Too many homeowners only call a plumber in the case of a plumbing emergency. This is not good because home owners should be calling a plumber before an emergency takes place. Regular plumbing maintenance and inspections can drastically reduce the chances of another plumbing disaster or repair.
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‘Prevention is better than cure’…the saying that can be applied to so many different scenarios, including home plumbing. Plumbing problems can be a real pain in neck when they occur, but like with many things, there are actions that we can be taken to avoid issues from occurring in the first place. Who wouldn’t want to benefit from not having to pay for a costly plumbing repair service that could be prevented? Today we discuss 5 tips that will help you do just that...
Writing a blog about a blocked toilet may not be glamorous, but it’s a potential problem that can materialise in any home. Your heart may well skip a beat when the flush mechanism fails and the water rises as opposed to flowing away. The fact is, a blocked toilet is something we will all deal with at some point in our lives, so it is imperative that we know what to do when we are face-to-face with such a problem.
Toilets are resilient bits of equipment that we often take for granted. They provide an incredibly important function in households and public buildings and can take decades of abuse. Keep reading to find out how to avoid blocking your toilet and what to do if the problem occurs. The team at Arco Heating and Plumbing are based in Collier Row, Essex. As a result, it gives them easy access to many areas within Havering as well as the M25, A12 and A127. This means that they turn up on time to give quotes for jobs and when hired to undertake scheduled work. We have many clients in the Hornchurch area. Wikipedia describes it in the following way: Hornchurch is a suburban town in East London, England and part of the London Borough of Havering. It comprises a number of shopping streets and a large residential area. It historically formed a large ancient parish in the county of Essex that became the manor and liberty of Havering. As part of the suburban growth of London in the 20th century, Hornchurch significantly expanded and increased in population, becoming an urban district in 1926 and has formed part of Greater London since 1965. It is the location of Queen's Theatre, Havering Sixth Form College and Havering College of Further and Higher Education. Plumbers HornchurchArco Heating and Plumbing is a family run plumbing service are renowned for their experience and know how. They have the ability to turn their skills at solving a whole range of plumbing problems for both residential and commercial clients. Because of their extensive experience, there’s no situation that’s too difficult for them to resolve. Call our Hornchurch plumbers if you require help with the following issues: Boiler repair HornchurchDo you think that your boiler is at the end of its lifetime? Or are you ready to change and install a new boiler now? Before you do anymore thinking, give us a call so that we can undertake an assessment of the job for you. In addition to repairing boilers, we also service and install them. From Vaillant, to Bosche, we are familiar with a wide range of makes and types of combi-boilers and system boilers. General plumbing in HornchurchFaulty plumbing can be one of those jobs that you may be able to get the tools out and do it yourself. However, there are situations when doing it yourself is simply not possible. Hire a Hornchurch plumbing contractor to help you with your plumbing woes. Our professionals will be able to troubleshoot, replace and install the right pipe connections or fixtures that will allow the water to flow again – in the right direction! So leaking pipes, blocked drains, blocked sinks and toilets, all come under the remit of the Arco Heating and Plumbing team. Kitchen plumbers HornchurchIn addition to fixing and mending faulty plumbing, consider us as the kitchen plumbers for your installation. Not only do we install the plumbing for kitchens, we also fit them! If you are about to embark on the exciting prospect of updating your kitchen, plan the plumbing requirements right at the start. Our top kitchen plumbing tips will help. Shower and bathroom fitters HornchurchInstalling a new bathroom or shower suite, can be an exciting prospect. There are many elements to consider, such as the units, bath, shower, taps, sink, toilet, tiles, flooring and colours. What is also a must is deciding on who to do the bathroom installation for you. Call Arco Heating Ltd today - we are bathroom and shower fitters with experience. Do you need our Plumbers in Hornchurch or elsewhere in Essex? Then get in touch for your free, no-obligation quote. Use either of these numbers to get in touch with Arco Heating and Plumbing Ltd today! 07977 229 134 OR 07970 296 171. Plumbers Brentwood | Plumbers Chelmsford | Plumbers Colchester |
Plumbers Dagenham | Plumbers Harold Wood | Plumbers Romford | Plumbers Shenfield | Plumbers Upminster To entitle our blog, ‘The best plumbers in Essex’, may be a bold move – but we certainly think it’s true! Let us explain why. The team at Arco Heating Ltd have expert central heating engineers and plumbers available to customers across Essex and has been an established business since 1971. We are based in Collier Row, which means that getting to areas via the A12, A127 and M25 are no problem. When you call – we answer and we’re always happy to visit your property at a time that is convenient to you. We offer a wide variety of professional plumbing services in Essex, to all types of clients. Are you a commercial property developer that requires central heating engineers or plumbers on your building project? Our contract work experience includes being hired by developers that have built one house to developers that have built dozens of new build properties on acres of land. Recently, our plumbers Chelmsford worked on a bathroom installation as part of an ensuite loft conversion. The shape and angle of the room was not a traditional size, but we were able to work out how to get the plumbing travelling in the right direction. All with minimal disruption to the integrity of the structure. Our plumbers Colchester worked on a kitchen for a family in Highwoods last month and were faced with a complex plumbing set up for a kitchen. The owners were keen to have the kitchen structured in a way that suited them and their ideas were far from straight forward. Challenges like this are something we enjoy, so get in touch if you want something out of the ordinary. Are you a homeowner that would like some advice on their hot water tank? Do you live in the Hornchurch area? Our plumbers Hornchurch can help! Our thorough plumbing knowledge means that most issues presented to us are ones that we’ve come across before – so nothing surprises us. Renowned for our experience across Dagenham, our residential and commercial customers are always satisfied with our work. Severe blockages, tornado like leaks and freezing cold boilers, haven’t got a chance when our plumbers Dagenham are involved. Power flushing is a method used to remove corrosion, sludge and other debris in a central heating system. This can build up over time and negatively affect your central heating system. Avoid putting your boiler under pressure by getting in touch with our plumbers Harold Wood today and booking in an appointment. Arco Heating Ltd offer competitive prices for all their plumbing services across areas of Essex. Our plumbers Brentwood are free to take your call today about any plumbing issue that you may have. Our other plumbing services include:
If it’s time to upgrade your boiler, first ask yourself if this is the best place for your new boiler to go too, or might there be a better place within your home? There are a few reasons why you may want to move your boiler. Does its current location get in the way? Is it too noisy? (though new boilers tend to be quieter) Are you extending your property and its current location, simply won’t work? If you’re renovating and need a new boiler now may be the perfect time to find it a new home. Where are boilers usually located? Boilers can be found in the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom or utility room. A utility room is an ideal place for your boiler because it is out of the way and doesn’t get in the way of your living space. We don’t usually recommend it to be near or above bedroom’s as this could cause disrupted sleep as it switches on and off. Many boilers can be installed in a cupboard, if you wanted it to be out of sight completely. What type of boiler should I get? This really depends on the size of your home, number of bathrooms and number of people living in the home. You want one that can keep up with the demand of your household. There are three types of boilers you can choose from: condensing boilers, combi boilers and system boilers. How much space will the boiler take up? Again, this depends on what type of boiler you get. Once you have decided on your boiler, check that if it will work in the location you had in mind. Find out the dimensions of the boiler and how much clearance there should be surrounding it. It’s a good idea to decide on a location for your boiler before you buy it. If you are going to move your boiler, remember too that your plumber may need to take up flooring to move the pipework. This will result in extra time and cost, compared to a straightforward boiler replacement. Can a boiler go in the loft? Yes, but there are a few things you’ll need to check first. Is there enough room in your loft for you or your plumber to stand up? Can the wall support the weight of the boiler? Do you have a loft ladder and good lighting? Will the boiler have frost protection? Note, that if, your boiler is a long way from you’re the various taps in your property, it will need to work harder to provide your taps with hot water. This will increase your energy consumption and may result in higher bills. Can you put a boiler in the garage? Yes, this might be another option too. If you are going to install your boiler in the garage you will need to make sure it has frost protection – you will need insulation so that the pipes don’t freeze. Make sure it’s easily accessible Despite not needing to get to the boiler too often, it still needs to be easy to get to for both yourself and your plumber. You should have at least an annual boiler service, to make sure that it is in good working order. Should work need to be done to it, having clear access will make it easier for your plumber. Are there any regulations for boiler installations? Regulations state that all new boilers have to be condensing, which means they need a discharge pipe and should be positioned on or next to an outside wall. The minimum flue clearance distance will depend on your boiler, and will be detailed in your manufacturers instruction booklet. How can you ensure the boiler is safe? If you’re moving your boiler to another room, don’t forget to install or move your carbon dioxide alarm along with it. Also, always make sure that the plumbers installing our new boiler are registered with Gas Safe. You can be sure that when you use Arco Heating Ltd, that our plumbers are registered and that your home is in safe hands. We cover all areas in and around Havering including, Romford, Collier Row, Hornchurch, Upminster and beyond. Call us now on: Martin: 07977 229 134 | Craig: 07970 296 171 The bathroom is one of the key rooms of the home. When something goes wrong or you are without it for a while, the frustration soon mounts. Looking after your bathroom on a regular basis is essential, therefore cleaning and plumbing maintenance is a must. Here are some useful tips to help you stay on top of your bathroom’s maintenance: Descale your shower head regularly Be sure to clean your shower head regularly to eliminate limescale. We recommend that every so often you remove the shower head and leave it in a bowl of vinegar overnight. This will remove any build-up of limescale deposits and clean the inlet and outlet holes of the shower head. After cleaning, reattach and run water through the shower head to remove any remaining residue. Avoid blocked showers Hair, soap and other residue will build up quickly in your shower outlet. Keep the drains clear using a strainer over the drain, which can be emptied when required. It is important to regularly clean the strainer with drain cleaner. This will also remove any build-up in the pipes and eliminate any foul smells. Bathroom sinks Just as with your shower, toothpaste and soap residue together with a mixture of hair can soon block up your sink. We recommend cleaning your sink on a regular basis to remove the build-up of products and hair. Use a bathroom cleaner or drain cleaner to help remove build up. Keeping your toilet flowing Misusing toilets is common. Our three P’s are the only things that should go down the toilet, pees, poos and paper. Flushing items including wet wipes, sanitary products, cotton wool etc will soon cause a blockage. Even if products are labelled as ‘flushable’, such as children’s wipes, we recommend that it is best to put them in the bin. If you are finding clogs are becoming more frequent, then you will have to investigate a blockage in your drainpipe. You could try to fix the issue by using a plunger, however, if the problem persists, we recommend calling in a professional plumber. Toilet leaks can come from many sources, including the base, the water feed, the bowl and the cistern. It is important to get these leaks fixed as soon as possible to prevent damage to your flooring and the ceiling below if the toilet is on the first floor or above. Do you need a plumber for your bathroom plumbing in Romford Essex please get in touch. We cover all areas in and around Havering including, Romford, Collier Row, Hornchurch, Upminster and beyond. Call us now on: Martin: 07977 229 134 | Craig: 07970 296 171 There’s nothing worse than waking up on a cold winter’s morning to find that the heating is off, there is no hot water and your boiler has broken down. Jumping into a freezing shower and having a cold home is the last thing you need – especially in the winter months! Many boiler failures happen in the winter. It's essential, therefore, that you take care of your boiler all year round. This will help avoid boiler break down experiences. Here are our tips to help your home stay cosy and keep your boiler in working order. Fix issues quickly If you want your boiler working all year round it is important that any issues you find are dealt with promptly by a qualified plumber. This will ensure that your central heating runs properly and your boiler is safe. Bleed your radiators Making sure that your radiators are bled regularly is an easy way to keep your home warm and save you money. If your radiators have trapped air inside, they will not warm up properly and your boiler will have to work a lot harder, increasing wear and wasting energy. We recommend regularly checking your radiators and bleeding them when necessary. Read our blog to find out how to bleed your radiators Boiler pressure checks Along with bleeding your radiators, it is important to check the boiler pressure. This is something that you can carry out yourself. All boilers lose pressure over time, which means that they will work less efficiently and require a top up. As boilers are different, check the manufacturers manual to find out how to carry this out. Alternatively, you can seek advice from a plumber if you are unsure. Call Arco’s plumbers in Romford, Essex Book an annual boiler service The best way to ensure your boiler is running efficiently at all times, is to arrange an annual boiler service by a qualified professional. Central heating engineers will do the necessary checks and maintenance that your boiler require; giving you peace of mind that your boiler is safe and working correctly. The annual service is also cost-effective and could save you money in the long-term by preventing possible problems from occurring. For households with new boilers, it is important to keep up your annual checks to ensure that your warranty for parts remains valid. Book Arco’s boiler servicing today Let your boiler ‘breathe’ All boilers need to be well ventilated to ensure they work correctly and safely. Keep the clutter at bay to allow for adequate ventilation. Power flushing Although this is usually done when fitting a new boiler, power flushing is a service that can be carried out at any time when required. Over time, your radiators may begin to clog up with sludge, rust and solidified minerals caused by hard water, which may cause your boiler to become increasingly noisy. Power flushing is a deep cleanse for your entire central heating system, making it run more efficiently by removing blockages. We recommend you do not carry this out yourself and seek advice from a reputable plumber. Call Arco for a Power Flushing Service Keep the heating on in the summer It may not seem to make sense to run your central heating when the weather is warm, however, turning your heating on for 10 minutes every week during the summer months will prevent your boiler from seizing up. If your boiler is doing nothing for months at a time, it can deteriorate and you may find that it doesn’t want to work when you switch it back on. For further advice on how to take care of your boiler, or, if you would like Arco Heating Ltd to carry out any central hearing or plumbing servicing, repairs, improvements or installations, get in touch with our friendly team today! We cover all areas in and around Havering including, Romford, Collier Row, Hornchurch, Upminster and beyond. Call us now on: Martin: 07977 229 134 | Craig: 07970 296 171 The famous phrase says: ‘Take care of the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves.’ The same thing goes with your utility bills. Every tip that we offer you below, will help reduce your bills and over the course of the year this could add up to significant savings. Turn off lights When you are not in the room, make sure the lights are off. Even leaving hallway lights on can add money to your fuel bills unnecessarily. Cook in bigger batches When you are cooking meals for the family cook in bigger batches and freeze leftovers for another day. Heating up a meal will use less energy than making the same meal from scratch again. Turn the temperature down on your washing machine Where possible wash your clothes on a lower temperature, this will save energy and your clothes will come out just as clean Turn the thermostat down by a degree or two We all like a toasty home. By turning down your temperature down by a degree or two will not make too much difference on how you feel, but it will save the boiler working to heat up to that higher temperature. Save water There are many ways in which you can save water in your home. By being mindful of what you are doing and using, there are so many ways in which you can save using unecessary water. These include:
There are many products available to help you to reduce water usage, including water-efficient shower heads and cistern displacement devices. When refurbishing the bathroom or kitchen look for more water-efficient options for your taps, toilet, washing machine or dishwasher. For more useful water-saving tips visit Waterwise. If you have a leak that needs fixing, or are looking to refurbish your kitchen or bathroom, contact either Martin or Craig at Arco. Our plumbing services cover all areas in and around Havering including, Romford, Collier Row, Hornchurch, Upminster and beyond. Call us now on: Martin: 07977 229 134 | Craig: 07970 296 171 If you've noticed that your radiator isn’t warm all over and has some cold spots, it's likely that it isn't working very efficiently. The result is that your system will be working harder and costing you more in heating all without your home feeling the full benefit. The solution can often be simple. Air, trapped inside the radiator will need to be let out - or bled. Bleeding a radiator is an easy and quick job that you can do yourself leaving your radiators work properly and your home warmer as a result. How to bleed a radiator First of all, you will need a radiator key (or a flat-head screwdriver), a cloth or towel. Turn on your central heating Make sure that your radiators are on so that there is pressure in your system. This helps the air out to get out. Check which radiators need bleeding Go around your home and feel the tops of each radiator. If you find cold spots, you'll have identified a radiator that needs bleeding. Turn off your central heating Now turn off your heating and let the radiators cool down. If you do this when your radiators are hot, you could scald yourself with the hot water. Bleed the radiators Once your radiators have cooled down look for the valve at one end of the top of your radiator. Attach the radiator key (or flat head screwdriver) to the square part in the centre. Hold the key with a cloth and slowly turn the key anti-clockwise for about half a turn. Listen out for a hissing sound as the air leaves the system. Turn the key to the closed position once the hissing stops or when water starts to leak out. Don’t over-tighten the valve as this could damage it. Check the pressure on your boiler Check the pressure on your boiler gauge. If the pressure is too low, you’ll need to top up the water using the lever or tap on your boiler. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to re-pressurise your boiler. Turn the heating back Turn the heating back on and let the radiators heat up. Check the radiators that you bled. Hopefully you will no longer have any cold spots. Also check that the valves are not leaking. What if I still have cold spots? If, after turning the heating back on, you still find cold spots, you may need to bleed some radiators a couple of times to complete the job. If you’ve done this and the radiators are still not heating properly, it’s time to call in some professional help. It could be that there is a build-up of rust or sludge in your central heating system which will need to be determined by a plumber. Arco's heating engineers are all Gas Safe registered plumbing and heating specialists. Should you have any issues with your plumbing or are looking to service your boiler, give us a call. We cover all areas in and around Havering including, Romford, Collier Row, Hornchurch, Upminster and beyond. Call us now on: Martin: 07977 229 134 | Craig: 07970 296 171 |
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