consider; size of the overhang, distance of the broken tile to the edge of the roof, number of tiles to replace etc.

You must have secure footing based on a solid foundation - either scaffolding or a well secured ladder.  Be aware that if someone is securing the ladder they may be at risk from falling debris.

Use slate-ripper to remove nails

The broken slate you are removing will be secured by two nails; one in each of the top corners.  Slide the slate-ripper beneath the broken tile and up towards the top right corner, you are aiming to catch the nail on the right hook of the slate ripper.

Once the hook is pulling on the nail, use the hammer to hit the handle of the slate-ripper to shear through the nail – it should take four or five strikes – be careful to keep the slate ripper held tightly.  Then repeat the process for the opposite corner.

Caution: when removing the nails be aware that some of the broken tile may come loose with the potential to knock you off balance or injure anyone below.

Remove the slate

With the nails removed you should be able to slide the remained of the slate out of position using your hands.  Slates can be quite cumbersome and as this one will be broken will be in several pieces – make sure you can put them down safely.

Install the lead-strap/tingle

Place the lead strap over the joint of the two roof slates that are now exposed. You will see nails securing the left and right slate.  Place the top to the tingle just above the line of these nails and hammer in your copper nail in line with the nails.  The nail should pass between the gap in the slates and into the roof baton below.

Install the new tile/slate

With the tingle secure take your new slate and slide it in place of the old one.  The slate should slide underneath the two slates above it.

With the slate installed, align it with the other slates in the same row. Finally fold the tingle up to hold it in place.  Once the tingle is secured you can crop off the excess off using wire-cutters or a similar tool.

Job done!

Recommendations for Roof Care

Make sure you check your roof at least once per year – checking for broken tiles, overflowing gutters or sagging.

From the interior signs of damp beneath a roof can often be a sign of a broken tile or another leak.

Affleck offer a fast and reliable roofing service to deal with any London roofing maintenance issue.  Contact us on 0800 316 9595 to arrange an appointment at a time to suit you.

Room with a View: Loft Conversion Heaven

This is a loft conversion to remember. This this is the second post on this recently renovated house in Clapham - the outcome of a very productive partnership with Millar + Howard Architects, who share their design thinking below. After 'The open-plan kitchen you wish you had', this post takes a look upstairs at the fantastic loft coversion with open views over London.

Architectural Design

Millar + Howard Architects

The house on Kerrison Rd initially presented itself as a timepiece, having had only 3 owners since it was built in Victorian times. There was still an outdoor privvy, many of the original features, and almost no mod-cons.
The aim of the project was to retain a sense of the history whilst creating bright spacious 21st century living space with plenty of personality.

The top floor has been converted from a poky loft space into a private master bedroom suite with panoramic views across the London skyline from the raised bath that takes pride of place at the side of the bedroom.

You can see more fantastic work from the Affleck London Loft Conversions team in our project gallery.

The open-plan kitchen you wish you had

The Affleck team recently finished a truly spectacular house renovation in Clapham. The back of the house has been completely transformed in to a bright modern kitchen, with sliding glass walls that open the house to the garden space. Perfect for enjoying the long summer nights we're currently dreaming of.

The project was the outcome of a very productive partnership with Millar + Howard Architects; who share their design thinking below.

If you would like a kitchen like this Affleck are offering a complimentary 3D kitchen design service - find out more below.

Architectural Design

Millar + Howard Architects

The house on Kerrison Rd initially presented itself as a timepiece, having had only 3 owners since it was built in Victorian times. There was still an outdoor privvy, many of the original features, and almost no mod-cons.

The aim of the project was to retain a sense of the history whilst creating bright spacious 21st century living space with plenty of personality. So the principal rooms at the front of the house and the entry hallway were kept and carefully restored, while at the back the cellular 'servant' rooms were opened together and to the garden; the rear wall literally peeled open on two sides of the garden. This allows for a light-filled kitchen living space with a tropical courtyard twist.

You can see more fantastic work from the Affleck London Kitchens team in our project gallery.

3D kitchen design... for free

Affleck offer free consultations on kitchen design, and for a limited period as part of this service you will receive a complimentary 3D kitchen design - bringing your dream kitchen to life.

If you would like a kitchen like this give us a call free on 0800 316 9595 - to arrange a free design consultation at a time to suit you.

Autumn Promotion: The Brilliant Boiler that Pays for Itself

Get 'Which? Best Buy' rated Worcester Bosch boiler installed by Affleck's expert Gas Safe registered engineers, and safe disposal of your existing boiler from as little as £1700 + VAT, with a free heating survey - a guaranteed best price on a like-for-like basis

Promotion ends 09/11/2012

The Best Boiler Installation in London: the Boiler that pays for itself

According to Which? The average annual fuel cost for a condensing gas boiler is £720* (*based on the needs of a three-bed, semi-detached and well-insulated home). New condensing boilers provide 95% heat per unit of gas, older model boilers only give 70% heat from every unit of gas – which means when compared to an older model you will be saving 25% on your heating costs or approximately £200 a year*, not to mention the additional cost and hassle of servicing an old one.

The Worcester Bosch gas boilers Affleck install are fully guaranteed for 5 years and have a typical life of 12 -15 years, meaning that the savings made more than cover the cost of the new boiler installation. You may also be eligible for a government grant to help pay for it.

Why not get your home really warm and cosy and save yourself time money and hassle? Call us on 0800 316 9595 to arrange your boiler installation at a time to suit you.

Signs your boiler could need replacing

• Constantly breaking down – how many times have you called out a plumber to work on you boiler? More than once a year is a troubling sign.
• Age – if your boiler is over 10 years old it could be coming to the end of its safe working life
• Slow to heat the house – if it takes longer than 45 minutes to heat all radiators in your house then you may need a new boiler
• Money –  A gas bill that is increasing over the prevailing rate is a sign that your boiler is not working efficiently
• Unable to control temperature – if you are unable to regulate the temperature of the boiler there is probably an underlying fault

Why change your boiler now?

• The sooner you switch the sooner the boiler pays for itself.  When compared to a older model you will be saving approximately £200 a year on gas bills, a figure that will rise as fuel bills increase.
• Guaranteed unbeatable price. Affleck will install one of the high efficiency Worcester Bosch condensing boilers (rated best buy by Which?) with 5 year warranty  at a price guaranteed to beat any quote on a like for like basis
• £35 additional discount  for all clients who share this promotion and their feedback via Affleck on Facebook:
• Like 'Affleck Property Services'
• Share/tweet our promotion on your Facebook wall
• Write/tweet your feedback on your Facebook wall and share on Affleck's page

Why use Affleck?

• Guaranteed to beat any on a like for like basis
• Free heating survey
• Gas Safe registered engineers
• Considerate and friendly service from the initial quote to your final visit

Considerations when getting a boiler installed

• A boiler installation will take 1-2 days during this time you will be without heating or hot water -  Affleck can arrange the works to be carried out at a time convenient for you to  minimise inconvenience
• When installing a new boiler Affleck engineers always lay full flooring protection and will treat your home like our own , with the utmost respect
• Only 40% deposit is required to book works;  the final 60% is only payable on completion and sign off by our Head of Heating and Plumbing

Gas boiler grants – get more money off your boiler

You may be eligible for a grant to cover some of the cost of a gas boiler installation from the Warm Front Scheme – English residents who own their own home or privately rent could be eligible for a grant of up to £3,500 towards heating and insulating their home. This scheme is being phased out over the next few years.

Contact Affleck for boiler installation in London on 0800 316 9595