Boiler Service – It’s Never Too Early

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With the changeable weather we get here in the UK, it’s hard to know whether you’ll be needing the air conditioning or the central heating from one day to the next. When it comes to heating, however, it’s important to have your gas boiler serviced by an experienced, reputable engineer, to ensure that you don’t get left in the cold when winter comes knocking. Now, you may be thinking that, with the sun still shining and Wimbledon fever not yet passed, it’s far too early to be worrying about a boiler service and safety check, but trust the experts when we say that nothing could be further from the truth.nn nnThe reasons why now should be the time for arranging a boiler service and safety check are twofold:nn n

  • Each new boiler we install comes with an extended guarantee absolutely free of charge, as we are Approved Gold installers for Worcester Bosch. However, although boiler insurance means your boiler should be seen to within 24 hours of a breakdown, gas engineers become extremely busy over the winter months, and you may therefore struggle to get a booking in good time.
  • It is generally impossible to tell whether there is a fault with your boiler until it is turned on for the first time, which will typically be in October; far too late for a prompt repair.

Generally, the best initial course of action is to turn your boiler on during the summer months (just long enough for your radiators to start heating up) to see whether it is working. If it isn’t, then you can arrange a repair with a heating engineer in plenty of time to make sure that you’re well set up for winter. However, there are several underlying gas boiler problems that won’t become apparent from this cursory measure alone. These include:

  • The top of the radiator remaining cold while the bottom is hot, resulting from a trapped air pocket within the central heating system.
  • Boiler pressure regularly dropping or rising, which could be lead to hazardous and catastrophic failures.
  • Your boiler could be using more gas than it should, which could simply mean it’s in need of a good clean, but could also be indicative of more serious problems.

No one wants to be uncomfortable in their own home, and by arranging a gas boiler service and boiler safety check during the summer months, you can ensure the perfect indoor temperature for you all year round. But on top of this concern, the danger of boiler explosions should also not be ignored. Gas boiler explosions can be caused by a safety valve failure, corrosion or wear of critical parts, a low water level, or several other underlying problems. All of these causes can be easily diagnosed and remedied by an experienced and qualified Gas Safe engineer during an annual gas service.

We have a team of expert Gas Engineers who are fully qualified, card-carrying members of the Gas Safe Register. Here’s our very own Dean Turner, proudly displaying his Gas Safe Register membership card, and remember, as the popular hashtag currently doing the rounds on social media goes, you can always #TrustTheTriangle:

To further add the credibility and reliability of our fantastic engineers, we have also recently gained accreditation from Health and Safety regulators, Safecontractor, and are also listed contractors on both Checkatrade and Trustatrader, the latter of which contains several reviews attesting to our sterling work ethic. To sweeten the deal, we also give all of our customers over the months of July and August a free pack of delicious biscuits:

So, not only do we make sure you’ll be safe and warm come winter, we also satisfy your sweet tooth in the process! If you need your condensing, system, or traditional gas boiler serviced or repaired, or a brand new condensing or system boiler installed by our expert team of Gas Safe engineers, get in touch today – We look forward to hearing from you: 01473 320 350 | services@aesnational.co.ukn

Automatic Fire Sprinklers’ Many Benefits

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Preventing Tragedy

It seems that not a lot of time goes by these days without the news of a potentially disastrous fire being halted in its tracks by an automatic fire sprinkler system. Most recently, these include:

In both cases, the blaze was quickly and effectively contained by the respective properties’ sprinkler systems, preventing potential injury, loss of life, and catastrophic property damage. In the case of Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, it has been reported that the fire in question was in fact extinguished so quickly that it only managed to cause around £1,000 worth of smoke damage to the 2m² room in which it occurred.

But what could the cost have been if the hospital hadn’t been fitted with sprinkler protection? As an NHS spokeswoman reported following the incident, “No other patients or staff were injured thanks to the swift and well-rehearsed actions of staff.” Of course, preventing injury and loss of life should always take priority over preventing property damage, but, human casualties aside, this case does go to show just how much money sprinkler protection can save you in the long run.

Money in the Bank

In fact, automatic fire sprinkler systems are a far cheaper form of fire suppression than alternative passive protection measures enforced by building control. Although it is widely believed that fire sprinklers could potentially incur unnecessary water damage by going off accidentally, the chances of this occurring are a staggering 16,000,000 to 1 (slightly longer odds than winning the lottery). And when you take into account the fact that Fire and Rescue Services attended 212,500 fires in the UK over the years 2013-2014, the remote prospect of an accidental sprinkler discharge becomes far less of a cause concern. In addition, the costs of maintaining an automatic fire sprinkler system are extremely low, and some insurance companies may even offer discounts for properties with sprinkler protection, so not only will they save you money from the get-go, they will keep saving you money well after they’ve been installed in your home.

If you’re less worried about how much an automatic fire sprinkler system could save you personally, and more about their environmental impact, there’s good news in that department, too! Typically, the Fire Service uses as much as 100 – 1,000 times more water to put out a fire than a sprinkler head uses. Residential sprinklers typically use only around 50 litres of water per minute, with a single sprinkler head controlling the entire fire. Sprinklered fires will also on average emit 7.8% to 21.6% less carbon dioxide, in comparison to un-sprinklered fires, and it is estimated that, over a 30-year period, buildings with sprinkler protection will prevent emissions of more than 5,000 – 10,000m2 of carbon dioxide.

So, to summarise, automatic fire sprinkler systems, not only help to protect you, your loved ones and property, but also your wallet and the environment too. But the information contained in this blog is just the tip of the iceberg, and our expert fire safety team would love to tell you more about their many other benefits. So get in touch today and arrange a free consultation or demonstration at our head office in Ipswich, Suffolk: 01473 320 350 | info@aesnational.co.ukn

Fire Sprinkler Legislation Across the UK

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We recently read a rather eye-opening article written by Fire Safety Officer at the West Midlands Fire Service, Nick Hunt, which was published in RICS’s Building Control Journal. In it, Nick compares differences in fire sprinkler legislation across England, Wales and Scotland, and highlights a perceived decline in fire safety awareness since 2010. A link to view and download a PDF version of the article can be found below:

RICS BCJ June.July – Sprinkler article Nick Hunt p. 22

The most puzzling aspect of this decline is the fact that until 2010, fire sprinkler awareness had been experiencing a rapid rise. As Nick points out, between 2007 and 2010, approximately 70% of schools and academic buildings in England had fire sprinkler systems installed, but by the time that the article was written (2016) that number had “plummeted” to 35%. Perhaps the most concerning piece of information that Nick points to in this regard, however, is the finding from a Freedom of Information request that Scottish ministers had allowed several new schools to be built without sprinkler systems, despite Scottish fire safety legislation requiring them. When you dig a little deeper, however, it appears that the number of schools ministers allowed to go under the radar actually amounted to nearly 50, as revealed in an article reported in The Scotsman Newspaper.

The article is accompanied by a photographic comparison of one bedsit with a sprinkler system installed, and the burned-out husk of one without. These images are all the more concerning when considered in conjunction with the recent decline in the number of systems being installed in schools around the UK. As Nick says in the opening paragraph of his article, “Sprinklers have saved and do save businesses, properties and most importantly lives from the destructive effects of fire,” so we feel we need to do our part to make people aware of how effective sprinkler systems are, in order to halt the decline in their uptake.

Nick’s article isn’t all doom and gloom, however, as it appears that Wales is bucking the trend when it comes to fire sprinkler legislation and guidance in the UK. As of 2015, several types of building have been required to install fire sprinkler systems, including:

  • Care homes
  • Children’s residential homes
  • Boarding houses
  • Halls of residence
  • Some hostels
  • New and converted houses and flats
  • New school buildings and significant refurbishment projects

AES National has a team of fire safety who would love to tell you more about the benefits of fire sprinkler systems. To make sure your property and your loved ones are protected, get in touch today and arrange a free consultation or demonstration at our head office in Ipswich, Suffolk: 01473 320 350 | info@aesnational.co.uk

Boilers Revisited

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If you regularly follow AES National blogs, you’re likely to have read our recent piece on gas boilers, and why you can always Trust the Triangle. In it, we talked about the shocking revelation that in a study by Which? of ten gas engineers, working for big-name companies such as British Gas and HomeServe, only two were found to have carried out the minimum safety checks required by the Gas Safe Register, and that even they do not follow proper guidelines. We’re sure that you found this news just as concerning as we did, so we thought this time around we would offer a little expert advice on the matter. Read on to find out just how important it is to have your boiler serviced regularly, the benefits of regular maintenance, and why AES National have the right team for the job.

First Things First

The first thing you need to remember is that, after your boiler has been fitted, it will often come with a warranty that covers you for unexpected faults. However, you also need to remember that, in order to take advantage of this warranty, you must adhere to several terms and conditions set by the boiler’s manufacturer, which includes the proviso that it will receive an annual servicing by a card-carrying Gas Safe Register gas engineer. Now, you might be reading this thinking, “my boiler has never broken down,” but this is no reason to be neglectful when it comes to getting your boiler serviced. For example, your car may have never broken down, but it will still need its yearly MOT. And just as is the case with an MOT, having your boiler serviced by a reputable and experienced gas engineer will ensure that any underlying faults with it can be fixed in order to avoid either future breakdowns, or something far worse, such as a boiler explosion. And if you’re concerned about the cost of regularly having your boiler serviced, we can assure you, the cost of having a boiler repaired following a breakdown will be far higher. So, not only will having your boiler serviced keep you safely within the guidelines of its warranty, it will also save you a lot of money in boiler repairs in the long run; that’s a win-win situation if ever we’ve heard of one.

Better Safe Than Sorry

We briefly touched upon the the grisly subject of boiler explosions, and it’s important to remain calm and to not expect the worst, as incidents are extremely rare, but its nevertheless worth keeping it in the back of your mind when considering whether or not to have your boiler serviced. In fact, readers in the Ipswich area should pay particular attention to the possibility, as a 2014 report by the Ipswich Star newspaper identified the town as being ‘most at risk from gas explosions and fires’, and revealed that ‘30% of homes had escaped what could have been deadly gas explosions, fires or carbon monoxide poisoning over the past four years’ due to faulty equipment. Even though you’re likely to be all too aware of the dangers of boiler explosions, the same might not be the case for carbon monoxide leaks. If you didn’t catch our blog on the subject, then follow this link to find out how you can safeguard both your home and your loved ones.

AES National has a team of experienced gas engineers with a wealth of experience under their belts, many of whom are also members of the Gas Safe Register (www.gassaferegister.co.uk). Not only will we make sure that your gas boiler is installed and serviced correctly, we also fit carbon monoxide detectors. So make sure to arrange a free consultation or demonstration at our head office in Ipswich, Suffolk by giving us a call on 01473 320 350 or emailing info@aesnational.co.uk.n

New Smoke and CO Detectors Regulations

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Here at AES National, we have always been staunch advocates of fire sprinkler systems, and try to spread the word about their many fantastic benefits as much as we can – if you happen to follow our blogs regularly, then this will likely not come as much of a surprise! But is a sprinkler system alone enough to give you complete peace of mind that your property (and the people residing in it) will be safe from the threat of fire? In this blog we will be looking into smoke and Carbon Monoxide (CO) detectors, following the new regulations passed by parliament at the end of last year requiring all landlords in the UK to install smoke detectors on every floor of their property, along with carbon monoxide detectors in high risk rooms, and to test them at the start of every new tenancy.

Smoke Detectors Save Lives

These regulations which were passed on 14th September to take effect on 1st October, and which could fetch up to £5,000 in civil penalties for those who don’t abide by them – clearly point to a growing awareness of the danger posed by fire, and to a need for more fire safety measures. Statistics show that:n

  • Death is four times more likely if you do not have a working smoke detector installed
  • The chance of an elderly person dying in a house fire doubles if they live alone and do not have a working smoke alarm installed
  • Fire-related deaths have been halved since smoke alarms were introduced

This legislation is, therefore sure to prevent many fire-related tragedies in the years to come. You may be reading this blog thinking, “I’ve got by for years without a smoke detector,” but it only takes one house fire to prove just how important they are; and after all, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Perhaps the biggest stride forward in safety that the regulations have brought, however, is in Carbon Monoxide awareness. More than 4,000 people in the UK are submitted to Accident and Emergency with suspected carbon monoxide poisoning per year, around 50 of whom die from it. It is a highly poisonous gas that has no colour, taste or smell, attributes which have led it to be referred to as the ‘silent killer’. The dangers of carbon monoxide were brought to the public’s attention in October last year, former England International rugby player Simon Halliday and his partner were reported to have admitted to hospital following a near-fatal bout of poisoning, resulting from an incorrectly fitted gas boiler. This is one of the most common causes of carbon monoxide poisoning, and can be prevented by both making sure that your boiler is fitted by a reputable professional and that a carbon monoxide detector is installed in your property; a device which costs no more than £30.

We urge you to be mindful of the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, and to seek immediate medical attention should you feel that you may have increased levels of the gas in your property. They include:n

  • Dizziness
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Tiredness and confusion
  • Stomach pain
  • Difficulty breathing

AES National has a team of experienced gas engineers with a wealth of experience under their belts, many of whom are also members of the Gas Safe Register (www.gassaferegister.co.uk). Not only will we make sure that your gas boiler is installed correctly, we also fit carbon monoxide detectors. So make sure to arrange a free consultation or demonstration at our head office in Ipswich, Suffolk by giving us a call on 01473 320 350 or emailing info@aesnational.co.uk.n

We Are Gas Safe Registered – #Trust the Triangle

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A recent survey carried out by the Gas Safe Register (www.gassaferegister.co.uk), as part of their latest public safety campaign, has revealed gas engineers to be the most trusted of all tradespeople (23.5% of the more than 2000 people who took the survey said they trusted gas engineers the most, with meter readers coming in a not-so-close second, at 14.4%).

There is, however, such a thing as being too trusting, as the survey also revealed that many engineers are being employed based upon politeness, eye contact, confidence, smart clothing and a nice smile, instead of qualifications or skill. One in four of those surveyed even admitted to deciding whether an engineer is trustworthy within the first five minutes of meeting them. When it comes to gas boilers, this misplaced trust could have grave repercussions, as shoddy work could lead to leaks, or even explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning. An exposé carried out by Which? of ten qualified engineers from big-name providers such as British Gas and HomeServe found that just two conducted the minimum amount of legal safety checks required, and even they did not follow proper guidelines. Of the eight who neglected the minimum checks:n

  • Six failed to notice that operating pressure had been set too high, which could result in overheating.
  • Two failed to remove the boiler’s casing to check its seal.
  • One who did remove the casing spent longer drinking his tea than the 13 seconds it took to replace.

nThese misconducts were all caught on hidden camera and then assessed by experts against gas regulations and the manufacturer’s servicing instructions which engineers are required to refer to, making evidence against the culprits irrefutable. One expert even told Which?, “These engineers haven’t got the knowledge or experience to understand what they’re looking at.” The watchdog has since passed its dossier on to the Gas Safe Register, urging it to take harsher action against incompetent engineers. As Which? executive director, Richard Lloyd, rightly pointed out: “Faulty boilers could have serious or even fatal consequences for consumers, so more must be done to check up on and crack down on incompetent engineers.”

With reportedly hundreds of thousands of illegal gas jobs being carried out every year in the UK, it is critical that reputable providers and engineers take measures to prove to their customers that they are qualified for the job at hand. Jo Hemmings, an expert behavioural psychologist employed by the Gas Safe Register to advise on the matter, says, “Offering credentials is the only sure way for tradespeople to prove they are trustworthy and safe,particularly for jobs which require legal qualifications, such as gas and electrics.” The organisation’s latest initiative, Trust the Triangle, urging people to only trust engineers who carry the Gas Safe ID (which sports a triangle-shaped logo, as shown in the advertisement to the right) is currently being disseminated via social media by way of the hashtag #TrustTheTriangle.

Of course, there are many highly skilled and reputable engineers who don’t carry the Gas Safe ID; the moral of this story is essentially that it’s always worth going for substance over style. We use a number of expert engineers who carry the Gas Safe ID; for more information about our gas boilers and other mechanical services, make sure to give us a call on 01473 320 350 or email info@aesnational.co.uk.

Dean Turner AES National Gas Engineern

Renewable Energy Rules!

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The Solar Trade Association (STA) Scotland has put forward a ‘key asks’ document to the Scottish government, to tie in with the latter’s ambitious plans to meet the equivalent of 100% of Scotland’s electricity demand from renewable energy options by 2020. The 20 ‘asks’ contained in the document suggest ways in which the government might pave the way for a solar revolution in Scotland, such as putting an ambitious ‘Solar Action Plan’ for both solar PV and solar thermal, and support for retaining the 5% reduced rate of VAT for all domestic solar retrofit, roof-integrated PV and renovation. The full list can be found on the STA’s website (www.solar-trade.org.uk/scottish-solar-industry-publishes-key-asks-for-scottish-government).

Despite being over halfway towards meeting its targets, with over 7.5GW of renewables, fears were raised last year that Scotland might be on course for failure unless it invests in more onshore and offshore wind farms. According to the STA, “solar can make an important contribution to the rest of the 100% target and provide an essential balance to the mix of renewables in Scotland.” Time will tell whether they will be correct in this assertion, but there’s one thing that the vast majority of people can agree on: the more renewables, the better.

Support for solar in the UK as a whole nevertheless appears to be waning. The DECC (Department of Energy and Climate Change), for example, has recently reduced its support, and feed-in tariffs – which reward users for the energy from their solar panels that ‘spills back’ into the network – have recently had a ‘deployment cap’ imposed on them. But if statistics are anything to go by, there’s never been a better time than now to invest in solar. For starters, mathematics professor, Doyne Farmer, and economist, Francois Lafond, published an extensive paper earlier this year, predicting a 10% fall in the cost of installing solar panels each coming year, putting solar power on course to provide 20% of the world’s energy by the year 2027. Add to this the typical £80 saving on your energy bill each month, along with negligible maintenance costs, and you have an extremely compelling argument for making the switch to solar. Oh, and there’s also the small matter of helping to save the planet by reducing the need to burn fossil fuels.

If you are thinking of making the switch to renewable energy or you have any further questions, get in touch with our expert team today. Not only can we help you with any queries you might have, we also offer all our customers FREE quotations and extended guarantees with one FREE annual servicing for all boilers installed before September.n

The BEAM Central Vacuum System

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Improving on a Classic

Vacuum cleaners have been around for quite some time now – a long time, in fact – with the first motorised models starting to appear at the turn of the 20th century. Thanks to innovators like James Dyson, the device looks a lot different today than it did back then, but the basic concept has pretty much stayed the same. After all, as the saying goes, ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’. But there is a little-known improvement on the classic that could make the process of cleaning the home easier, quieter and more effective.

BEAM has completely revolutionised the vacuum cleaner model, as it’s power unit (the bit that makes the most noise and takes up the most space) is neatly stowed far out of the away of the living area (within the utility room or garage). Usually, the prospect of needing to vacuum the home would be an unappealing one, and one that is likely to be put off for as long as possible. But with the BEAM Central Vacuum System, all that’s needed is to take the nine-metre, lightweight, crush-proof hose, plug it into the wall inlet in the room you want to clean (as pictured) and you’re good to go, with no need to lug around a heavy power unit or empty a bag at the end of it. How’s that for convenience?

So, they’re quiet, convenient, space-saving; anything else? Well what really makes them stand out is their incredible power. Boasting up to five times more power than conventional vacuum cleaners, BEAM Vacuums completely remove dust, instead of just recirculating it, making for a cleaner and healthier home environment. As a BEAM system removes 100% of contacted dirt, dust mites, pollen, dander and other allergens, it’s the perfect choice for allergy and asthma-sufferers, and pet owners; research (www.beamvac.com/Why-a-Central-Vacuum/BEAM-Information/Healthy-Living) has proven that a BEAM system provides a 61% relief of symptoms for allergy sufferers.

We supply BEAM Central Vacuum Systems to both residential and commercial properties, in addition to MVHR (Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery) systems, which provide fresh, filtered air all year round, in addition to some much-needed warmth during the colder months.

Need more convincing? We’d love to show you just how much difference a BEAM Central Vacuum System could make to your home. To arrange a free demonstration at our head office in Ipswich, Suffolk, give us a call on 01473 320 350 or email info@aesnational.co.uk.

Blog – Why Installing a Fire Sprinkler System in Your Domestic Environment is Key to Your Safety

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Statistics released by the UK Government in 2013-14 show that over 300 people died from injuries sustained by fire, 80% of which originated within the home. Furthermore, a whopping 9,748 suffered non-fatal injuries, with 80% being house fire-related. With the impact of accidental fire clear to see, it is vitally important to properly protect yourself within the home by ensuring that your fire security is up to scratch. So if you haven’t considered installing a domestic fire sprinkler system yet, you might want to think again.

Fire sprinkler systems are great for all domestic dwellings, and particularly for individuals who are more vulnerable and less capable of reacting quickly (more than half of all house fire deaths involve people aged 65 years or older). Installing a domestic fire sprinkler system in the home offers a greater level of protection and security for those who may not be able to escape or react quickly.

Yet fire sprinkler systems are not just for the more vulnerable members of society – 11% of dwelling fires occur between midnight and 5am; a time at which individuals are likely to be asleep and at a greater risk from fire. Fire sprinklers react to growing fires automatically, and so are not only great for when you are away from your home, but also for protecting you whilst you are within it.

Residences without fire protection account for 38% of home fire deaths in Great Britain. While installing basic safety equipment (such as a fire alarm) is a great starting point for protecting both yourself, your family and your property, they are clearly not enough, as they do nothing to extinguish the fire itself. Fire sprinkler installation offers a much greater level of safety, while remaining cost-effective and easy to integrate within the home.

Many people are hesitant to install fire sprinklers, as they have fallen foul of many myths and misconceptions that are perpetuated on a daily basis. For example, many assume that when a fire is detected, all of a sprinkler system’s heads are triggered simultaneously, when in actual fact only those in the immediate vicinity are, as they are set off by the heat of the fire and not the detection system itself. People may worry that water damage will be greater than the damage caused by the fire itself, but the odds of this occurring are staggeringly low (16,000,000 to 1). Sprinkler systems typically use around 50 litres of water per minute, with one head tackling the fire. In contrast, the fire brigade (who will take longer to respond and therefore have a larger fire to tackle when they arrive) use as much as 100-1,000 times more. Fire sprinkler systems are able to tackle fires instantly, meaning much less water is used and thus much less water damage is sustained.

Offering a cost-effective solution to protecting both your life and your property, fire sprinkler systems are perfect for any domestic environment. Think a fire sprinkler system is right for you, or need further information from the AES National team? Give us a call on 01473 320 350 or email info@aesnational.co.uk – we’ll be happy to answer all of your questions.

Fire Sprinkler Legislation: Knowing The Law

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The effects of fire damage can be entirely overwhelming, and even fatal in the most serious cases. This is why having a fire sprinkler system in place within your home or commercial building is essential in safeguarding your loved ones and property. Our fire sprinklers are pivotal in helping to save both lives and properties, and as such, legislation has been introduced to take into greater consideration the key role they play in keeping us safe.

The use of fire sprinklers and how the law requires them to be installed differs depending on property type. For example, new build residential blocks over 30m high must now be fitted with Approved Document B Standard sprinklers for the sake of life safety. Not only does the latest fire sprinkler legislation mean that a greater level of safety can be provided, it also means that a number of other practical benefits are able to come into play. Fire sprinkler installation entirely recalculates the safety requirements of a building, meaning that strict rules regarding fire protection protocols and regulations are able to be relaxed.nnIf you are considering renovation, domestic fire sprinklers will enable you to play more freely with the dimensions of your home, allowing for more open spatial designs, smaller doors and larger compartment sizes. Backyard developments also become achievable as turning circles and access points for fire engines are not required.nnDelayed evacuation times and longer travelling distances are other key advantages that may result from fire sprinkler installation. This is hugely beneficial for large properties or residential homes, where space or individuals involved may have particular and unique characteristics.

If you are thinking of installing fire sprinklers in your home or workplace or you have any further questions, get in touch with our expert team today.

Not only can we help you with any queries you might have, we also offer all our customers FREE quotations and extended guarantees with one FREE annual servicing for all boilers installed before September.